John Frederick Elector Elector of Saxony Date of Birth: 30.06.1503 Country: Germany

1. Early Life and Reign
2. Secularity and Conflict
3. Schmalkaldic War and Defeat
4. Loss of Electorate and Imprisonment
5. Legacy and Descendants

Early Life and Reign

Born into the Ernestine branch of the Wettin dynasty, Johann Friedrich was the eldest son of Elector Johann the Steadfast. He initially ruled jointly with his brother, Johann Ernst.

Secularity and Conflict

Johann Friedrich's secularization of ecclesiastical properties in Zeit and Wurzen sparked a dispute with his cousin, Moritz of Saxony. Moritz withdrew from the Schmalkaldic League and allied himself with Emperor Charles V.

Schmalkaldic War and Defeat

As leaders of the Protestant alliance, Johann Friedrich and Philip of Hesse fought in the Schmalkaldic War. In the Battle of Mühlberg (1546), Johann Friedrich was captured and deposed. Sentenced to death by Charles V, he was pardoned but forced to sign the Capitulation of Wittenberg.

Loss of Electorate and Imprisonment

Maurice, Duke of Saxony, seized the Saxon Electorate in accordance with the promises made by Charles V in the Treaty of Prague. Johann Friedrich remained imprisoned until Maurice turned against the Emperor in 1552. Under the terms of the Peace of Passau, Johann Friedrich was released.

Legacy and Descendants

In the Treaty of Naumburg (1554), Johann Friedrich retained some lands, establishing the Ernestine line of the Wettin dynasty. However, he remained the last Elector from the Ernestine branch. He married Sibylle of Cleves in 1526 and fathered several children.