August (Wettin) von Sachsen-Weißenfels (1614 - 1680)

Born 13 Aug 1614 in Dresden, Kurfürstentum Sachsen, Heiliges Römisches Reich

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 4 Jun 1680 in Halle, Erzstift Magdeburg, Heiliges Römisches Reich

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August Wettin was a member of the aristocracy in Europe.

Biography

Augustus of Saxe-Weissenfels was a Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Querfurt, and administrator of the Archbishopric of Magdeburg.

Origins

He was born at Dresden on 13 August 1614, the fourth (but second surviving) son of John George I, Elector of Saxony, and his second wife, Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia.

Administrator of the Archbishopric of Magdeburg

On 23 January 1628, at the age of 13, August was appointed administrator of the Archbishopric of Magdeburg by its Chapter to replace Christian Wilhelm of Brandenburg. By that time, August had already served three years as coadjutor.

On 20 May 1631, after seven months of siege and plundering during the Sack of Magdeburg, the city was taken by the Imperial troops; the Catholic competitor for the diocese, Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria, assumed the title of archbishop and administrator of Magdeburg. The Peace of Prague (1635) confirmed his rule over the city.

Three years later, on 19 October 1638, August was restored as administrator after Swedish troops expelled the Habsburg army. August finally took full control of Magdeburg on 31 December 1642.

Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels

In his will of 20 July 1652, Elector John George I ordered a division of the Albertine territories that was carried out on 22 April 1657 in Dresden. August inherited the towns of Weißenfels and Querfurt and became their first duke.

In 1660, Duke August began rebuilding his official residence, Schloss Neu-Augustusburg in Weissenfels. The old castle had been devastated by Swedish troops. The duke died before the castle was finished.

Marriages and issue

In Schwerin on 23 November 1647 August married Anna Maria of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. They had twelve children:

1. Magdalene Sibylle (b. Halle, 2 September 1648 - d. Gotha, 7 January 1681), married on 14 November 1669 to Duke Frederick I of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. She was an ancestor of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
2. Johann Adolf I (b. Halle, 2 November 1649 - d. Weissenfels, 24 May 1697).
3. August (b. Halle, 3 December 1650 - d. Halle, 11 August 1674), Provost of Magdeburg; married on 25 August 1673 to Charlotte of Hesse-Eschwege.
4. Christian (b. Halle, 25 January 1652 - killed in action at Mainz, 24 August 1689), General Field Marshal of the Saxon Electoral Army.
5. Anna Maria (b. Halle, 28 February 1653 - d. Halle, 17 February 1671).
6. Sophie (b. Halle, 23 June 1654 - d. Zerbst, 31 March 1724), married on 18 June 1676 to Karl, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst. Like her older sister Magdalene Sybille, she was an ancestor of Queen Victoria.
7. Katharine (b. Halle, 12 September 1655 - d. Halle, 21 April 1663).
8. Christine (b. Halle, 25 August 1656 - d. Eutin, 27 April 1698), married on 21 June 1676 to August Friedrich of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince-Bishop of Lübeck (son of Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, and his wife Duchess Marie Elisabeth of Saxony).
9. Heinrich (b. Halle, 29 September 1657 - d. Barby, 16 February 1728); he inherited Barby.
10. Albrecht (b. Halle, 14 April 1659 - d. Leipzig, 9 May 1692).
11. Elisabeth (b.Halle, 25 August 1660 - d. Halle, 11 May 1663).
12. Dorothea (b. Halle, 17 December 1662 - d. Halle, 12 May 1663).

In Halle on 29 January 1672, two years after the death of his first wife, August married Johanna Walpurgis of Leiningen-Westerburg. They had three sons:

1. Frederick (b. Halle, 20 November 1673 - d. Dahme, 16 April 1715), he inherited Dahme.
2. Maurice (b. Halle, 5 January 1676 - d. Szeged, Hungary, 12 September 1695).
3. Stillborn son (1679).

Duke August of Saxe-Weissefels died on 4 June 1680 in Halle (Saale). The city, like the rest of the diocese of Magdebourg, was annexed to the Margraviate of Bandenburg (Prussia) upon August's death.

Burial

Place: Schlosskirche, Weissenfels, Sachsen, Prussia

Sources

• Wikipedia:Augustus,_Duke_of_Saxe-Weissenfels
• August von Sachsen-Weissenfels on Find A Grave: Memorial #45183407 Retrieved Sälgö-1 19:58, 11 October 2016 (EDT).
• This WikiTree profile is referenced from Wikidata: Item Q680131, en:Wikipedia

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