Francis I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
| Francis I | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg | |
| Reign | 1543 – 1571 |
| Predecessor | Magnus I |
| Successor | Magnus II |
| Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg | |
| Reign | 1573 – 1581 |
| Predecessor | Magnus II |
| Successors | Francis II and Maurice (joint rule) |
| Born | 1510 |
| Died | 19 March 1581 Buxtehude |
| Consort | Sibylle of Saxony |
| Issue more... |
Magnus II Francis II Henry Maurice Frederick |
| House | House of Ascania |
| Father | Magnus I |
| Mother | Catherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg (1510 – 19 March 1581, Buxtehude) was the eldest child and only son of Duke Magnus I of Saxe-Lauenburg and Catherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1488 – 29 July 1563, Neuhaus), daughter of Duke Henry IV the Evil of Brunswick and Lunenburg (Wolfenbüttel). Francis I succeeded his father in 1543 as duke of Saxe-Lauenburg, but resigned in favour of his major son Magnus II in 1571. Two years later he reascended and was succeeded by Francis II in 1581.
With his thriftiness Francis I deeply plunged Saxe-Lauenburg into debts, to this end he pawned most of the ducal demesnes to his creditors. In 1550 Francis I wielded his influence to make the chapter of the neighbouring Prince-Bishopric of Ratzeburg elect his 7-year-old son Magnus as coming prince-bishop, however, the capitular canons refused.
Heavily indebted and with no further need for good relations with the prince-bishopric Francis I looted Ratzeburg Cathedral in 1552. In 1558 he conquered the prince-episcopal Bridgettine Monastery of Marienwohlde near Mölln, looted and demolished the cloister, forced its vassal farmers to swear him loyalty and pay him dues, and started overfelling in the monasterial woods, selling the timber abroad.
In 1571 – highly indebted – Francis I resigned in favour of his eldest son Magnus II, who had promised to redeem the pawned ducal demesnes with funds he gained as Swedish military commander and by his marriage to a Swedish princess. However, Magnus did not redeem pawns but further alienated ducal possessions, which ignited a conflict between Magnus and his father and brothers Francis (II) and Maurice as well as the estates of the duchy, further escalating due to Magnus' violent temperament.
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