Otto IV, also known as ''Otto Crookleg'' or ''Otto the Lame'' (d 1446)

Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are rank ...

, was

Prince of Lüneburg A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...

from 1434 to 1446.

Life

After the death of his father,

Bernard Bernard (''Bernhard'') is a French and West Germanic masculine given name. It is also a surname. The name is attested from at least the 9th century. West Germanic ''Bernhard'' is composed from the two elements ''bern'' "bear" and ''hard'' "brav ...

, he took over as ruler of the

Principality of Lüneburg The Principality of Lüneburg (later also referred to as Celle) was a territorial division of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg within the Holy Roman Empire, immediately subordinate to the emperor. It existed from 1269 until 1705 and its territory ...

jointly with his brother, Frederick the Pious. Their rule was marked by major building work to

Celle Castle Celle Castle (german: Schloss Celle) or, less commonly, Celle Palace, in the German town of Celle in Lower Saxony, was one of the residences of the House of Brunswick-Lüneburg. This quadrangular building is the largest castle in the southern ...

and also by numerous reforms which improved the legal situation of farmers vis-a-vis their local lords.

Marriage

In 1425 Otto IV married Elisabeth of Eberstein (before 1415–1468) and had a daughter by her.

Ancestors

Literature

* Geckler, Christa (1986). ''Die Celler Herzöge: Leben und Wirken 1371–1705''. Celle: Georg Ströher. . .

External links

The Welfs
Princes of Lüneburg 1446 deaths Year of birth unknown Middle House of Lüneburg Royalty and nobility with disabilities {{Germany-noble-stub