Eric I, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen nicknamed ''the winner'' (; – 28 May 1427), ruled the Principality of Grubenhagen, a part of the

Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg The Duchy of Brunswick and Lüneburg (), commonly known as the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg or Brunswick-Lüneburg, was an imperial principality of the Holy Roman Empire in the territory of present day Lower Saxony. In 1235, Otto I, Duke of ...

Life

Eric was the only son of the Duke Albert I of Brunswick-Grubenhagen, who died in 1383, and his wife Agnes I, a daughter of Duke Magnus II of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Eric inherited Brunswick-Grubenhagen at a very early age; he stood until 1401 under the guardianship of his uncle, Duke Frederick of Grubenhagen-Osterode. From 1402 they joined ruled the principality and Eric moved his residence to Salzderhelden. Disputes arose with his cousins Bernard I and

Frederick I Frederick I or Friedrich I may refer to: * Frederick of Utrecht or Frederick I (815/16–834/38), Bishop of Utrecht. * Frederick I, Duke of Upper Lorraine (942–978) * Frederick I, Duke of Swabia (1050–1105) * Frederick I ...

of Lüneburg, with the city of Brunswick, with his former guardian, with the counts of Schwarzburg and the Landgrave of Thuringia. All these disputes were soon settled again. In 1406 Eric was captured in a feud with the Lords of Hardenberg in

Lindau Lindau (, ''Lindau am Bodensee''; ; Low Alemannic German, Low Alemannic: ''Lindou'') is a major Town#Germany, town and Lindau (island), island on the eastern side of Lake Constance (''Bodensee'' in German) in Bavaria, Germany. It is the capital ...

. He was only released after he gave them a written and the city of

Osterode am Harz Osterode am Harz (, ), often simply called Osterode (Eastphalian dialect, Eastphalian: ''Ostroe''), is a town in south-eastern Lower Saxony in central Germany on the south-western edge of the Harz mountains. It was the seat of government of the ...

as collateral. In 1415, Eric declared war on the Counts of Hohenstein, because both sides claimed the county of

Bad Lauterberg im Harz Bad Lauterberg is a town in the district of Göttingen, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the southern Harz, approx. 15 km southwest of Braunlage, and 20 km southeast of Osterode am Harz. Bad Lauterberg is known ''inter alia ...

and defeated them near the village of Osterhagen. Count Guenther of Hohenstein died during the battle; Counts Henry and Ernest were captured and had to pay 8000

florins The Florentine florin was a gold coin (in Italian ''Fiorino d'oro'') struck from 1252 to 1533 with no significant change in its design or metal content standard during that time. It had 54 grains () of nominally pure or 'fine' gold with a pu ...

and renounce their claims to redeem themselves. A dispute with the Lords of Bortfeld was settled soon after Eric entered into an alliance against them with the City of Brunswick. A dispute with Landgrave Frederick "the Peaceful" of Thuringia about the city of Einbeck was also settled quickly. In 1422, the

Abbess An abbess (Latin: ''abbatissa'') is the female superior of a community of nuns in an abbey. Description In the Catholic Church (both the Latin Church and Eastern Catholic), Eastern Orthodox, Coptic, Lutheran and Anglican abbeys, the mod ...

Gandersheim Abbey Gandersheim Abbey () is a former house of secular canonesses ( Frauenstift) in the present town of Bad Gandersheim in Lower Saxony, Germany. It was founded in 852 by Count Liudolf of Saxony and his wife, Oda, progenitors of the Liudolfing or Ot ...

(who happened to be his daughter, Agnes II of Brunswick-Grubenhagen) enfeoffed him with castle and city of Elbingerode. Two years, in 1424, the Abbess of

Quedlinburg Abbey Quedlinburg Abbey ( or ) is a former abbey of secular canonesses ''( Frauenstift)'' in Quedlinburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It was founded in 936 on the initiative of Saint Matilda, the widow of the East Frankish King Henry the Fowler, as h ...

(Countess Adelheid of Isenburg), enfeoffed the Dukes of Grubenhagen with

Duderstadt Duderstadt () is a city in southern Lower Saxony, Germany, located in the district of Göttingen. It is the centre and the capital of the northern part of the Eichsfeld ("Untereichsfeld"). It was once the private wealth of the Roman Catholic ar ...

, Gieboldehausen and the Golden Mark.

Marriage and issue

Eric was married to Elisabeth, a daughter of Duke

Otto I, Duke of Brunswick-Göttingen Otto the Evil ( – 13 December 1394, Hardegsen) was a member of the House of Guelph. He was a Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, from 1367 Duke in the Principality of Göttingen. Life His father was Ernest I (1305–1367), who assumed power ...

(referred to as "Otto The Mad" or "Otto The Evil"). They had three sons and five daughters, including: * Agnes (1406–1439), Abbess of Gandersheim Abbey * Margaret (1411 – 31 October 1456) married Simon IV, Lord of Lippe in 1426 * Anna (1414–1474) married first to Albert III, Duke of Bavaria and later to Frederick III, Duke of Brunswick-Göttingen-Calenberg * Henry III (1416–1464), who succeeded his father * Ernest II (1418–1466), who became provost of the St. Alexandri minster in Einbeck * Albert II (1419–1485), who succeeded his father * Elisabeth of Brunswick-Grubenhagen, who married Casimir V, Duke of Pomerania.

Ancestors

References and sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Eric 01, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen Princes of Grubenhagen 1380s births Year of birth uncertain 1427 deaths 15th-century German nobility Old House of Brunswick