Eric IV of Saxe-Lauenburg

Eric IV
Born	1354
Died	21 June 1411 or 1412
Issue more...	Eric V John IV Albert, canon in Hildesheim Magnus Bernard II
House	House of Ascania
Father	Eric II of Saxe-Lauenburg
Mother	Agnes of Holstein
Religion	Roman Catholic

Eric IV of Saxe-Lauenburg (1354 – 21 June 1411 or 1412) was a son of Eric II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg and Agnes of Holstein.

Eric II already involved his son Eric IV young in government affairs. Eric IV succeeded his father in 1368 as Duke of Saxe-Ratzeburg-Lauenburg.

Neighbouring territories (Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, Hamburg, and Schauenburg and Holstein-Kiel) had been at feud with the Saxon dukes Eric II and his cousin Albert V since 1363. In 1378 Prince-Archbishop Albert II reconciled with Eric IV, who had married Albert's niece Sophia. Eric IV and Albert II signed a peace, concluding to settle future disputes - especially on the Saxon exclave Land of Hadeln, neighbouring the prince-archbishopric - without using violence.

Between 1392 and 1398 Eric IV carried out the constructions of the Stecknitz Canal, connecting via Elbe and Trave the North Sea with the Baltic Sea. This was the first European canal crossing a drainage divide, and was especially important for trade with the entire Baltic Rim.

In 1400 Eric IV confirmed Hamburg's purchase of Ritzebüttel from his local vassals Lappe. In 1394 Hamburg had conquered the fortress of Ritzebüttel in order to make it its stronghold to protect the estuary of the river Elbe.

In 1401 Eric IV inherited Saxe-Bergedorf-Mölln from his cousin of second degree Eric III. Eric IV reunited the two branch duchies into Saxe-Lauenburg and subsequently shared his reign in the reunited duchy with his sons Eric V and John. However, most of Saxe-Bergedorf-Mölln had been alienated, such as the Herrschaft of Mölln (sold to Lübeck in 1359 under a repurchase agreement) and the Herrschaft of Bergedorf, the Vierlande, half the Saxon Wood and Geesthacht, all of which Eric III had pawned to the city of Lübeck in 1370.

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