Lower Alsace (northern Alsace) was a landgraviate of the Holy Roman Empire held ex officio by the Bishop of Strasbourg. Prior to is acquisition by the bishopric, it was held by the counts of Hüneburg.In 1174 Count Gottfried of Hüneburg was the landgrave when he got into a dispute with the Abbey of Neuburg near Hagenau.In the late Middle Ages the unity of Lower Alsace was lost.