Duke Frederick of Saxe-Altenburg (1599–1625)
Encyclopedia
Frederick of Saxe-Altenburg (12 February 1599, Torgau
– in battle: 24 October 1625, Seelze
) was a member of the Ernestine branche of the House of Wettin and a Duke of Saxe-Altenburg
and Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg. Frederick is sometimes called "Frederick the younger" to distinguish him from Prince Frederick of Saxe-Weimar
, as they were both called "Frederick of Saxe-Weimar".
of Saxe-Weimar (1562–1602) from his second marriage to Anna Maria (1575–1643), daughter of Count Palatine Philip Louis of Neuburg
.
After the death of his father Frederick inherited the Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg jointly with his brothers John Philip
, John William
and Frederick William II
. Their guardians were the Elector Christian II of Saxony and their uncle, Duke John II. After John II died in 1605, Christian II was their sole guardian.
After the War of the Jülich succession
, the brothers were enfeoffed with the Duchies of Jülich, Cleves and Berg. However, they were still minors and were only allowed to use the title and the coat of arms. In 1612, the brothers enrolled at the University of Leipzig
to complete their education. Frederick and John Philip participated in the Princess Congress at Naumburg
in 1614, where the inheritance alliance between Brandenburg, Hesse and Saxony was created.
In 1618, the oldest brother John Philip came of age and began to rule independently. The younger brothers decided to allow John Philip to continue to rule alone, when they came of age, in exchange for a jointure
. At first, this was agreed for a limited number of years. In 1624, however, the arrangement was made permanent.
Frederick went into the service of the Elector John George I
of Saxony and fought in the Thirty Years' War
in Lusatia and Bohemia. From 1622, he led his own corps of troops, however, these scattered due to lack of pay. Frederick then went into the service of Duke Christian the Younger of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. During the Battle of Stadtlohn
of 1623, Frederick and William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar were captured by Tilly, who surrendered the Dukes to the Emperor. Frederick remained imprisoned for a while. In 1624, John George I intervened and he was released.
In 1625 Frederick became a cavalry commander in Danish service. With his regiment he formed a Danish outpost in Seelze. They were attacked by Tilly and he died of a head wound. Hans Michael Elias von Obentraut died during the same skirmish. Frederick's body was first interred in Hanover and later moved the Brothers' Church in Altenburg. He died unmarried and without heirs.
Torgau
Torgau is a town on the banks of the Elbe in northwestern Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district Nordsachsen.Outside Germany, the town is most well known as the place where during the Second World War, United States Army forces coming from the west met with forces of the Soviet Union...
– in battle: 24 October 1625, Seelze
Seelze
Seelze is a town in the district of Hanover, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Leine, approx. 10 km west of Hanover. Today Seelze mainly plays the role of a bedroom town for commuters working in Hanover.-Division of the town:...
) was a member of the Ernestine branche of the House of Wettin and a Duke of Saxe-Altenburg
Saxe-Altenburg
Saxe-Altenburg was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine branch of the Wettin dynasty in present-day Thuringia.-History:The duchy originated from the medieval Burgraviate of Altenburg in the Imperial Pleissnerland , a possession of the Wettin Margraves of Meissen since 1243...
and Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg. Frederick is sometimes called "Frederick the younger" to distinguish him from Prince Frederick of Saxe-Weimar
Duke Frederick of Saxe-Weimar (1596-1622)
Duke Frederick of Saxe-Weimar was a prince from the Ernestine branch of the House of Wettin and a Colonel in the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
, as they were both called "Frederick of Saxe-Weimar".
Life
Frederick was the third son of Duke Frederick William IFrederick William I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Frederick William I , was a duke of Saxe-Weimar. He was the eldest son of John William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Dorothea Susanne of Simmern.-Life:...
of Saxe-Weimar (1562–1602) from his second marriage to Anna Maria (1575–1643), daughter of Count Palatine Philip Louis of Neuburg
Philip Louis, Count Palatine of Neuburg
Philip Louis of Neuburg was the Duke of Palatinate-Neuburg from 1569 until 1614.-Life:Philip Louis was born in Zweibrücken in 1547 as the eldest son of Wolfgang, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken. After his father's death in 1569, his lands were partitioned between Philip Louis and his four brothers -...
.
After the death of his father Frederick inherited the Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg jointly with his brothers John Philip
John Philip, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg
John Philip, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg , was a duke of Saxe-Altenburg.He was the eldest surviving son of Frederick William I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Anna Maria of the Palatinate-Neuburg, his second wife.-Childhood:When his father died , John Philip and his younger brothers Frederick, John...
, John William
Duke John William of Saxe-Altenburg
Duke John William of Saxe-Altenburg was a member of the Ernestine branch of the House of Wettin and a titular Duke of Saxe-Altenburg and of Jülich-Cleves-Berg.- Life :...
and Frederick William II
Frederick William II, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg
Frederick Wilhelm II, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg , was a duke of Saxe-Altenburg.He was the youngest son of Frederick Wilhelm I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Anna Maria of the Palatinate-Neuburg, his second wife...
. Their guardians were the Elector Christian II of Saxony and their uncle, Duke John II. After John II died in 1605, Christian II was their sole guardian.
After the War of the Jülich succession
War of the Jülich Succession
The War of the Jülich Succession was a conflict that began in 1609 and ended in 1614 with the signing of the Treaty of Xanten.-Background:...
, the brothers were enfeoffed with the Duchies of Jülich, Cleves and Berg. However, they were still minors and were only allowed to use the title and the coat of arms. In 1612, the brothers enrolled at the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
to complete their education. Frederick and John Philip participated in the Princess Congress at Naumburg
Naumburg
Naumburg is a town in Germany, on the Saale River. It is in the district Burgenlandkreis in the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt. It is approximately southwest of Leipzig, south-southwest of Halle, and north-northeast of Jena....
in 1614, where the inheritance alliance between Brandenburg, Hesse and Saxony was created.
In 1618, the oldest brother John Philip came of age and began to rule independently. The younger brothers decided to allow John Philip to continue to rule alone, when they came of age, in exchange for a jointure
Jointure
Jointure is, in law, a provision for a wife after the death of her husband. As defined by Sir Edward Coke, it is "a competent livelihood of freehold for the wife, of lands or tenements, to take effect presently in possession or profit after the death of her husband for the life of the wife at...
. At first, this was agreed for a limited number of years. In 1624, however, the arrangement was made permanent.
Frederick went into the service of the Elector John George I
John George I, Elector of Saxony
John George I was Elector of Saxony from 1611 to 1656.-Biography:Born in Dresden, he was the second son of the Elector Christian I and Sophie of Brandenburg....
of Saxony and fought in the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
in Lusatia and Bohemia. From 1622, he led his own corps of troops, however, these scattered due to lack of pay. Frederick then went into the service of Duke Christian the Younger of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. During the Battle of Stadtlohn
Battle of Stadtlohn
The Battle of Stadtlohn was fought on August 6, 1623 between the armies of Christian of Brunswick and of the Catholic League during the Thirty Years' War...
of 1623, Frederick and William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar were captured by Tilly, who surrendered the Dukes to the Emperor. Frederick remained imprisoned for a while. In 1624, John George I intervened and he was released.
In 1625 Frederick became a cavalry commander in Danish service. With his regiment he formed a Danish outpost in Seelze. They were attacked by Tilly and he died of a head wound. Hans Michael Elias von Obentraut died during the same skirmish. Frederick's body was first interred in Hanover and later moved the Brothers' Church in Altenburg. He died unmarried and without heirs.