In 1542/1547 - 1549 "Chapter" and "Estates" managed to dismiss the autocratic and prodigal Prince-Archbishop Christopher "the Spendthrift", Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg-Wolfenbüttel. Especially the "Chapter" used its power to elect very old candidates, to minimise the time a ruler can be harmful, or to elect minors, which it hoped to dress and tame in time. Once in a while the "Chapter" took up time and protracted elections for years, being itself the ruler for the time of sede vacante. During the dismissal of Prince-Archbishop "Christopher the Spendthrift" the "chapter" ruled together with the "Estates" which had gained at that time substantial power.