Albert II of Brunswick-Grubenhagen | |
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Spouse(s) | Elisabeth of Waldeck |
Issue | |
Noble family | House of Guelph |
Father | Eric I, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen |
Mother | Elizabeth of Brunswick-Göttingen |
Born | 1 November 1419 |
Died | 15 August 1485 | (aged 65)
Buried | Osterode am Harz |
Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (German: Albrecht II., Herzog zu Braunschweig-Lüneburg; 1 November 1419 – 15 August 1485), was a Prince of Grubenhagen; he reigned from 1440 until his death in 1485.
Albert II was the third son of Duke Eric I and Elizabeth of Brunswick-Göttingen, a daughter of Otto the Bad, Duke of Brunswick-Göttingen. He was a grandson of the Duke Albert I, was still a minor when his father died on 27 May 1427. His first cousin once removed, Duke Otto the Younger of Grubenhagen-Osterode served until 1440 as regent for Albert II and his brothers Henry III and Ernest II. After 1440, the three brothers, following the Grubenhagen tradition, ruled jointly until Henry died in 1464. After the death of Henry II, Ernest II joined the clergy and Albert II became sole ruler and regent for Henry III's son, Henry IV.
Albert II was repeatedly involved in feuds. For example, in 1477, Duke William IV the Younger of Göttingen got into a dispute with the city of Einbeck (in the Duchy of Grubenhagen) and in 1479, he encamped his army before the town. The citizens of Einbeck came out to fight him in an open field. Duke William lured them into an ambush and defeated them completely. According to the chroniclers, more than 300 citizens were killed and over 800 were captured and brought to William's Hardegsen Castle. Albert and William settled their dispute on 5 December 1479 in Göttingen, without a battle. The city of Einbeck, however, had to pay a ransom of 30000guilders to free the captive citizens, and had to accept William's protection.