Albert V, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg

Who is Albert V, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg?

Albert V of Saxe-Lauenburg was the second son of Duke Albert IV of Saxe-Lauenburg and Beata of Schwerin, daughter of Gunzelin VI, Count of Schwerin. Albert succeeded his elder brother John III in 1356 as Duke of Saxe-Bergedorf-Mölln, a branch duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg. He died without an heir and was succeeded by his younger brother Eric III.

Albert V, short in money, sold - after consenting with his brother Eric III - the Herrschaft of Mölln to the city of Lübeck in return for 9737.50 Lübeck marks. The parties agreed upon a repurchase, however, only by the duke or his heirs for themselves, but not as a middleperson for someone else. Lübeck considered this acquisition crucial, since Mölln was an important stage for trade between Brunswick and Lunenburg - here especially salt - via Lübeck to Scandinavia and back. Therefore Lübeck manned Mölln with armed guards maintaining law and order on the roads.

However, thrifty Albert V, plotted for new sources of revenues. So Albert and his cousin Eric II of Saxe-Lauenburg–Ratzeburg-Lauenburg agreed on ravaging merchants and other travellers passing their duchies near Hamburg.