August (Saxony-Lauenburg)

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August von Sachsen-Lauenburg, portrait at Gripsholm Castle

August von Sachsen-Lauenburg (born February 17, 1577 in Ratzeburg , † January 18, 1656 in Lauenburg / Elbe ) was Duke of Sachsen-Lauenburg from 1619 to 1656 .

Life

August was the eldest son of Duke Franz II of Saxony-Lauenburg (1547–1619) from his first marriage to Margarete (1553–1581), daughter of Duke Philip I of Pomerania . August followed his father at the age of 42. In order to rule out disputes with his numerous younger half-brothers, an inheritance contract was signed in Lauenburg on October 4, 1619, in which August was confirmed as sole ruler.

After the death of his stepmother Marie in 1626, August occupied the office she had been promised in Neuhaus , which led to disputes with her biological sons. Although August remained politically neutral during the Thirty Years' War , the country suffered considerably, which was mainly due to the pro-Sweden behavior of August's brother Franz Karl . After the death of the Hereditary Prince Johann Adolf in 1646, again disagreements broke out among the brothers regarding the succession.

Under the company name The Hundred Folded , he was accepted as a member of the Literary Fruitful Society .

Epitaph in the Ratzeburg Cathedral

August was buried in Ratzeburg Cathedral , where he had his own grave vault built for his family. His epitaph from 1649, created by Gebhard Jürgen Titge , is considered a masterpiece of the North German cartilage style . He was followed by his brother Julius Heinrich .

Marriages and offspring

August was married twice. His first wife was Elisabeth Sophie (1599–1627) in Husum on March 5, 1621 , daughter of Duke Johann Adolf von Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf , with whom he had the following children:

  • Sophie Margarete (1622–1637)
  • Franz August (1623-1625)
  • Anna Elisabeth (1624–1688)
⚭ 1665 (closed 1672) Landgrave Wilhelm Christoph von Hessen-Homburg (1625–1681)
⚭ 1653/4 Duke Franz Erdmann of Saxony-Lauenburg (1629–1666)
  • Johann Adolf (1626–1646)
  • Philipp Friedrich (* / † 1627)

In his second marriage, August married Katharina (1582–1644), daughter of Count Johann XVI , on June 4, 1633 . from Oldenburg . This marriage remained childless.

literature

  • Peter von Kobbe: History and description of the country of the Duchy of Lauenburg , Volume 3, Harro von Hirschheydt, 1837, p. 1 ff. ( Digitized version )

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Alexander Jürgens: ADAC Travel Guide Plus - Schleswig-Holstein , ADAC Verlag DE, 2006, p. 123
predecessor Office successor
Francis II Duke of Saxony-Lauenburg
1619–1656 		Julius Heinrich
personal data
SURNAME August
ALTERNATIVE NAMES August of Saxe-Lauenburg
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Duke of Saxony-Lauenburg (1619–1656)
DATE OF BIRTH February 17, 1577
PLACE OF BIRTH Ratzeburg
DATE OF DEATH January 18, 1656
Place of death Lauenburg / Elbe