Duke William Augustus of Brunswick-Lüneburg-Harburg (15 March 1564 in Harburg – 30 March 1642 in Harburg) was Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg-Harburg.

Life

William Augustus was a son of Duke Otto II of Brunswick-Harburg (1528-1603) from his second marriage with Hedwig (1535-1616), the daughter of the Count

Enno II Enno may refer to: People Given name * Enno I, Count of Ostfriesland (1460–1491) * Enno II, Count of Ostfriesland (1505–1540) *Enno III, Count of Ostfriesland (1563–1625) * Enno Brandrøk (1538–1571), Norwegian noble- and highwayman (name ...

of East Frisia. William Augustus was regarded as extremely learned and, like his father, as a follower of the Lutheran doctrine. In 1575, he became rector of the

University of Rostock The University of Rostock (german: link=no, Universität Rostock) is a public university located in Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Founded in 1419, it is the third-oldest university in Germany. It is the oldest university in continen ...

. He later continued his studies at the

University of Leipzig Leipzig University (german: Universität Leipzig), in Leipzig in Saxony, Germany, is one of the world's oldest universities and the second-oldest university (by consecutive years of existence) in Germany. The university was founded on 2 Decemb ...

. In 1582, he undertook a

Grand Tour The Grand Tour was the principally 17th- to early 19th-century custom of a traditional trip through Europe, with Italy as a key destination, undertaken by upper-class young European men of sufficient means and rank (typically accompanied by a tuto ...

to France and England and then enrolled with his brothers at the

University of Helmstedt The University of Helmstedt (german: Universität Helmstedt; official Latin name: ''Academia Julia'', "Julius University"), was a university in Helmstedt in the Duchy of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel that existed from 1576 until 1810. History Founded ...

. In 1594, he again went on a journey that took him through Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, Holland, Denmark and Livonia. William Augustus kept a journal about his travels. After the death of his father, he took up the government of Harburg jointly with his brothers

Christopher Christopher is the English language, English version of a Europe-wide name derived from the Greek language, Greek name Χριστόφορος (''Christophoros'' or ''Christoforos''). The constituent parts are Χριστός (''Christós''), "Jesus ...

and

Otto III Otto III (June/July 980 – 23 January 1002) was Holy Roman Emperor from 996 until his death in 1002. A member of the Ottonian dynasty, Otto III was the only son of the Emperor Otto II and his wife Theophanu. Otto III was crowned as King of ...

. After they died, he ruled alone. In 1618, William Augustus began the construction of the palace at Moisburg. After the death of the Duke Frederick Ulrich of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, he received the

County of Hoya The County of Hoya (German: ''Grafschaft Hoya'') was a state of the Holy Roman Empire, located in the present German state of Lower Saxony. It was centered on the town of Hoya on the middle Weser river, between Bremen and Nienburg; the area now ...

from his inheritance. August Wilhelm died unmarried and childless. His inheritance was divided by Dukes of Frederick IV of Brunswick-Celle and Augustus II of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.

Ancestors

References

* August B. Michaelis, Julius Wilhelm Hamberger: ''Einleitung zu einer volständigen Geschichte der Chur- und Fürstlichen Häuser in Teutschland'', Meyer, 1759, vol. 1, p. 121 * ''Vaterländisches Archiv für hannoverisch-braunschweigische Geschichte'', Herold & Wahlstab, 1835, p. 243 ff
Online
Princes of Lüneburg 1564 births 1642 deaths People from Harburg (district) 16th-century German people 17th-century German people Middle House of Lüneburg {{Germany-noble-stub