fbpx
Wikipedia

Magnus II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg

January 01, 1970

Magnus II of Saxe-Lauenburg (1543 – 14 May 1603, in Ratzeburg) was the eldest surviving son of Duke Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg and Sybille of Saxe-Freiberg, daughter of Duke Henry IV the Pious. In 1571 Magnus II ascended the throne after his father Francis I resigned due to indebtedness. Two years later Francis I, helped by his other son Francis (II), deposed Magnus II and re-ascended. Magnus' violent and judicial attempts to regain the duchy failed. In 1588 he was imprisoned for the remainder of his life.

Magnus II
Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Reign1571 – 1573
PredecessorFrancis I
SuccessorFrancis I
Born1543
Died14 May 1603
Ratzeburg
Burial
Ratzeburg, Castle Chapel
ConsortPrincess Sophia of Sweden
IssueGustav of Saxe-Lauenburg
HouseHouse of Ascania
FatherFrancis I of Saxe-Lauenburg
MotherSybille of Saxe-Freiberg
ReligionLutheran

Life edit

In 1550 Francis I sought to exercise influence to compel the cathedral chapter of the neighbouring Prince-Bishopric of Ratzeburg to elect his seven-year-old son Magnus as the next prince-bishop. However, the capitular canons refused. Magnus then spent his youth at the Swedish royal court of the House of Vasa. He befriended his cousin Prince Eric and, after his ascension to the throne as King Eric XIV, Magnus fared well.

Eric XIV waged war against their common cousin King Frederick II of Denmark. Magnus advanced in this conflict, which became the Scandinavian Seven Years' War (1563–1570), to the Swedish supreme command in 1566. Magnus married Eric's half-sister Princess Sophia of Sweden in a discreet ceremony on the eve of Eric's own marriage on 4 July 1568. However, Eric came to dismiss the rather unsuccessful Magnus as supreme commander. Later Magnus swung over to Eric's half-brothers Charles and John, and Magnus invaded Stockholm with them on 29 September of that year, overthrowing Eric.

On this occasion Magnus took Katarina Stenbock, the step-mother of his wife Sophia, and her half-sister Princess Elizabeth of Sweden by boat from the royal palace of Stockholm. About 1570 Magnus prevented Katarina's plans to remarry with his brother Francis.

As a Swedish commander, and with Sophia's dowry at his disposal, Magnus had gained a considerable fortune and pursued a new prize. His father Francis I agreed to resign in favour of Magnus in 1571, in return for which Magnus promised to redeem the pawned ducal demesnes. Rather than redeeming the estates, however, Magnus, further alienated ducal possessions, for instance selling the expectancy to the pawned estates of the bailiwick (Amt) of Tremsbüttel to Duke Adolphus of Holstein-Gottorp.

This ignited a conflict between Magnus on the one hand and his father and brothers, Francis (II) and Maurice, as well as the estates of the duchy. Opposition to Magnus was also driven by a temperament notoriously prone to drink and the infliction of violence on dissenters and inferiors.

In October 1573 Francis I deposed Magnus and re-ascended the ducal throne. The following year Magnus hired, among others, Dutch troops to take Saxe-Lauenburg by force. He invaded, ravaged and plundered Ratzeburg in early October but withdrew when his brother Francis (II), an experienced military commander, and Duke Adolphus of Holstein-Gottorp, Circle Colonel (Kreisobrist) of the Circle of Lower Saxony, arrived with troops.[1] In return Saxe-Lauenburg had to cede the bailiwick of Steinhorst to Holstein-Gottorp in 1575.

Magnus fled to his estates in Uppland in 1574, there displaying violence, wantonness and brutality. So next year his brother-in-law, the new King John III of Sweden, enfeoffed Magnus with Sonnenburg castle in Orissaare on Ösel island, recently conquered from Denmark. Magnus fell out with Klaus von Ungern, then the local Danish stadholder in Arensburg, the Danish part of Ösel. Magnus claimed the Danish island Mön as part of his estates and occupied it. Further, he robbed burghers in Pernau. His atrocities also included abuse of his wife Sophia.

The Danes complained, meanwhile Magnus fell into John's disfavour for his mistreatment of Sophia, who separated from him and stayed with their son Gustav in Sweden. In 1578 Magnus started a second attempt to conquer Saxe-Lauenburg, but was repelled by his brother Francis (II), whom - for his military success - their father rewarded with the rank of viceregent.[2]

In 1581 - shortly before he died and after consultations with his son, the Prince-Archbishop Henry of Bremen and Emperor Rudolph II, but not negotiated with his other sons Magnus and Maurice - Francis I made his third son Francis II, whom he considered the ablest, his sole successor, violating the rules of primogeniture.[3]

The violation of primogeniture, however, gave grounds for the estates to consider the upcoming duke as illegitimate.[4] Francis II, though, only officiated as administrator of Saxe-Lauenburg, while Magnus II appealed to Rudolph II to endow him with the throne. On 31 January 1585 Rudolph II finally ruled in favour of Francis II, as agreed with Francis I in 1581.

Meanwhile, Francis II had won over his brother Maurice by sharing rule with him and with the estates. On 16 December 1585 Francis II accepted, by the constitutional act of the "Eternal Union" (German: Ewige Union), the establishment of the representatives of Saxe-Lauenburg's nobility and cities, Lauenburg upon Elbe and Ratzeburg, as the estates of the duchy; a permanent institution with a crucial say in government matters. In return the estates accepted Francis II as legitimate and rendered him homage as duke in 1586.

Francis II lured Magnus into a trap in Hamburg and captured him later in 1588. Magnus remained imprisoned for the rest of his life, mostly in the castle of Ratzeburg, where he died in 1603.[5]

Marriage and issue edit

On 4 July 1568 Magnus II married Sophia of Sweden (October 29, 1547 - March 17, 1611). After 1574 they lived in Sweden. Their marriage was unhappy and in 1578 Sophia's brother, King John III of Sweden, expelled Magnus from the kingdom. Sophia and Magnus II had one son.

Ancestry edit

References edit

  • Otto von Heinemann (1884), "Magnus II", Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 20, Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 72–73
  • Wolf-Dieter Mohrmann (1987), "Magnus II.", Neue Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 15, Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 668–669

Notes edit

  1. ^ Cordula Bornefeld, "Die Herzöge von Sachsen-Lauenburg", in: Die Fürsten des Landes: Herzöge und Grafen von Schleswig, Holstein und Lauenburg [De slevigske hertuger; German], Carsten Porskrog Rasmussen (ed.) on behalf of the Gesellschaft für Schleswig-Holsteinische Geschichte, Neumünster: Wachholtz, 2008, pp. 373-389, here p. 380. ISBN 978-3-529-02606-5
  2. ^ Cordula Bornefeld, "Die Herzöge von Sachsen-Lauenburg", in: Die Fürsten des Landes: Herzöge und Grafen von Schleswig, Holstein und Lauenburg [De slevigske hertuger; German], Carsten Porskrog Rasmussen (ed.) on behalf of the Gesellschaft für Schleswig-Holsteinische Geschichte, Neumünster: Wachholtz, 2008, pp. 373-389, here p. 381. ISBN 978-3-529-02606-5
  3. ^ Cordula Bornefeld, "Die Herzöge von Sachsen-Lauenburg", in: Die Fürsten des Landes: Herzöge und Grafen von Schleswig, Holstein und Lauenburg [De slevigske hertuger; German], Carsten Porskrog Rasmussen (ed.) on behalf of the Gesellschaft für Schleswig-Holsteinische Geschichte, Neumünster: Wachholtz, 2008, pp. 373-389, here p. 380. ISBN 978-3-529-02606-5
  4. ^ Cordula Bornefeld, "Die Herzöge von Sachsen-Lauenburg", in: Die Fürsten des Landes: Herzöge und Grafen von Schleswig, Holstein und Lauenburg [De slevigske hertuger; German], Carsten Porskrog Rasmussen (ed.) on behalf of the Gesellschaft für Schleswig-Holsteinische Geschichte, Neumünster: Wachholtz, 2008, pp. 373-389, here p. 380. ISBN 978-3-529-02606-5
  5. ^ Cordula Bornefeld, "Die Herzöge von Sachsen-Lauenburg", in: Die Fürsten des Landes: Herzöge und Grafen von Schleswig, Holstein und Lauenburg [De slevigske hertuger; German], Carsten Porskrog Rasmussen (ed.) on behalf of the Gesellschaft für Schleswig-Holsteinische Geschichte, Neumünster: Wachholtz, 2008, pp. 373-389, here p. 381. ISBN 978-3-529-02606-5
Magnus II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Born: 1543 Died: 14 May 1603 in Ratzeburg
Regnal titles
Preceded by Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
1571–1573 		Succeeded by

January 01, 1970
magnus, duke, saxe, lauenburg, magnus, saxe, lauenburg, 1543, 1603, ratzeburg, eldest, surviving, duke, francis, saxe, lauenburg, sybille, saxe, freiberg, daughter, duke, henry, pious, 1571, magnus, ascended, throne, after, father, francis, resigned, indebtedn. Magnus II of Saxe Lauenburg 1543 14 May 1603 in Ratzeburg was the eldest surviving son of Duke Francis I of Saxe Lauenburg and Sybille of Saxe Freiberg daughter of Duke Henry IV the Pious In 1571 Magnus II ascended the throne after his father Francis I resigned due to indebtedness Two years later Francis I helped by his other son Francis II deposed Magnus II and re ascended Magnus violent and judicial attempts to regain the duchy failed In 1588 he was imprisoned for the remainder of his life Magnus IIDuke of Saxe LauenburgReign1571 1573PredecessorFrancis ISuccessorFrancis IBorn1543Died14 May 1603RatzeburgBurialRatzeburg Castle ChapelConsortPrincess Sophia of SwedenIssueGustav of Saxe LauenburgHouseHouse of AscaniaFatherFrancis I of Saxe LauenburgMotherSybille of Saxe FreibergReligionLutheran Contents 1 Life 2 Marriage and issue 3 Ancestry 4 References 5 NotesLife editIn 1550 Francis I sought to exercise influence to compel the cathedral chapter of the neighbouring Prince Bishopric of Ratzeburg to elect his seven year old son Magnus as the next prince bishop However the capitular canons refused Magnus then spent his youth at the Swedish royal court of the House of Vasa He befriended his cousin Prince Eric and after his ascension to the throne as King Eric XIV Magnus fared well Eric XIV waged war against their common cousin King Frederick II of Denmark Magnus advanced in this conflict which became the Scandinavian Seven Years War 1563 1570 to the Swedish supreme command in 1566 Magnus married Eric s half sister Princess Sophia of Sweden in a discreet ceremony on the eve of Eric s own marriage on 4 July 1568 However Eric came to dismiss the rather unsuccessful Magnus as supreme commander Later Magnus swung over to Eric s half brothers Charles and John and Magnus invaded Stockholm with them on 29 September of that year overthrowing Eric On this occasion Magnus took Katarina Stenbock the step mother of his wife Sophia and her half sister Princess Elizabeth of Sweden by boat from the royal palace of Stockholm About 1570 Magnus prevented Katarina s plans to remarry with his brother Francis As a Swedish commander and with Sophia s dowry at his disposal Magnus had gained a considerable fortune and pursued a new prize His father Francis I agreed to resign in favour of Magnus in 1571 in return for which Magnus promised to redeem the pawned ducal demesnes Rather than redeeming the estates however Magnus further alienated ducal possessions for instance selling the expectancy to the pawned estates of the bailiwick Amt of Tremsbuttel to Duke Adolphus of Holstein Gottorp This ignited a conflict between Magnus on the one hand and his father and brothers Francis II and Maurice as well as the estates of the duchy Opposition to Magnus was also driven by a temperament notoriously prone to drink and the infliction of violence on dissenters and inferiors In October 1573 Francis I deposed Magnus and re ascended the ducal throne The following year Magnus hired among others Dutch troops to take Saxe Lauenburg by force He invaded ravaged and plundered Ratzeburg in early October but withdrew when his brother Francis II an experienced military commander and Duke Adolphus of Holstein Gottorp Circle Colonel Kreisobrist of the Circle of Lower Saxony arrived with troops 1 In return Saxe Lauenburg had to cede the bailiwick of Steinhorst to Holstein Gottorp in 1575 Magnus fled to his estates in Uppland in 1574 there displaying violence wantonness and brutality So next year his brother in law the new King John III of Sweden enfeoffed Magnus with Sonnenburg castle in Orissaare on Osel island recently conquered from Denmark Magnus fell out with Klaus von Ungern then the local Danish stadholder in Arensburg the Danish part of Osel Magnus claimed the Danish island Mon as part of his estates and occupied it Further he robbed burghers in Pernau His atrocities also included abuse of his wife Sophia The Danes complained meanwhile Magnus fell into John s disfavour for his mistreatment of Sophia who separated from him and stayed with their son Gustav in Sweden In 1578 Magnus started a second attempt to conquer Saxe Lauenburg but was repelled by his brother Francis II whom for his military success their father rewarded with the rank of viceregent 2 In 1581 shortly before he died and after consultations with his son the Prince Archbishop Henry of Bremen and Emperor Rudolph II but not negotiated with his other sons Magnus and Maurice Francis I made his third son Francis II whom he considered the ablest his sole successor violating the rules of primogeniture 3 The violation of primogeniture however gave grounds for the estates to consider the upcoming duke as illegitimate 4 Francis II though only officiated as administrator of Saxe Lauenburg while Magnus II appealed to Rudolph II to endow him with the throne On 31 January 1585 Rudolph II finally ruled in favour of Francis II as agreed with Francis I in 1581 Meanwhile Francis II had won over his brother Maurice by sharing rule with him and with the estates On 16 December 1585 Francis II accepted by the constitutional act of the Eternal Union German Ewige Union the establishment of the representatives of Saxe Lauenburg s nobility and cities Lauenburg upon Elbe and Ratzeburg as the estates of the duchy a permanent institution with a crucial say in government matters In return the estates accepted Francis II as legitimate and rendered him homage as duke in 1586 Francis II lured Magnus into a trap in Hamburg and captured him later in 1588 Magnus remained imprisoned for the rest of his life mostly in the castle of Ratzeburg where he died in 1603 5 Marriage and issue editOn 4 July 1568 Magnus II married Sophia of Sweden October 29 1547 March 17 1611 After 1574 they lived in Sweden Their marriage was unhappy and in 1578 Sophia s brother King John III of Sweden expelled Magnus from the kingdom Sophia and Magnus II had one son Gustav Vasteras 31 August 1570 11 November 1597 Stockholm governor in Kalmar died at the age of 27 leaving a son and his unmarried mother Ancestry editAncestors of Magnus II Duke of Saxe Lauenburg16 Bernard II Duke of Saxe Lauenburg8 John V Duke of Saxe Lauenburg17 Adelheid of Pomerania Stolp4 Magnus I Duke of Saxe Lauenburg18 Frederick II Irontooth Elector of Brandenburg9 Dorothea of Brandenburg19 Catherine of Saxony2 Francis I Duke of Saxe Lauenburg20 William IV Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg Wolfenbuttel 10 Henry IV Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg Wolfenbuttel 21 Elisabeth of Stolberg Wernigerode5 Catherine of Brunswick Wolfenbuttel22 Eric II Duke of Pomerania Wolgast 30 11 Catherine of Pomerania Wolgast23 Sophia of Pomerania Stolp 31 1 Magnus II Duke of Saxe Lauenburg24 Frederick II the Gentle Elector of Saxony12 Albert Duke of Saxony25 Margarete of Austria6 Henry IV the Pious Duke of Saxony26 George of Podebrady13 Sidonie Podiebrad27 Kunigunde of Sternberg3 Sybille of Saxe Freiberg28 Henry IV the Fat Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin14 Magnus II Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin29 Dorothea of Brandenburg7 Catherine of Mecklenburg Schwerin30 Eric II Duke of Pomerania Wolgast 22 15 Sophia of Pomerania Wolgast31 Sophia of Pomerania Stolp 23 References editOtto von Heinemann 1884 Magnus II Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie in German vol 20 Leipzig Duncker amp Humblot pp 72 73 Wolf Dieter Mohrmann 1987 Magnus II Neue Deutsche Biographie in German vol 15 Berlin Duncker amp Humblot pp 668 669Notes edit Cordula Bornefeld Die Herzoge von Sachsen Lauenburg in Die Fursten des Landes Herzoge und Grafen von Schleswig Holstein und Lauenburg De slevigske hertuger German Carsten Porskrog Rasmussen ed on behalf of the Gesellschaft fur Schleswig Holsteinische Geschichte Neumunster Wachholtz 2008 pp 373 389 here p 380 ISBN 978 3 529 02606 5 Cordula Bornefeld Die Herzoge von Sachsen Lauenburg in Die Fursten des Landes Herzoge und Grafen von Schleswig Holstein und Lauenburg De slevigske hertuger German Carsten Porskrog Rasmussen ed on behalf of the Gesellschaft fur Schleswig Holsteinische Geschichte Neumunster Wachholtz 2008 pp 373 389 here p 381 ISBN 978 3 529 02606 5 Cordula Bornefeld Die Herzoge von Sachsen Lauenburg in Die Fursten des Landes Herzoge und Grafen von Schleswig Holstein und Lauenburg De slevigske hertuger German Carsten Porskrog Rasmussen ed on behalf of the Gesellschaft fur Schleswig Holsteinische Geschichte Neumunster Wachholtz 2008 pp 373 389 here p 380 ISBN 978 3 529 02606 5 Cordula Bornefeld Die Herzoge von Sachsen Lauenburg in Die Fursten des Landes Herzoge und Grafen von Schleswig Holstein und Lauenburg De slevigske hertuger German Carsten Porskrog Rasmussen ed on behalf of the Gesellschaft fur Schleswig Holsteinische Geschichte Neumunster Wachholtz 2008 pp 373 389 here p 380 ISBN 978 3 529 02606 5 Cordula Bornefeld Die Herzoge von Sachsen Lauenburg in Die Fursten des Landes Herzoge und Grafen von Schleswig Holstein und Lauenburg De slevigske hertuger German Carsten Porskrog Rasmussen ed on behalf of the Gesellschaft fur Schleswig Holsteinische Geschichte Neumunster Wachholtz 2008 pp 373 389 here p 381 ISBN 978 3 529 02606 5 Magnus II Duke of Saxe LauenburgHouse of AscaniaBorn 1543 Died 14 May 1603 in Ratzeburg Regnal titles Preceded byFrancis I Duke of Saxe Lauenburg1571 1573 Succeeded byFrancis I Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Magnus II Duke of Saxe Lauenburg amp oldid 1186737214, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.