Eric I, Duke of Calenberg
| Eric I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg | |
|---|---|
| Prince of Calenberg-Göttingen | |
Eric with his second wife Elisabeth ca. 1530
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| Spouse(s) |
Katharina of Saxony Elisabeth of Brandenburg |
| Noble family | House of Guelph |
| Father | William II, Duke of Brunswick-Calenberg-Göttingen |
| Mother | Elisabeth of Stolberg-Wernigerode |
| Born |
16 February 1470 Neustadt am Rübenberge |
| Died | 30 July 1540 (aged 70) Haguenau |
Eric I, the Elder (German: Erich I., der Ältere; 1470 – 1540) was Duke of Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg from 1495 and the first reigning prince of Calenberg-Göttingen.
Eric I was born on 16 February 1470 in Neustadt am Rübenberge at the castle of Rovenburg. He was the founder of the Calenberg line of the House of Brunswick-Lüneburg. His father, William II, died in 1503, but had already divided his lands in 1495, between his sons, Henry and Eric. Eric was given the Principalities of Calenberg and Göttingen, whilst Henry received the Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Even as a boy, Eric had travelled as a pilgrim to Jerusalem and toured Italy before he entered the service of Emperor Maximilian I.
Even in his early years Eric had proved himself as a brave fighter at the side of the emperors and took part in 1497 in the campaign against the Turks. Later he fought in wars against Venice, the Swiss confederation and France. In the Bavarian-Landhut war in 1504 he saved the emperor's life at the Battle of Regensburg the Leben, whereupon he was knighted.
Eric I was the second son of Duke William II of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (d 1503) and received in 1491, before his father died, his inheritance of the Principality of Calenberg-Göttingen. His elder brother, Duke Henry the Elder (1463–1514) was given rule over Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. In 1505 the 35-year-old Duke Eric I of Calenberg made Neustadt am Rübenberge his second seat of power.
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