Saxe-Lauenburg navigates a precarious path. This small duchy on the Elbe River is ruled by the Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg, but their hold on power is tenuous. Squeezed between powerful neighbors like Holstein and the city of Lübeck, Saxe-Lauenburg struggles to maintain its independence. The region possesses some agricultural wealth, and the city of Lauenburg itself holds a strategic position on trade routes. However, Saxe-Lauenburg's future hinges on its ability to forge alliances and carve out a secure place in a competitive region.