Reign 1619 – 1656 Name Augustus, of Issue
Detail Anna Elisabeth | Successor Julius Henry Predecessor Francis II | |
Born 17 February 1577
Ratzeburg ( 1577-02-17 ) Died 18 January 1656(1656-01-18) (aged 78)
Lauenburg upon Elbe Consort Elisabeth Sophia of Holstein-Gottorp
Catherine of Oldenburg | ||
Augustus of Saxe-Lauenburg (Ratzeburg, 17 February 1577 – 18 January 1656, Lauenburg upon Elbe) was Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg between 1619 and 1656. He was a son of Duke Francis II and his first wife Margaret of Pomerania-Wolgast, daughter of Philip I, Duke of Pomerania-Wolgast. Since Augustus survived all his sons he was succeeded by his half-brother Julius Henry.
On his ascension Augustus moved Saxe-Lauenburg's capital from Neuhaus, whereto Francis II had moved it after the residential castle in Lauenburg upon Elbe (started in 1180–1182 by Bernhard, Count of Anhalt) had burnt down in 1616, towards Ratzeburg, where it remained since.
During the Thirty Years' War Augustus always remained neutral, however, billeting and alimenting foreign troops marching through posed a heavy burden onto the ducal subjects.
Marriages and issue
Augustus married twice. On 5 March 1621 he married in Husum Elisabeth Sofie of Holstein-Gottorp (12 December 1599 – 25 November 1627), daughter of John Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp.
On 4 June 1633 he married, as his second wife, Catherine of Oldenburg (20 September 1582 – 29 February 1644), daughter of John VII, Count of Oldenburg. This marriage remained without children.
His children with Elisabeth Sophia of Holstein-Gottorp were the following: