His full title was Duke of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia, however only ruling the branch duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg between 1426 and 1463.

Failed in his fight for the Saxon electorate Eric finally agreed and made Bernard the co-duke of Saxe-Lauenburg in 1426.

In 1444, during the Soester feud, King Frederik III referred the Soest delegation to the court of Duke Bernard of Saxe-Lauenburg.

The coat of arms shows in the upper left quarter the Ascanian barry of ten, in Or and sable, covered by a crancelin of rhombs bendwise in vert.

The lower right fourth quarter shows in sable and argent the electoral swords (German: Kurschwerter) in gules, indicating the Saxon office as Imperial Arch-Marshal (German: Erzmarschall, Latin: Archimarescallus), pertaining to the Saxon privilege as Prince-elector, besides the right to elect a new emperor after the decease of the former.