Magnus II of Saxe-Lauenburg
| Magnus II | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg | |
| Reign | 1571 – 1573 |
| Predecessor | Francis I |
| Successor | Francis I |
| Born | 1543 |
| Died | 14 May 1603 Ratzeburg |
| Burial | Ratzeburg, Castle Chapel |
| Consort | Princess Sophia of Sweden |
| Issue | Gustav of Saxe-Lauenburg |
| House | House of Ascania |
| Father | Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg |
| Mother | Sybille of Saxe-Freiberg |
| Religion | Lutheran |
Magnus II of Saxe-Lauenburg (1543 – 14 May 1603, Ratzeburg) was the eldest surviving son of Duke Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg and Sybille of Saxe-Freiberg (Freiberg, *2 May 1515 – 18 July 1592*, Buxtehude), daughter of Duke Henry IV the Pious. In 1571 Magnus II ascended the throne after his father Francis I resigned due to indebtedness. Two years later Francis I, helped by his other son Francis (II), deposed Magnus II and re-ascended. Magnus' violent and judicial attempts to regain the duchy failed. In 1588 he was imprisoned for the remainder of his life.
In 1550 Francis I sought to exercise influence to compel the cathedral chapter of the neighbouring Prince-Bishopric of Ratzeburg to elect his seven-year-old son Magnus as the next prince-bishop. However, the capitular canons refused. Magnus then spent his youth at the Swedish royal court of the House of Vasa. He befriended his cousin Prince Eric and, after his ascension to the throne as King Eric XIV, Magnus fared well.
Eric XIV waged war against their common cousin King Frederick II of Denmark. Magnus advanced in this conflict, which became the Scandinavian Seven Years' War (1563–1570), to the Swedish supreme command in 1566. Magnus married Eric's half-sister Princess Sophia of Sweden in a discreet ceremony on the eve of Eric's own marriage on 4 July 1568. However, Eric came to dismiss the rather unsuccessful Magnus as supreme commander. Later Magnus swung over to Eric's half-brothers Charles and John, and Magnus invaded Stockholm with them on 29 September of that year, overthrowing Eric.
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