Heinrich "der Wunderliche"
|
 |
In 1291 Duke Heinrich, called "The Wondrous," became the first duke of the newly founded "principality of Grubenhagen." However, the name "principality of Grubenhagen" originated in 1617. Duke Heinrich of Grubenhagen. Heinrich's father, duke Albrecht I. (1236-1279), died in 1179. After a dispute in 1290, his sons reached an agreement for dividing the Brunswick inheritance. As a result, duke Heinrich received the newly established "principality of Grubenhagen," with the towns and castles of Einbeck, Osterode, Herzberg, and Duderstatdt. He was consequently the founder of the Grubenhagen line of Welfs. Because of the name component, all family members of the Grubenhagen line of Welfs could call themselves "dukes of Brunswick." The name component of "Lüneberg" was first awarded to this line in the the sixteenth century. Heinrich's younger brother, Albrecht the Fat (d. 1318), continued the Brunswick - Wolffenbüttel line. Concerning the life of duke Heinrich as ruler in the "Principality of Grubenhagen." there are many inconsistent sources. His little successful feuds caused him to be in constant need of money; nevertheless he was a donator to the monasteries of Einbeck, Pöhlde, Katlenburg, and Osterode, and this is probably what earned him the nickname of "The Wondrous." Heinrich was well known in the Holy Roman Empire. The Saxon position of count palatine was tranferred to him by the emprie. After the death, in 1291, of emperor Rudolf I. of the House of Habsburg, duke Heinrich, among a few other princes of the empire, was considered as a possilbe successor.
--Adapted from the website, Die Welfen
Sources
- Schloss Herzberg und seine Welfen, Herzberg am Harz 1993