Saxe-Lauenburg (Saxony)
AD 1272 - 1305
At
some point after 1272, John I and Albert III divided their
Saxony between them.
The duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg (or Saxe-Lauenberg
in some sources) was formed in the west while
Saxe-Wittenberg
was formed in the east. The combined duchy was the seat of one of the prince-electors
of the Holy Roman
empire, so there was some conflict between the two divisions as to who
should retain the position. In 1314 they were on opposite
sides of a double election and eventually the Saxe-Wittenbergers under
Rudolf II succeed in gaining the upper hand. To distinguish Rudolf from other,
now lesser, dukes of Saxony, he adopted the title 'Elector of
Saxony'. |