in 1369, his father died and henry vi began ruling alone. as his mother's heir, he was a candidate to inherit the principality of lüneburg after the death of duke william ii, also in 1369. a delegation of the estates of brunswick-lüneburg even travelled to waldeck to meet him. however, when they learned about his crackdown of korbach, they returned immediately. the inheritance of lüneburg was left in doubt, leading to the lüneburg war of succession.