Albert III, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
| Albert III Albrecht III. von Sachsen, Engern und Westfalen (de) |
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officially: Duke of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia colloquially: Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg or Duke of Saxe-Ratzeburg |
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Duchy of Saxony (Joint rule with his uncle Albert II, at first fostering his nephews, and his brothers Eric I and John II) |
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| Joint Reign | 1282–1296 |
| Predecessors | John I and Albert II |
| Successors | Albert III, Eric I and John II (jointly ruling in partitioned Saxe-Lauenburg) |
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Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg (Joint rule with his brothers Eric I and John II) |
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| Joint Reign | 1296–1303 |
| Joint predecessors | Albert II, Albert III, Eric I and John II |
| Successor | Albert III (ruling alone in partitioned Saxe-Ratzeburg) |
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Duchy of Saxe-Ratzeburg (partitioned as branch duchy from Saxe-Lauenburg) |
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| Reign | 1303–1308 |
| Joint predecessors | Albert III, Eric I and John II (joint rule) |
| Successor | Eric I (ruling alone in redeployed Saxe-Ratzeburg-Lauenburg) |
| Born | 1281 |
| Died | 1308 |
| Consort | Margaret of Brandenburg |
| Issue Detail |
Albrecht Eric |
| House of | Ascania (by birth) |
| Father | John I, Duke of Saxony |
| Mother | Ingeborg Birgersdotter of Småland |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Albert III of Saxe-Lauenburg (1281–1308) was a son of John I, Duke of Saxony and Ingeborg Birgersdotter of Småland (c. 1253–30 June 1302, in Mölln), a daughter or granddaughter of Birger Jarl. He ruled Saxony jointly with his uncle, Albert II, and his brothers Eric I and John II (and under the regency of Albert II) until their coming of age. In 1296 Albert III, his brothers and their uncle divided Saxony into Saxe-Wittenberg, ruled by Albert II, and Saxe-Lauenburg, jointly ruled by the brothers between 1296 and 1303 and thereafter partitioned among them. Albert III then ruled the branch duchy of Saxe-Ratzeburg until his death.
Albert III's father, John I, resigned as duke in 1282 in favour of his three sons Albert III, Eric I, and John II. As they were all minors, their uncle, Albert II, acted as their regent. When Albert III and his brothers came of age they shared the government of the duchy. The last document, mentioning the brothers and their uncle Albert II as Saxon fellow dukes dates back to 1295.
The definite partitioning of Saxony into Saxe-Lauenburg, jointly ruled by Albert III and his brothers and Saxe-Wittenberg, ruled by their uncle Albert II, took place by 20 September 1296, at which time the Vierlande, Sadelbande (Land of Lauenburg), the Land of Ratzeburg, the Land of Darzing (later Amt Neuhaus), and the Land of Hadeln are mentioned as the separate territories of the brothers. Albert II received Saxe-Wittenberg around the eponymous city and Belzig.
Albert III and his brothers at first jointly ruled Saxe-Lauenburg, before they partitioned it into three parts, while the exclave Land of Hadeln remained a jointly ruled territory. Albert III then held Saxe-Ratzeburg until his death in 1308. His brother Eric I inherited part of Albert's lands, while Albert's widow, Margaret of Brandenburg-Salzwedel, retained the remainder. After her death, Eric I gained these lands as well.
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