Predecessor George Successor Maurice | Name Henry Duke | |
 | ||
Reign 17 April 1539 – 18 August 1541 Born 16 March 1473
Dresden ( 1473-03-16 ) Issue Sybille, Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg
Emilie, Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach
Sidonie, Duchess of Brunswick-Kalenberg
Maurice, Elector of Saxony
Prince Severinus
Augustus, Elector of Saxony House House of Wettin
Albertine Line Father Albert III, Duke of Saxony Died August 18, 1541, Dresden, Germany Spouse Catherine of Mecklenburg (m. 1512) Children Augustus, Elector of Saxony, Maurice, Elector of Saxony Parents Sidonie of Podebrady, Albert III, Duke of Saxony Grandchildren Anna of Saxony, Christian I, Elector of Saxony Similar People George - Duke of Saxony, Albert III - Duke of Saxony, Augustus - Elector of Saxony, Maurice - Elector 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.
Contents
Biography
Henry 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 George succeeded to the Duchy of Saxony, and Henry became Lord of Friesland.
Saxon rule of Friesland was disturbed by constant revolts. Consequently, Henry, who was of a rather inert disposition, gave up his title there. In 1505 Henry ceded Friesland to George, in return for an annuity and the districts of Wolkenstein and Freiberg, where Henry made his residence.
In 1517, Martin Luther started the Protestant Reformation in Germany, and a few years later Henry converted to Lutheranism. George remained a devout Catholic. Only two of George's sons survived to adulthood, John and Frederick, but they both predeceased him without issue. When Frederick died in 1539, the Lutheran Henry became heir presumptive to the Duchy under the Act of Settlement of 1499. To prevent a Protestant succession, George tried to override his father's will, disinherit Henry, and bequeath the Duchy to Ferdinand, brother of Charles V. However, George died only two months later, and Henry succeeded to the Duchy aged 66. He made Lutheranism the state religion of the Duchy of Saxony but reigned for only two years.
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: