Frederick III, Elector of Saxony
Elector of Saxony from 1486 to 1525 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Frederick III (17 January 1463 – 5 May 1525), also known as Frederick the Wise (German: Friedrich der Weise), was Prince-elector of Saxony from 1486 to 1525, who is mostly remembered for the protection given to his subject Martin Luther, the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation. Frederick was the son of Ernest, Elector of Saxony and his wife Elisabeth, daughter of Albert III, Duke of Bavaria.
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| Frederick III | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Portrait by Lucas Cranach the Elder | |
| Elector of Saxony | |
| Reign | 26 August 1486 – 5 May 1525 |
| Predecessor | Ernest |
| Successor | John |
| Born | 17 January 1463 Torgau, Electorate of Saxony, Holy Roman Empire |
| Died | 5 May 1525(1525-05-05) (aged 62) Castle Lochau near Annaburg, Electorate of Saxony, Holy Roman Empire |
| Burial | |
| House | House of Wettin |
| Father | Ernest, Elector of Saxony |
| Mother | Elisabeth of Bavaria |
| Religion |
|
| Signature | .PNG) |
He is notable as being one of the most powerful early defenders of Martin Luther, as the elector successfully protected him from the Holy Roman Emperor, the Pope and other hostile figures. He was ostensibly led, not by religious conviction about the possible truthness of Luther's propositions, but rather by personal belief in a fair trial for any of his subjects (a privilege guaranteed by the imperial statutory law) and the rule of law.
The prince-elector is considered to have remained a Roman Catholic all his life, yet gradually inclining toward doctrines of the Reformation and supposedly converting on his deathbed.[1]
He is held in high regard by Protestants in church history, and is officially commemorated as an exemplary Christian ruler in the Calendar of Saints of the American Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod every 5 May.