Otto II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Encyclopedia
Otto II, Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg (about 1266 - 10 April 1330), also known as Otto the Strict (Otto der Strenge), came from the House of Welf and was Prince of Lüneburg from 1277 to 1330.
Otto was underage when his father died, so the administration of the duchy went initially to his uncle, Duke Albert
(d 1279) and, after his death, to his uncle, Conrad I, Prince-Bishop of Verden. From 1282 Otto ruled in his own right.
His rule was marked by several feuds, financed by pledges (Verpfändungen), involving border and property disputes with his neighbours. Otto restricted the rights of the knights and safeguarded public order. The settlements of Harburg, Dahlenburg (1289) and Celle
(1292) were given town rights. In 1302 he bought the County of Wölpe
for 6,500 silver marks
. Following the controversial election of the king in 1313, Otto linked up with his brother-in-law, Louis of Bavaria
, from whom he was enfeoffed with an imperial fiefdom in 1315. On 28 November 1315 Otto passed a law of succession that granted the duchy after him to his two sons, Otto and William, jointly.
Otto died on 10 April 1330 and was buried in St. Michael's in Lüneburg, the monastery he had built.
(d 1319) in 1288, the daughter of Duke Louis the Strict of Bavaria
(d 1294). The following children came from this marriage:
Life
Otto the Strict was born around 1266, the son of John of Lüneburg (d 1277) and Duchess Liutgard of Holstein.Otto was underage when his father died, so the administration of the duchy went initially to his uncle, Duke Albert
Albert I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Albert the Tall , of the House of Welf, was Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg from 1252 to 1269 and the first ruler of the newly created Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel from 1269 until his death.-Life:...
(d 1279) and, after his death, to his uncle, Conrad I, Prince-Bishop of Verden. From 1282 Otto ruled in his own right.
His rule was marked by several feuds, financed by pledges (Verpfändungen), involving border and property disputes with his neighbours. Otto restricted the rights of the knights and safeguarded public order. The settlements of Harburg, Dahlenburg (1289) and Celle
Celle
Celle is a town and capital of the district of Celle, in Lower Saxony, Germany. The town is situated on the banks of the River Aller, a tributary of the Weser and has a population of about 71,000...
(1292) were given town rights. In 1302 he bought the County of Wölpe
County of Wölpe
The County of Wölpe was the territorial lordship of a noble family in the Middle Ages in the Middle Weser Region near Nienburg/Weser which folded in 1302. The seat of the counts of Wölpe was the castle site at Erichshagen-Wölpe on the Wölpe stream in the borough of Nienburg in north Germany...
for 6,500 silver marks
Mark (money)
Mark was a measure of weight mainly for gold and silver, commonly used throughout western Europe and often equivalent to 8 ounces. Considerable variations, however, occurred throughout the Middle Ages Mark (from a merging of three Teutonic/Germanic languages words, Latinized in 9th century...
. Following the controversial election of the king in 1313, Otto linked up with his brother-in-law, Louis of Bavaria
Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Louis IV , called the Bavarian, of the house of Wittelsbach, was the King of Germany from 1314, the King of Italy from 1327 and the Holy Roman Emperor from 1328....
, from whom he was enfeoffed with an imperial fiefdom in 1315. On 28 November 1315 Otto passed a law of succession that granted the duchy after him to his two sons, Otto and William, jointly.
Otto died on 10 April 1330 and was buried in St. Michael's in Lüneburg, the monastery he had built.
Successors
Otto married Matilda of BavariaBavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
(d 1319) in 1288, the daughter of Duke Louis the Strict of Bavaria
Louis II, Duke of Bavaria
Duke Louis II of Bavaria was Duke of Bavaria and Count Palatine of the Rhine from 1253. Born in Heidelberg, he was a son of duke Otto II and Agnes of the Palatinate...
(d 1294). The following children came from this marriage:
- John (d 1324), Apostolic administratorApostolic AdministratorAn apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
of the Archdiocese of Bremen - Otto IIIOtto III, Duke of Brunswick-LüneburgOtto III, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg was Prince of Lüneburg from 1330 to 1352.- Life :Otto was born about 1296 as the second son of Otto the Strict and his wife Matilda of Bavaria, and was introduced to the business of government by his father as early as 1314...
(1296–1352), Prince of Lüneburg - Louis (d 1346), Bishop of Minden (1324–1346)
- WilliamWilliam II, Duke of Brunswick-LüneburgWilliam II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg was the Prince of Lüneburg from 1330 to 1369.- Life :William was born around the year 1300 as the fourth child of Otto the Strict and his wife, Matilda of Bavaria....
(d 1369), Prince of Lüneburg - Matilda (d 1316) married after 1308 Nicholas II, Prince of Werle