Otto the Strict

Otto the Strict, sculpture at the Bomann-Museum in Celle

Otto II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (c. 1266 – 10 April 1330), also known as Otto the Strict (Otto der Strenge), came from the House of Guelph and was Prince of Lüneburg from 1277 to 1330.

Biography

Otto was born at about 1266, he was the son of John, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (died 1277) and Duchess Liutgard of Holstein. As he was only (c.) 11, Otto was very young when his father. But he was the heir of the duchy, so, the administration of the duchy firstly went to his uncle Duke Albert (died 1279). After Albert died, it went to his other uncle, Conrad I, Prince-bishop of Verden. From 1282, Conrad ended being "regent" and Otto ruled in his own right. His rule was marked by several arguments, financed by pledges (Verpfändungen), involving border and property disputes with his neighbours. Otto restricted the rights of the knights and protected public order.

The settlements of Harburg, Dahlenburg (1289) and Celle (1292) were given town rights. In 1302 he bought the County of Wölpe for 6,500 silver marks. Following the publicly disagreeing election of the king in 1313, Otto connected up with his brother-in-law, Louis of Bavaria, from whom he was enfeoffed with an imperial fiefdom (an estate of land, especially one held on condition of feudal service) in 1315. On 28 November 1315 Otto passed a law of succession that granted the duchy after him to his two sons, Otto and William, jointly.

Otto died on 10 April 1330. He was buried at St Michael's in Celle, the monastery that he had built.

Issue

Otto married Matilda of Bavaria, daughter Louis the Strict. They had the following children:

#	Name		Birth / Death		Notes				Website
	Full name	Title	Birth	Death
1	John	None	Unknown	1324	Apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Bremen				Wikipedia:Otto the Strict
2	Otto III	Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg Prince of Lüneburg	c. 1296	19 August 1352	Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Prince of Lüneburg from 1330 until his death in 1352 with his brother William
3	Louis	See Notes	Unknown	1346	Bishop of Minden from 1324 to 1346
4	William II	Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg Prince of Lüneburg	c. about 1300	1369	Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Prince of Lüneburg from 1330 until his death in 1369 with his brother Otto (until 1352)
5	Matilda	"None"	Unknown	1316	Married after 1308 Nicholas II, Lord of Werle

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References

Otto the Strict House of Welf Born: about 1266 Died: 10 April 1330
German nobility
Preceded by John	Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg Prince of Lüneburg 1277–1330	Succeeded by Otto III and William II