WI: Welfs get invested with Brandenburg?

[hirsch91]

Upon the death of Henry, the last Ascanian, the Margraviate of Brandenburg fell into an interregnum. Numerous factions exploited the absence of a proper King to pick apart bit and pieces of the Margraviate. The Mecklenburgs, Pomeranians, Anhalts, Habsburgs, the Archbishop of Magdeburg, and even the Welfs seized parts of Brandenburg. Stability only began to return in 1322 when Louis the Bavarian granted Brandenburg to his own son. This decision was driven his desire for the land itself, but as a strategic move to compete with the Luxembourgs. For nearly a century, Brandenburg remained destitute until the Hohenzollerns, with support from their Welf allies, worked to restore order. The Wittelsbachs and Luxembourgs neglected Brandenburg, focusing only on the power its electoral vote provided.

Which is why I'm asking: What if Louis the Bavarian had rewarded his brother-in-law, Otto of Brunswick-Lüneburg, by investing him in Brandenburg for his assistance in securing the Emperor’s crown, such as his support during the Battle of Mühldorf where Louis defeated his Habsburg rivals? Otto II was also related to the Ascanians through his grandmother, adding to his legitimacy. IOTL, Otto had already supported Louis and was granted an unspecified imperial fiefdom. What would be the ramifications of the Welfs being in charge of Brandenburg, probably after some time of squashing resistance both external and internal?

 

[Nuraghe]

Upon the death of Henry, the last Ascanian, the Margraviate of Brandenburg fell into an interregnum. Numerous factions exploited the absence of a proper King to pick apart bit and pieces of the Margraviate. The Mecklenburgs, Pomeranians, Anhalts, Habsburgs, the Archbishop of Magdeburg, and even the Welfs seized parts of Brandenburg. Stability only began to return in 1322 when Louis the Bavarian granted Brandenburg to his own son. This decision was driven his desire for the land itself, but as a strategic move to compete with the Luxembourgs. For nearly a century, Brandenburg remained destitute until the Hohenzollerns, with support from their Welf allies, worked to restore order. The Wittelsbachs and Luxembourgs neglected Brandenburg, focusing only on the power its electoral vote provided.

Which is why I'm asking: What if Louis the Bavarian had rewarded his brother-in-law, Otto of Brunswick-Lüneburg, by investing him in Brandenburg for his assistance in securing the Emperor’s crown, such as his support during the Battle of Mühldorf where Louis defeated his Habsburg rivals? Otto II was also related to the Ascanians through his grandmother, adding to his legitimacy. IOTL, Otto had already supported Louis and was granted an unspecified imperial fiefdom. What would be the ramifications of the Welfs being in charge of Brandenburg, probably after some time of squashing resistance both external and internal?

Well considering the policies that Otto II had undertaken in his dynastic possessions, I can imagine that in his short rule in Brandenburg ( given that he died in 1330 in Otl ) we will still see various techniques of consolidation of the territory ( both internally and externally ) through the use of pledges ( Verpfändungen in German (1), or military campaigns, we will probably see a policy of limiting the privileges of knights and local nobility, in order to safeguard public order and limit internal feuds within the margraviate, without forgetting reforms in favor of greater urbanization ( as he did in the Welfs domains, with the settlements of Harburg, Dahlenburg and Celle ) much will depend on how Otto manages the succession between his sons Otto and Wilhelm , who governed jointly in Otl without however dividing their father's possessions, which favored the economic growth of the cities under their control ( as in the case of Lüneburg, which flourished commercially thanks to the hydraulic works that made the Ilmenau navigable, as well as to a commercial treaty between the princes and dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg ) as well as continuing the expansion through a mix of diplomacy and war ( in particular they purchased the village of Fallersleben and the counties of Papenheim and Wettmarshagen ) the relationship between the brothers in this scenario, with the possibility of obtaining the electoral title, could be put in crisis, so it will depend on how the father handles the situation, otherwise with the Guelphs controlling almost the entirety of Northern Germany, I can see them concentrating on dealing with/dealing with the Hanseatic League, in order to manage some of that very rich trade network for their own political purposes, while at the same time continuing to compete with the Luxembourgs for the influence on Silesia and with the Wettins for the electoral title of Saxony, therefore it is not unthinkable to imagine them developing strong aspirations for the imperial crown in the future, without forgetting that they could once again forge important dynastic ties with England ( which if let's consider that Edward III in Otl was appointed imperial vicar by Louis IV, I can see the Guelphs trying to take advantage of this situation ) now it remains to be understood how Ludwig, not having to worry about the political situation in Brandenburg, wants to direct and use his resources elsewhere, probably against France or again in Italy to consolidate his imperial government


1 ) as in the case of the county of Wölpe, purchased in 1302 for 6,500 silver marks