William I, Margrave of Meissen
Encyclopedia
William I, the one-eyed, (19 December 1343, Dresden
– 9 February 1407, Schloss Grimma
) was Margrave of Meissen. His surname is related to the legend that Saint Benno appeared to him because of his disputes with the Church in a dream and he had an eye gouged out.
died 1381, he performed in 1382 with the remaining heirs so-called Division of Chemnitz
, in which he was awarded the Margraviate of Meissen for an inheritance. Since 1395 he managed as governor Jobst of Moravia and the March of Brandenburg. William was one of the most active Wettin
princes, worked cleverly to the removal of powers of small noble-free estates in the interior of Meissen and the defence of the Bohemian House of Luxembourg
. He also acquired the rule of Colditz
, brought the rich possessions of the Burgraviate of Dohna, which he sold (Dohna Feud
), in itself, and was a great patron of the Meissen Cathedral whose exemption
he successfully helped to enforce. In 1404 William founded the Augustinian Monastery in Dresden, and fitted it out with possessions.
William's first wife was Elizabeth of Moravia (b. 1400), after whose death he married his second wife Anna of Brunswick. Both marriages were childless, so his inheritance fell to his nephews Frederick the Peaceful, Frederick the Belligerent
and William the Rich.
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
– 9 February 1407, Schloss Grimma
Grimma
Grimma is a town in the Free State of Saxony, Germany on the left bank of the Mulde, southeast of Leipzig. Founded in c. 1170, it is part of the Leipzig district.- Location :...
) was Margrave of Meissen. His surname is related to the legend that Saint Benno appeared to him because of his disputes with the Church in a dream and he had an eye gouged out.
Life
William was the son of Frederick II, Margrave of Meissen and Mathilde of Bavaria. He had his father and the country until 1382 reigned together with his older brothers and alternately. After his brother Frederick IIIFrederick III, Landgrave of Thuringia
Frederick III, the Strict , Landgrave of Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen, was the son of Frederick II, Margrave of Meissen and Mathilde of Bavaria....
died 1381, he performed in 1382 with the remaining heirs so-called Division of Chemnitz
Division of Chemnitz
The Division of Chemnitz settled the succession in the Landgraviate of Thuringia.After the death of Frederick the Severe, Margrave of Meissen and Landgrave of Thuringia, the five heirs of the House of Wettin decided to divide the country...
, in which he was awarded the Margraviate of Meissen for an inheritance. Since 1395 he managed as governor Jobst of Moravia and the March of Brandenburg. William was one of the most active Wettin
Wettin
Wettin is:*House of Wettin, a German Royal House*Wettin Castle, near Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, ancestral seat of the House of Wettin*Asteroid 90709 Wettin, named in the castle's and House's honour...
princes, worked cleverly to the removal of powers of small noble-free estates in the interior of Meissen and the defence of the Bohemian House of Luxembourg
House of Luxembourg
The House of Luxembourg was a late medieval German dynasty, which between 1308 and 1437 ruled the Holy Roman Empire, twice interrupted by the rivaling House of Wittelsbach.-History:...
. He also acquired the rule of Colditz
Colditz
Colditz is a town in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, near Leipzig, located on the banks of the river Mulde. The town has a population of 5,188 ....
, brought the rich possessions of the Burgraviate of Dohna, which he sold (Dohna Feud
Dohna Feud
The Dohna Feud was a 14th-century dispute between the burgraves of Dohna, who resided in the Eastern Ore Mountains of Central Europe, on the one hand and Saxon nobleman, John of Körbitz and the Meißen Margrave William I on the other...
), in itself, and was a great patron of the Meissen Cathedral whose exemption
Exemption
An exemption such as a tax exemption allows a certain amount of income or other value to be legally excluded to avoid or reduce taxation.Exemption may also refer to:...
he successfully helped to enforce. In 1404 William founded the Augustinian Monastery in Dresden, and fitted it out with possessions.
William's first wife was Elizabeth of Moravia (b. 1400), after whose death he married his second wife Anna of Brunswick. Both marriages were childless, so his inheritance fell to his nephews Frederick the Peaceful, Frederick the Belligerent
Frederick I, Elector of Saxony
Frederick IV of Meissen and Elector of Saxony was Margrave of Meissen and Elector of Saxony from 1381 until his death. He is not to be confused with his cousin Frederick IV, Landgrave of Thuringia, the son of Balthasar, Landgrave of Thuringia...
and William the Rich.