Friedrich Ulrich of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1591-1634)
Friedrich Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1591-1634)
Biography
Friedrich Ulrich was the first son of Heinrich Julius (1564-1613) Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and ruling Prince of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
Friedrich Ulrich like his father before him were rulers of the Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
which was a subdivision of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Although they also used the title of Duke
of Brunswick-Lüneburg, their actual power lay only in the Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
Heinrich Julius married Elisabet of Denmark (1573-1626), the daughter of King Fredrik II of Denmark (1534-1588), and sister of Dorothea of Denmark, the wife of Duke Wilhelm the Younger of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Friedrich Ulrich was therefore the nephew by marriage of Duke Wilhelm and further related on Freidrich Ulrich's father side through both being cadet branches of the House of Welf since splitting in the 15th century.
Friedrich Ulrich became duke after his father's death in 1613 at age 22. Friedrich Ulrich married the
daughter of the Elector of Brandenburg, Anna Sophia (1598-1659) in 1614. They had no children.
Friedrich Ulrich tried to obtain a divorce but died in an accident before it was completed in 1634. On his death without children, the Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel passed to Augustus II (1635-1666), the seventh child of Duke Heinrich III (1533-1598), brother of Duke Wilhelm the Younger.
The Alcoholic Duke
Stories about Friedrich Ulrich madness are mostly about his mismanagement of the Duchy due to his alcoholism and indecision. In 1616 he was replaced as regent by his mother, Elisabet, with the support of her brother King Christian IV of Denmark. His mother's counsellor nearly ruined the economy of the state through minting of cheap coins, and King Christian IV had Friedrich Ulrich take control of the Duchy again in 1622.
Friedrich Ulrich alcoholism and weakness would harm the territory again however. Although Protestant, during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) the Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was heavily ravaged by both Catholic and Protestant forces. Most of the territory of the Principality passed to others during this time, although our fortress at Wolfenbüttel was never taken.
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