Electors of Saxony
The Golden Bull of 1356 confirmed the right to participate in the election of a Holy Roman Emperor to the Duke of Saxony in the Saxe-Wittenberg line. For the predecessor see the section Ascanian Dukes of Saxe-Wittenberg above in this article.
| Electors of Saxony | |||||
| Ascanian Dynasty | |||||
| Image | Name | Began | Ended | Notes | |
| Rudolf I | 10 January 1356 | 11 March 1356 | Since 1298 Duke of Saxe-Wittenberg. | ||
| Rudolf II | 11 March 1356 | 6 December 1370 | Son of Rudolf I. | ||
| Wenceslaus Wenzel |
6 December 1370 | 15 May 1388 | Brother of Rudolf II. | ||
| Rudolf III | 15 May 1388 | 9 June 1419 | Son of Wenceslaus. | ||
| Albert III Albrecht II |
9 June 1419 | 12 November 1422 | Brother of Rudolf III. | ||
| Wettin Dynasty | |||||
| Image | Name | Began | Ended | Notes | |
| Frederick I Friedrich I |
6 January 1423 | 4 January 1428 | Nicknamed "the Warlike." After the Wittenberg line of the Ascanians became extinct, the Electorate was given to Frederick, Margrave of Meissen and Landgrave of Thuringia, of the House of Wettin. | ||
| Frederick II Friedrich II |
4 January 1428 | 7 September 1464 | Nicknamed "the Gentle". Son of Frederick I. Ruled jointly in Saxony with his brothers, but was the sole holder of the Electorate. Father of Ernest and Albert, founders of the Ernestine (continuing below) and Albertine Saxon lines (see section Albertine Dukes of Saxony above in this article). | ||
| Ernestine Line | |||||
| Ernest Ernst |
7 September 1464 | 26 August 1486 | Son of Frederick II, divided Saxony with his brother Albert, taking Wittenberg, northern Meissen, and southern Thuringia. Inherited Thuringia in 1482 and ruled it jointly with Albert until 1485. | ||
| Frederick III Friedrich III |
26 August 1486 | 5 May 1525 | Nicknamed "the Wise." Son of Ernest. Protector of Martin Luther, but a lifelong Catholic. | ||
| John Johann |
5 May 1525 | 16 August 1532 | Nicknamed "the Steadfast." Brother of Frederick III. Legally established Lutheranism in his territories in 1527. | ||
| John Frederick I Johann Friedrich I |
16 August 1532 | 19 May 1547 | Nicknamed "the Magnanimous." Son of John the Steadfast. Deprived of his Electorate by Emperor Charles V for his role in the Schmalkaldic War. Died 1554. | ||
| Albertine Line | |||||
| Maurice Moritz |
4 June 1547 | 11 July 1553 | Second cousin of John Frederick, grandson of Albert. Though a Lutheran, allied with Emperor Charles V against the Schmalkaldic League. Gained the Electorate for the Albertine line in 1547 after Charles V's victory at the Battle of Mühlberg. | ||
| Augustus I August I |
11 July 1553 | 12 February 1586 | Brother of Maurice. Recognized as Elector by the ousted John Frederick in 1554. | ||
| Christian I | 12 February 1586 | 25 September 1591 | Son of Augustus I. | ||
| Christian II | 25 September 1591 | 23 June 1611 | Son of Christian I. | ||
| John George I Johann Georg I |
23 June 1611 | 8 October 1656 | Brother of Christian II, ruled during the Thirty Years' War, during which he was at times allied with the Emperor and at times with the King of Sweden. | ||
| John George II Johann Georg II |
8 October 1656 | 1 September 1680 | Son of John George I. | ||
| John George III Johann Georg III |
1 September 1680 | 22 September 1691 | Son of John George II. | ||
| John George IV Johann Georg IV |
22 September 1691 | 27 April 1694 | Son of John George III. | ||
| Frederick Augustus I Friedrich August I |
27 April 1694 | 1 February 1733 | Brother of John George IV. Converted to Catholicism 1697 in order to compete for the crown of Poland. Took the Polish crown 1697, opposed by Stanisław Leszczyński 1704, forced to renounce the throne 1706, returned as monarch 1709 until his death. Called "the Strong". | ||
| Frederick Augustus II Friedrich August II |
1 February 1733 | 5 October 1763 | Son of Frederick Augustus I. Converted to Catholicism 1712. King of Poland 1734-1763. Called ""the Fat" or (in Poland) "the Saxon". | ||
| Frederick Christian Friedrich Christian |
5 October 1763 | 17 December 1763 | Son of Frederick Augustus II, raised Catholic. | ||
| Frederick Augustus III Friedrich August III |
17 December 1763 | 20 December 1806 | Son of Frederick Christian. His Electorate ceased with the fall of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, and he became King of Saxony. Called "the Just." | ||
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Read more about this topic: List Of Rulers Of Saxony