 On 14 March 1675 the young duke could take formal possession of the government of his lands, after he went to the Imperial court in Vienna making his solemn homage to Emperor Leopold I, who confirmed his coming of age and the succession to his father's lands.Immediately after the beginning of George William's personal rule, Duchess Louise was forced to give up her land of Wołów.The announcements of the start of a good and prosper government by George William were stopped with the sudden death of the duke on 21 November 1675.