Upon the deposition of the Welf duke Henry the Lion in 1180, the ducal title fell to the House of Ascania, in 1296 the remaining lands were divided into the duchies of Saxe-Wittenberg and Saxe-Lauenburg.
Upon the deposition of the Welf duke Henry the Lion in 1180, the ducal title fell to the House of Ascania, while numerous territories split from Saxony. In 1296 the remaining lands were divided into the duchies of Saxe-Wittenberg and Saxe-Lauenburg.