Albert III, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg

Albert III Albrecht III. von Sachsen, Engern und Westfalen (de)
officially: Duke of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia colloquially: Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg
Joint Reign	1296 – 1305
Preceding regent	Albert II, Duke of Saxony for his minor nephews
Successor	Albert III (ruling alone in partitioned Saxe-Ratzeburg)
Duchy of Saxe-Ratzeburg
Reign	1305 – 1308
Joint predecessors	Albert III, Eric I, and John II (joint rule)
Successor	Eric I (ruling alone in repartitioned Saxe-Ratzeburg-Lauenburg)
Consort	Margaret of Brandenburg-Salzwedel
Issue Detail	Albrecht (*?–1344*) Eric (*?–1338*)
House of	Ascania (by birth)
Father	John I, Duke of Saxony
Mother	Ingeborg Birgersdotter of Småland
Religion	Roman Catholic

Albert III of Saxe-Lauenburg (*1281–1308*) was a son of John I, Duke of Saxony and Ingeborg Birgersdotter of Småland (*ca. 1253–30 June 1302*, in Mölln), a daughter or grandchild of Birger jarl. He ruled Saxe-Lauenburg jointly with his brothers Eric I and John II between 1296 and 1305 and thereafter the partitioned branch duchy of Saxe-Ratzeburg until his death.

Life

Albert's father John I resigned from dukedom in 1282 in favour of his three minor sons Albert III, Eric I, and John II. However, their uncle Albert II, Duke of Saxony, wielded the regency for them until 1296. Then they first ruled jointly their Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg, before they partitioned the core duchy into three parts, while the exclave Land of Hadeln remained a trilateral condominium.

Albert then held Saxe-Ratzeburg, however, he already deceased in 1308 and his brother Eric I inherited his share, thus combined with Eric's earlier share it became known since as Saxe-Ratzeburg-Lauenburg.

Marriage and issue

In 1302 Albert III married Margaret of Brandenburg, and they had the following two children:

• Albrecht of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia (*?–1344*), married Sophia of Ziegenhain
• Eric of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia (*?–1338*)