House of Wettin
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The House of Wettin (German: Haus Wettin) was a dynasty of German kings, prince-electors, dukes, and counts that once ruled territories in the present-day German states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The dynasty is one of the oldest in Europe, and its origins can be traced back to the town of Wettin, Saxony-Anhalt. The Wettins gradually rose to power within the Holy Roman Empire. Members of the family became the rulers of several medieval states, starting with the Saxon Eastern March in 1030. Other states they gained were Meissen in 1089, Thuringia in 1263, and Saxony in 1423. These areas cover large parts of Central Germany as a cultural area of Germany.
| House of Wettin | |
|---|---|
| Country | Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom |
| Founded | 10th century |
| Founder | Theodoric I |
| Current head | Michael, Prince of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach |
| Titles | List
|
| Branches | |
The family divided into two ruling branches in 1485 by the Treaty of Leipzig: the Ernestine and Albertine branches. The older Ernestine branch played a key role during the Protestant Reformation. Many ruling monarchs outside Germany were later tied to its cadet branch, the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The Albertine branch, while less prominent, ruled most of Saxony and played a part in Polish history.
Agnates of the House of Wettin have, at various times, ascended the thrones of the United Kingdom, Portugal, Bulgaria, Poland, Saxony, Mexico and Belgium. Only the Belgian line retains their throne today.
Origins: Wettin of Saxony edit
The oldest member of the House of Wettin who is known for certain is Theodoric I of Wettin, also known as Dietrich, Thiedericus, and Thierry I of Liesgau (died c. 982). He was most probably based in the Liesgau (located at the western edge of the Harz). Around 1000, the family acquired Wettin Castle, which was originally built by the local Slavic tribes (see Sorbs), after which they named themselves. Wettin Castle is located in Wettin in the Hassegau (or Hosgau) on the Saale River. Around 1030, the Wettin family received the Eastern March as a fief.[1]
The prominence of the Wettins in the Slavic Saxon Eastern March (or Ostmark) caused Emperor Henry IV to invest them with the March of Meissen as a fief in 1089. The family advanced over the course of the Middle Ages: in 1263, they inherited the landgraviate of Thuringia (although without Hesse) and in 1423, they were invested with the Duchy of Saxony, centred at Wittenberg, thus becoming one of the prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire.
Ernestine and Albertine Wettins edit
The family split into two ruling branches in 1485 when the sons of Frederick II, Elector of Saxony divided the territories hitherto ruled jointly. The elder son Ernest, who had succeeded his father as Prince-elector, received the territories assigned to the Elector (Electorate of Saxony) and Thuringia, while his younger brother Albert obtained the March of Meissen, which he ruled from Dresden. As Albert ruled under the title of "Duke of Saxony", his possessions were also known as Ducal Saxony.
- Ernest, Elector of Saxony (1441–1486)
- Albert, Duke of Saxony (1443–1500)
Ernestines edit
The older Ernestine branch remained predominant until 1547 and played an important role in the beginnings of the Protestant Reformation. Frederick III (Friedrich der Weise) appointed Martin Luther (1512) and Philipp Melanchthon (1518) to the University of Wittenberg, which he had established in 1502.[2]
The Ernestine predominance ended in the Schmalkaldic War (1546/7), which pitted the Protestant Schmalkaldic League against the Emperor Charles V. Although itself Lutheran, the Albertine branch rallied to the Emperor's cause. Charles V had promised Moritz the rights to the electorship. After the Battle of Mühlberg, Johann Friedrich der Großmütige, had to cede territory (including Wittenberg) and the electorship to his cousin Moritz. Although imprisoned, Johann Friedrich was able to plan a new university. It was established by his three sons on 19 March 1548 as the Höhere Landesschule at Jena. On 15 August 1557, Emperor Ferdinand I awarded it the status of university.[2]
The Ernestine line was thereafter restricted to Thuringia and its dynastic unity swiftly crumbled, dividing into a number of smaller states, the Ernestine duchies. Nevertheless, with Ernst der Fromme, Duke of Saxe-Gotha (1601–1675), the house gave rise to an important early-modern ruler who was ahead of his time in supporting the education of his people and in improving administration. In the 18th century, Karl August, Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, established what was to become known as Weimar Classicism at his court in Weimar, notably by bringing Johann Wolfgang von Goethe there.[2]
It was only in the 19th century that one of the many Ernestine branches, the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, regained importance through marriages as the "stud of Europe", by ascending the thrones of Belgium (in 1831), Portugal (1853–1910), Bulgaria (1908–1946) and the United Kingdom (1901-present, though the relevant marriage had taken place in 1840) and also providing a consort to the future Habsburg Emperor of Mexico (1857).[3]
| Image | Name | Began | Ended | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick I Friedrich I | 6 January 1423 | 4 January 1428 | Nicknamed "the Warlike." After the Wittenberg line of the House of Ascania 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 Albertine Dukes of Saxony). | |
| 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 der Weise (the Wise). Son of Ernest. Protector of Martin Luther, but a lifelong Catholic. | |
| John Johann | 5 May 1525 | 16 August 1532 | Nicknamed der Beständige (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 der Großzügige (the Magnanimous). Son of John the Steadfast. Deprived of his Electorate by Emperor Charles V for his role in the Schmalkaldic War. Died 1554. | |
Residences of Ernestine branches edit
- Altenburg Castle
- Saalfeld Castle
-
- Eisenach Palace
- Elisabethenburg Palace in Meiningen
- Hildburghausen Castle
Albertines edit
The junior Albertine branch maintained most of the territorial integrity of Saxony, preserving it as a significant power in the region, and used small appanage fiefs for its cadet branches, few of which survived for significant lengths of time. The Ernestine Wettins, on the other hand, repeatedly subdivided their territory, creating an intricate patchwork of small duchies and counties in Thuringia.
The Albertine Wettins ruled as Electors (1547–1806) and Kings of Saxony (1806–1918), and also played a role in Polish history – two Wettins were Kings of Poland (between 1697–1763) and a third ruled the Duchy of Warsaw (1807–1814) as a satellite of Napoleon I. After the Napoleonic Wars, the Albertine branch lost about 40% of its lands (the economically less-developed northern parts of the old Electorate of Saxony) to Prussia, restricting it to a territory coextensive with the modern Saxony (see Final Act of the Congress of Vienna Act IV: Treaty between Prussia and Saxony 18 May 1815). Frederick Augustus III lost his throne in the German Revolution of 1918.
The role of current head of the Albertine "House of Saxony" is claimed by his great-grandson Prince Rüdiger of Saxony, Duke of Saxony, Margrave of Meissen (born 23 December 1953). However, the headship of Prince Rüdiger is contested by his second cousin, Alexander (born 1954), son of Roberto Afif (later by change of name Mr Gessaphe) and Princess Maria Anna of Saxony, a sister of the childless former head of the Albertines, Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen (died 2012), who had adopted his nephew and granted him the name Prince of Saxony, contrary to the rules of male descent under the Salic Law. Both are however not recognized by the Nobility Archive in Marburg, nor by the Conference of the Formerly Ruling Houses in Germany – Prince Rüdiger because his father Timo was expelled from the House of Wettin, and Prince Alexander because he is not of agnatic noble descent (his father was Roberto Afif from Lebanon). Consequently, the Albertine branch of the House of Wettin is officially treated by the German nobility as extinct in its legal succession-line.
Albertine Electors and Kings of Saxony edit
| Image | Name (Life Dates) | Relationship to predecessor | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albert III, Duke of Saxony (1443–1500) | Second son of Frederick II, Elector of Saxony | Margrave of Meissen and Duke of Saxony | |
| George, Duke of Saxony (1471–1539) | Son of the previous | Margrave of Meissen and Duke of Saxony | |
| Henry IV, Duke of Saxony (1473–1541) | Brother of the previous | Margrave of Meissen and Duke of Saxony | |
| Maurice, Elector of Saxony (1521–1553) | Son of the previous | Margrave of Meissen and Duke of Saxony, from 1547 Elector of Saxony. Second cousin of John Frederick, his Ernestine predecessor as Elector; 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, Elector of Saxony (1526–1586) | Brother of the previous | Elector of Saxony; recognized as Elector by the ousted John Frederick in 1554. | |
| Christian I, Elector of Saxony (1560–1591) | Son of the previous | Elector of Saxony | |
| Christian II, Elector of Saxony (1583–1611) | Son of the previous | Elector of Saxony | |
| John George I, Elector of Saxony (1585–1656) | Brother of the previous | Elector of Saxony; 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, Elector of Saxony (1613–1680) | Son of the previous | Elector of Saxony | |
| John George III, Elector of Saxony (1647–1691) | Son of the previous | Elector of Saxony | |
| John George IV, Elector of Saxony (1668–1694) | Son of the previous | Elector of Saxony | |
| Augustus II the Strong (1670–1733) | Brother of the previous | Elector of Saxony (as Frederick Augustus I) and King of Poland (as Augustus II). The first Albertine ruler since Luther's time to become a Roman Catholic, in order to gain the Polish throne (with the Albertines remaining Catholics ever since). Took the Polish crown 1697, opposed by Stanisław Leszczyński 1704, forced to renounce the throne 1706, returned as monarch 1709 until his death. A patron of the arts and architecture, the most prominent of all Albertine Wettins amassed an impressive art collection and built lavish baroque palaces at and around Dresden and Warsaw. | |
| Augustus III of Poland (1696–1763) | Son of the previous | Elector of Saxony (as Frederick Augustus II) and King of Poland (as Augustus III); converted to Catholicism 1712. King of Poland 1734–1763. Called ""the Fat" or (in Poland) "the Saxon". A weak ruler but an important art collector. | |
| Frederick Christian, Elector of Saxony (1722–1763) | Son of the previous | Elector of Saxony | |
| Frederick Augustus I of Saxony (1750–1827) | Son of the previous | Elector of Saxony, 1806 King of Saxony. His Electorate ceased with the fall of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, and he became King of Saxony. Called "the Just". First and only Duke of Warsaw French client state established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1807, during the Napoleonic Wars. | |
| Anthony of Saxony (1755–1836) | Brother of the previous | King of Saxony | |
| Frederick Augustus II of Saxony (1797–1854) | Nephew of the previous | King of Saxony | |
| John, King of Saxony (1801–1873) | Brother of the previous | King of Saxony | |
| Albert, King of Saxony (1828–1902) | Son of the previous | King of Saxony | |
| George, King of Saxony (1832–1904) | Brother of the previous | King of Saxony | |
| Frederick Augustus III of Saxony (1865–1932) | Son of the previous. | The last king of Saxony. Lost his throne in the German revolution of 1918. |
Residences of the Albertine branch edit
-
- Meissen (near Dresden)
- Moritzburg Castle (near Dresden)
- Pillnitz Palace (near Dresden)
- Weesenstein Castle (near Dresden)
- Freudenstein Castle at Freiberg
-
- Hubertusburg Castle (near Leipzig)
The House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha edit
The senior (Ernestine) branch of the House of Wettin lost the electorship to the Albertine line in 1547, but retained its holdings in Thuringia, dividing the area into a number of smaller states. One of the resulting Ernestine houses, known as Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld until 1826 and as Saxe-Coburg and Gotha after that, went on to contribute kings of Belgium (from 1831) and Bulgaria (1908–1946), as well as furnishing consorts to queens regnant of Portugal (Prince Ferdinand) and the United Kingdom (Prince Albert), and the Emperor of Mexico (Carlota of Mexico)[4] Thus, the British and Portuguese thrones became possessions of persons who belonged to the House of Wettin for a time.
From King George I to Queen Victoria, the British Royal family was called the House of Hanover, being a junior branch of the House of Brunswick-Lüneburg and thus part of the dynasty of the Guelphs. In the late 19th century, Queen Victoria charged the College of Arms in England to determine the correct personal surname of her late husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha—and, thus, the proper surname of the royal family upon the accession of her son. After extensive research, they concluded that it was Wettin, but this name was never used, either by the Queen or by her son (King Edward VII) or by her grandson (King George V); they were simply Kings of the House of "Saxe-Coburg-Gotha".
Severe anti-German sentiment during World War I (1914-1918) led some influential members of the British public (especially radical Republicans such as H. G. Wells[5]) to question the loyalty of the royal family. Advisors to King George V searched for an acceptable surname for the British royal family, but Wettin was rejected as "unsuitably comic".[6][7][8] An Order in Council legally changed the name of the British royal family to "Windsor" (originally suggested by Lord Stamfordham) in 1917.
Residences of the family edit
- Veste Coburg, ancestral seat of the House of Saxe-Coburg
- Ehrenburg Palace, Coburg (summer residence)
- Friedenstein Castle, Gotha (winter residence)
- Reinhardsbrunn Castle, Gotha
- Rosenau Castle, Coburg
-
Branches and titles of the House of Wettin and its agnatic descent edit
Early Wettins edit
- Counts of Wettin
- Margraves of Landsberg
- Margraves of Meissen
- Margraves of Lusatia
- Dukes of Saxony, Landgraves of Thuringia
- Electors of Saxony and Arch-Marshals of the Holy Roman Empire
- Wartburg near Eisenach (1250–1406: residence of the Wettins)
Ernestines edit
- Electors of Saxony and Arch-Marshals of the Holy Roman Empire (1464–1547)
- Wittenberg Castle, residence of Frederick III, "the Wise", built 1490–96
- Hartenfels Castle in Torgau, main residence of the Ernestine Electors since Frederick III, "the Wise", built 1533–40
Existing Ernestine branches edit
Branch of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
- Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, extant lines all shared last common ancestor in the person of William Ernest, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. However there are only two members of this line left, Michael, Prince of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. Both were born in 1946. Since Prince Michael has no sons, and Prince Wilhelm Ernst, whose only son Prince Georg-Constantin (13 April 1977 – 9 June 2018), a banker who was married but without issue, was killed in a horse riding accident on 9 June 2018 while riding with Jean Christophe Iseux von Pfetten. Therefore, the Grand Ducal House of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach will most likely become extinct in the male line. These two represent the last non-morganatic descendants of William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
- Illegitimate line of Barons of Heygendorff, four males left
Branch of Saxe-Meiningen
- Saxe-Meiningen lines all shared common descent from Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen
- Morganatic lines from Ernst, Prince of Saxe-Meiningen
- Morganatic line from Bernhard, Prince of Saxe-Meiningen
- Legitimate line from Bernhard, Prince of Saxe-Meiningen of whom only Prince Frederick Konrad of Saxe-Meiningen (Born on 14 April 1952) is still alive today.
In the very likely event of the extinction of these two senior branches, the sole represantation of the Ernestine Wettins will pass to the descendants of Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, who are the present Saxe-Coburg-Gothas led by Andreas, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (b. 21 March 1943), the House of Windsor, the Royal Family of Belgium and the Royal Family of Bulgaria. Francis and his nephew Ludwig Frederick Emil von Coburg are also ancestors to morganatic lines.
- Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, last common descent from Francis Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, further divided into:
- Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, last common descent from Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, further divided into:
- House of Windsor, last common descent from Albert, Prince Consort of the United Kingdom, as in 1863 Edward VII and his son, the future George V renounced his succession rights to the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the succession fell into the line of the Duke of Albany.
- Gloucester line Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
- Kentian Line, from Prince George, Duke of Kent
- Mainline (Albany) Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, from Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha who until 1919 was the Duke of Albany
- House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry, last common descent from Prince August of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
- Morganatic descendants from Prince Philipp of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1901–1985)
- Bulgarian royal family, all living members are descended from Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
- House of Belgium, all living members share common descent from Albert II of Belgium. However as absolute primogeniture is in effect in Belgium, if and on the ascencion of Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant to the throne, the ruling house of Belgium will no longer considered agnates to the House of Wettin
- Eppinghoven, illegitimate agnatic branch to the House of Belgium from Leopold I of Belgium and Arcadie Claret
- House of Windsor, last common descent from Albert, Prince Consort of the United Kingdom, as in 1863 Edward VII and his son, the future George V renounced his succession rights to the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the succession fell into the line of the Duke of Albany.
- Morganatic line of Rohmann, from Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld marriage to a commoner, Therese Stroffeck
- Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, last common descent from Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, further divided into:
-
-
- Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
-
-
Extinct Ernestine branches edit
- Dukes of Saxe-Coburg
- Dukes of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
- Dukes of Saxe-Altenburg (first line of Altenburg)
- Dukes of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (second line of Altenburg)
- Dukes of Saxe-Hildburghausen, then Dukes of Saxe-Altenburg (third line of Altenburg)
- Dukes of Saxe-Weimar
- Dukes of Saxe-Eisenach
- Dukes of Saxe-Coburg-Eisenach
- Dukes of Saxe-Jena
- Dukes of Saxe-Gotha
- Dukes of Saxe-Eisenberg
- Dukes of Saxe-Marksuhl
- Dukes of Saxe-Römhild
- Kings of Portugal and the Algarves (House of Braganza-Saxe-Coburg and Gotha)
Albertines edit
- Margraves of Meissen
- Grand Master of the Teutonic Order (1498–1510)
- Electors of Saxony and Arch-Marshals of the Holy Roman Empire (1547–1806)
- Kings of Poland and Grand Dukes of Lithuania (1697-1763)
- Duke of Courland and Semigallia (1758–1763)
- Duke of Teschen (1766-1822)
- Kings of Saxony (1806–1918), currently Prince/Princess of Saxony and Duke/Duchess of Saxony, with the head of the family also Margrave of Meissen
- Duke of Warsaw (1807–1815)
Existing Albertine branch edit
- Saxe-Gessaphe (cognatic)
Extinct Albertine branches edit
- Dukes of Saxe-Zeitz
- Dukes of Saxe-Merseburg
- Dukes of Saxe-Weissenfels
-
- Merseburg Castle
- Neu-Augustusburg Castle, Weissenfels
Family tree of the House of Wettin edit
Coats of arms edit
- Counts of Wettin, Margraves of Landsberg
- Margraves of Meissen
- Margraves of Meissen and Landgraves of Thuringia
- Elector of Saxony and Arch-Marshal of the Holy Roman Empire
- King of Saxony (standard arms)
For an extensive treatment of the coats of arms, see: Coat of arms of Saxony
or in French: Armorial de la maison de Wettin
See also edit
- Rulers of Saxony, a list containing many Wettins
- Wettin, Saxony-Anhalt, the city from which the Wettin dynasty originated
- Coinage of Saxony
- Free Saxony, monarchist political party
- Saxon Renaissance, regional type of architecture
References edit
- ^ Lexikon des Mittelalters, vol. IX, col. 50, Munich 1969–1999
- ^ a b c Kellner, Stefanie (February 2016). "Die freiheitliche Geisteshaltung der Ernestiner prägte Europa". Monumente (in German). pp. 9–16. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ^ "Carlota | archduchess of Austria | Britannica". 3 June 2023.
- ^ "Carlota | archduchess of Austria | Britannica". 3 June 2023.
- ^ Anne Edwards, Matriarch: Queen Mary and the House of Windsor (2014), p. 300.
- ^ "We can hazard a guess that Wettin and Wipper, if given an English pronunciation, sounded quite as unsuitably comic in the ears of this sailor King in 1917 as they do to us today." Elizabeth Longford, The Royal House of Windsor (1984), p. 21.
- ^ "British courtiers thought it sounded 'unsuitably comic' and the cumbersome 'Saxe-Coburg-Gotha' was invariably used." Barry Jones, Dictionary of World Biography 4th ed. (2017), p. 892.
- ^ "Since the Saxe-Coburg family belonged to the House of Wettin in the District of Wipper, Wettin or Wipper might be more appropriate. Either one could have passed for an English name, but both were considered 'unsuitably comic.'" Anne Edwards, Matriarch: Queen Mary and the House of Windsor (2014), p. 302.
External links edit
- House of Wettin – European Heraldry page
- Timeline at the website of the State of Saxony
- Website of Rüdiger, Margrave of Meissen (in German)
- Website of Albert Prinz von Sachsen (in German)