Henry IV, Duke of Saxony

Henry IV the Pious, Duke of Saxony (German: Heinrich der Fromme) (Dresden, 16 March 1473 – Dresden, 18 August 1541) was a Duke of Saxony from the House of Wettin.

Biography

Heinrich was the second son of Albert, Duke of Saxony, and his wife Sidonie Podiebrad, princess of Bohemia. When Albert died in 1500, his eldest son Georg succeeded to the Duchy of Saxony, and Heinrich became Lord of Friesland.

Saxon rule of Friesland was disturbed by constant revolts. Consequently, Heinrich, who was of a rather inert disposition, gave up his title there. In 1505 Heinrich ceded Friesland to Georg, in return for an annuity and the districts of Wolkenstein and Freiberg, where Heinrich made his residence.

In 1517, Martin Luther started the Protestant Reformation in Germany, and a few years later Heinrich converted to Lutheranism. Georg remained a devout Catholic. Both of Georg's sons predeceased him without issue.

When Georg's second son died in 1539, Heinrich (a Protestant) became heir presumptive to the Duchy under the Act of Settlement of 1499. To prevent a Protestant succession, Georg tried to override his father's will, disinherit Heinrich, and bequeath the Duchy to Ferdinand, brother of Charles V. But Georg died only two months later, and Heinrich succeeded to the Duchy.

He was then 66 years old, and reigned for only two years. Heinrich made Lutheranism the state religion of the Duchy of Saxony.

Marriage and children

In Freiberg, on 6 July 1512, Heinrich married Catherine of Mecklenburg, daughter of Duke Magnus II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. They had six children:

Sybille (b. Freiberg, 2 May 1515 – d. Buxtehude, 18 July 1592), married on 8 February 1540 to Duke Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg.
Emilie (b. Freiberg, 27 July 1516 – d. Ansbach, 9 March 1591), married on 25 August 1533 to Georg, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach.
Sidonie (b. Meissen, 8 March 1518 – d. Kloster Weissenfels, 4 January 1575), married on 17 May 1545 to Eric II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Calenberg).
Maurice (b. Freiberg, 21 March 1521 – d. of wounds received in action at Sievershausen, 11 July 1553), later Elector of Saxony.
Severinus (b. Freiberg?, 28 August 1522 – d. Innsbruck, 10 October 1533).
Augustus (b. Freiberg, 31 July 1526 – d. Dresden, 11 February 1586).

Ancestry

Ancestors of Henry IV, Duke of Saxony

16. Frederick III, Landgrave of Thuringia

8. Frederick I, Elector of Saxony

17. Catherine of Henneberg

4. Frederick II, Elector of Saxony

18. Henry the Mild, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg

9. Catherine of Brunswick-Lüneburg

19. Sophie of Pomerania

2. Albert, Duke of Saxony

20. Leopold III, Duke of Austria

10. Ernest, Duke of Austria

21. Viridis Visconti

5. Margaret of Austria-Styria

22. Siemowit IV, Duke of Masovia

11. Cymburgis of Masovia

23. Alexandra of Lithuania

1. Henry IV, Duke of Saxony

24. Boček II of Poděbrady

12. Victor of Kunštát and Poděbrady

25. Anna Lipa of Duba

6. George of Kunštát and Poděbrady, King of Bohemia

26. Johann of Wartenberg, Burgrave of Glatz

13. Anna of Wartenberg

27. Anna of Wolharticz

3. Sidonie Podiebrad

28. Udalrich of Sternberg

14. Smil of Sternberg

29. Margarethe of Seeberg

7. Kunigunde of Sternberg

30. Smilo Flaschka of Richenburg
or Zdenic Pardubic of Pardubicz

15. Barbara Flaschka of Richenburg
or Barbora of Pardubic

31. Anna of Wartenberg

External links

(German) Article in the ABD

Henry IV, Duke of Saxony House of Wettin Born: 16 March 1473 Died: 18 August 1541
Preceded by George	Duke of Saxony 1539–1541	Succeeded by Maurice

Authority control	WorldCat Identities VIAF: 264830583 LCCN: n2003071695 ISNI: 0000 0000 6129 4795 GND: 115821872 BPN: 49494497

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