BERNHARD II Herzog von Sachsen in Lauenburg und Ratzeburg

• Son of Erich IV, Duke of Sachsen-Lauenburg-Ratzeburg and Duchess Sophia, Brunswick-Luneburg
• Birth: circa 1385 in Ratzeburg, Sachsen-Lauenburg, Deutschland (HRR)
• Death: July 16, 1463 (74-82) in Ratzeburg, Sachsen-Lauenburg, Deutschland(HRR)

BERNHARD von Sachsen-Lauenburg, son of ERICH IV Herzog von Sachsen-Lauenburg & his wife Sophie von Braunschweig (-16 Jul 1463, bur Ratzeburg Cathedral). Botho’s Chronicon Brunsvicensium Picturatum names Bernd, who inherited “de Herschopp to Louenborch, third of the three sons of Hertoghe Ereke to Sassen, ein Her to Louenborch and his wife[694]. He succeeded his brother in 1435 as BERNHARD II Herzog von Sachsen in Lauenburg und Ratzeburg.

Project MedLands SAXONY

Married

• Married: (2 Feb 1429) ADELHEID von Pommern, daughter of BOGISLAW VIII Duke of Pomerania in Hinterpommern & his wife Sophie von Holstein ([1410]-after 1445). Botho’s Chronicon Brunsvicensium Picturatum records that “Hertoghe Bernd, Hertoghen Ereken sone to Sassen, unde eyn Here to Louenborch” married “Alheys, des Hertoghen dochter to Pomeren in der Slesye”[695].

Bernhard II & ADELHEID von Pommern, his wife had two children:

• 1. JOHANN von Sachsen-Lauenburg (18 Jul 1439-15 Aug 1507, bur Ratzeburg Cathedral). Botho’s Chronicon Brunsvicensium Picturatum names “Johanns”, who succeeded his father, as the son of “Hertoghe Bernd, Hertoghen Ereken sone to Sassen, unde eyn Here to Louenborch” and his wife[696]. He succeeded his father in 1463 as JOHANN V Herzog von Sachsen-Lauenburg. m (Lüneburg 12 Feb 1464) DOROTHEA von Brandenburg, daughter of FRIEDRICH II Markgraf and Elector of Brandenburg & his wife Katharina von Sachsen (1446-1519 before 20 Mar, bur Ratzeburg Cathedral). Botho’s Chronicon Brunsvicensium Picturatum names “Dorothea”, who married “Hertoghen Hans te Loenborch”, second of the two daughters of “Marggreve Frederick de elder, Marggreve Frederikes sone to Brandenborch” and his wife[697]
• 2. SOPHIE von Sachsen-Lauenburg (-9 Sep 1473). Botho’s Chronicon Brunsvicensium Picturatum names “Soffya”, who married “den Hertoghen van den Barge”, as daughter of “Hertoghe Bernd, Hertoghen Ereken sone to Sassen, unde eyn Here to Louenborch” and his wife[713]. The Memorienbuch of Düsseldorf St Maria records the death "VI Id Sep 1473" of "domine Sophie de Sassen ducisse Juliacensis et Montensis" and in memorial of “domini Gerardi ducis eius conthoralis”[714]. m (1444) GERHARD VII Duke of Jülich and Berg, son of WILHELM von Jülich Graf von Ravensberg & his wife Adelheid von Tecklenburg (-18 Aug 1475).

Johann had two illegitimate children by unknown mistresses:

• i) JOHANN von Sachsen A priest in Berkenthin, near Ratzeburg 1538.
• ii) BERNHARD von Sachsen ([1530-Livonia [1592/1612]). He served in the Swedish army. m firstly (before 1555) --- (-1590). m secondly (before 1591) DOROTHEA von Lewald, daughter of JOHANN von Lewald [Liebenrode] zu Malla & his wife Magdalene von Rosen a.d.H. Hochrosen.

Life

Bernard II of Saxe-Lauenburg (German: Bernhard II.; ca. 1385/1392–16 July 1463) was a member of the House of Ascania and Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg from 1426 to 1463. His full title was Duke of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia, however only ruling the branch duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg between 1426 and 1463.

He was a son of Eric IV, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg and Sophia of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Since long Bernard urged his ruling brother Eric V to share his reign. Failed in his fight for the Saxon electorate Eric finally agreed and made Bernard the co-duke of Saxe-Lauenburg in 1426.[1] When Eric V died in 1435 Bernard continued the reign alone.

Bernard II reinforced Saxe-Lauenburg's claim to inherit Electoral Saxe-Wittenberg with the latter and Saxe-Lauenburg having been partitioned from the younger Duchy of Saxony in the 13th century. Following his great-great-great-great grandfather Bernard I, the first Ascanian duke of younger Saxony, Bernard II is counted as second.

In order to strengthen his claim Bernard adopted the Saxe-Wittenbergian coat-of-arms for Saxe-Lauenburg. The coat of arms shows in the upper left quarter the Ascanian barry of ten, in Or and sable, covered by a crancelin of rhombs bendwise in vert.[2] The crancelin symbolises the Saxon ducal crown. The second quarter shows in azure an eagle crowned in Or, representing the imperial Pfalzgraviate of Saxony. The third quarter displays in argent three water-lily leaves in gules, standing for the County of Brehna. The lower right fourth quarter shows in sable and argent the electoral swords (German: Kurschwerter) in gules, indicating the Saxon office as Imperial Arch-Marshal (German: Erzmarschall, Latin: Archimarescallus), pertaining to the Saxon privilege as Prince-elector, besides the right to elect a new emperor after the decease of the former.

The different quarters of the coat of arms, from then on representing the Duchy of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia (Lauenburg), were later often misinterpreted as symbolising Angria (Brehna's water-lily leaves) and Westphalia (the comital palatine Saxon eagle).[3]

Marriage and issue

In 1428 Bernard married Adelheid of Pomerania-Stolp (1410 – after 1445), daughter of Bogislaw VIII, Duke of Pomerania.

They had the following children:

Sophia (1428 – 9 September 1473), married Gerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-Berg

John V (1439–1507).

Links:

• The Peerage
• Geneall
• Wikipedia
• Projects MedLands Saxony
• Projects MedLands BRUNSWICK*

Sources

Ancestors of Bernard II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg

• Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg: Reign 1426–63 (with his brother Eric V until 1435)
• Familienchronik des Pfarrers Friedrich Seybert (1865-1955) - Vorfahren der - https://books.google.com/books?id=LyQsDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA390&lpg=PA390&d...
• Allgemeine encyklopädie der wissenschaften und künste in alphabetischer Folge - https://books.google.com/books?id=FjojAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA238&lpg=PA238&d...
• A. E. E. L. v. Duve, Mitt. z. näheren Kde. d. Wichtigsten d. Staatsgesch. u. Zustände d. Bewohner d. Hzgt. Lauenburg v. d. Vorzeit b. z. Schlusse d. J. 1851, 1857;
• P. H. Stoldt, Bauer u. Herzog, Die Amtsbauern d. Hzgt. Sachsen-Lauenburg bis 1689, Ein Btr. z. Rechts- u. Soz.gesch., 1966;
• A. v. Reden, Landständ. Vfg. u. fürstl. Regiment in Sachsen-Lauenburg (1543–1689), 1974.
• Herzog von Sachsen-Lauenburg (seit 1507), † 1.9.1543 Ratzeburg - https://www.deutsche-biographie.de/pnd104176784.html
• Mohrmann, Wolf-Dieter, "Magnus I." in: Neue Deutsche Biographie 15 (1987), S. 667 f. [Online-Version]; URL: https://www.deutsche-biographie.de/pnd104176784.html#ndbcontent
• Regesten der Landgrafen von Hessen - https://www.lagis-hessen.de/de/subjects/xsrec/id/9412/current/127/p...