User:Alba/List of Wettins

Main Line: Electors of Saxony (1422-1464)

 * Frederick I, the Warlike 1422-1428
 * Frederick II, the Gentle 1428-1464

On Frederick II's death his sons attempted co-rule (1464-1485), but found this intractable and divided the Wettin territories between them in 1485. The elder, Ernest, became elector and inherited Northern Meissen, Southern Thuringia, and Wittenberg, along with the Electoral title. Albert, the younger son, became duke and received Northern Thuringia and Southern Meissen.

Ernestine main line: Electors of Saxony (1486-1547)

 * Ernest 1464-1486
 * Frederick III, the Wise 1486-1525
 * John, the Steadfast 1525-1532
 * John Frederick 1532-1547

In 1547, following Emperor Charles V's victory at the Battle of Mühlberg, Wittenberg and the Electoral dignity passed to the Albertine line. The Ernestine line continued to rule in southern Thuringia as dukes, with the result that "ducal" and "electoral" Saxony swapped names. For convienence, "ducal" and "electoral" Saxony began to be referred to as Ernestine and Albertine Saxony, and as the Ernestine Wettins followed their policy of ensuring that each adult male held a territory (no matter how small), the idea of "Ernestine Saxony" became inoperative.


 * John Frederick, as Duke of Saxony 1547-1554

The two sons of John Frederick I shared the territory, with John Frederick II establishing residence in Gotha (Saxe-Gotha) and John William staying in Weimar (Saxe-Weimar).


 * John Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha, 1554-1566

John Frederick was captured by the Emperor in 1566, and control of all Ernestine Saxony passed to his brother (bypassing John Frederick's underage sons):


 * John William I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, 1566-1573

In 1572, with the Treaty of Erfurt Ernestine Saxony was divided into three parts: Saxe-Weimar, for John William, and Saxe-Coburg and Saxe-Eisenach, intended for John Frederick II's sons John Casimir and John Ernest. John Frederick claimed title as Duke of Saxe-Gotha until his death.

John Casimir, the older son of John Frederick II received the territory of Saxe-Coburg, John Ernest II, the younger son of John Frederick II, received the territory of Saxe-Eisenach, and John Willam added the districts of Altenburg, Gotha and Meiningen to Saxe-Weimar.

Ernestine line: descendants of John Frederick II

 * John Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha, 1572-1595 (imprisoned)
 * John Casimir, Duke of Saxe-Coburg, 1586-1633
 * John Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach 1586-1638

Ernestine line: descendants of John William I
John William I died a year after the Division of Erfurt, and his lands were divided again: Saxe-Altenburg was created for his elder son Frederick William I of Saxe-Altenburg, and Saxe-Weimar passed to his younger son John II.

This gets really crazy...


 * Frederick William I, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg 1573-1603
 * John Philip, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg 1603-1639
 * Frederick William II, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg 1639-1669
 * Frederick William III, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg 1669-1672
 * John II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar 1573-1602
 * John III, Duke of Saxe-Weimar 1602-1605

Albertine main line: Dukes of Saxony (1486-1547)

 * Albert Wettin, the Bold 1486-1500
 * George Wettin 1500-1539
 * Henry IV Wettin 1539-1541
 * Maurice 1541-1547 electorship awarded by Emperor Charles V in 1547

Albertine main line: Electors of Saxony (1547-1806)

 * Maurice 1547-1553
 * Augustus 1553-1586
 * Christian I 1586-1591
 * Christian II 1591-1611
 * John George I 1611-1656
 * John George II 1656-1680
 * John George III 1680-1691
 * John George IV 1691-1694
 * Frederick Augustus I 1694-1733 (Augustus the Strong, also King of Poland, 1697-1704, 1709-1733)
 * Frederick Augustus II 1733-1763 (also King of Poland)
 * Frederick Christian 1763
 * Frederick Augustus III 1763-1806

Albertine main line: Kings of Saxony (1806-1918)
In 1806, the Holy Roman Empire came to an end. The Kingdom of Saxony was formed, and Frederick Augustus III became King Frederick Augustus I.


 * Frederick Augustus I 1806-1827 (also Duke of Warsaw 1807-1813)
 * Anthony Clement 1827-1836
 * Frederick Augustus II 1836-1854
 * John 1854-1873
 * Albert 1873-1902
 * George 1902-1904
 * Frederick Augustus III 1904-1918

Albertine main line: Margraves of Meissen, Heads of the House of Wettin (1918-)
Saxony became a republic with the demise of the German Empire in 1918. Frederick Augustus III retained his title of King until his death; subsequent Heads of the House took the title of Margrave of Meissen, the title with which the House was founded in 1089.

For later rulers of Saxony, see List of minister presidents of Saxony.


 * King Frederick Augustus III 1918-1932
 * Frederick Christian, Margrave of Meissen 1932-1968
 * Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen 1968-present