Friedrich Wilhelm II. (Saxony-Altenburg)

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Friedrich Wilhelm II.
Friedrich Wilhelm II.
Friedrich Wilhelm II. - memorandum on his death in 1669

Friedrich Wilhelm II of Saxony-Altenburg , called Posthumus (* February 12, 1603 in Weimar ; † April 22, 1669 in Altenburg ) was Duke of Saxony-Altenburg from the Ernestine line of the Wettins .

Life

Friedrich Wilhelm was the youngest, posthumously born son of Duke Friedrich Wilhelm I of Saxe-Weimar (1562–1602) from his second marriage to Anna Maria (1575–1643), daughter of Duke Philipp Ludwig of Palatinate-Neuburg .

After the death of his father, Friedrich Wilhelm inherited the Duchy of Saxony-Altenburg together with his brothers Johann Philipp , Friedrich and Johann Wilhelm . The princes were guarded by the Elector of Saxony and their uncle Johann; after his death in 1605 the elector of Saxony alone. After the Jülich-Klevischen succession dispute , the brothers were enfeoffed with Jülich, Kleve and Berg, but were only nominal dukes and carried the coat of arms. In 1612 the brothers went to Leipzig University for further training. In 1618 the eldest brother Johann Philipp came of age and ruled independently. In exchange for the assurance of a personal asset , the brothers initially left the government to the elder for a limited period of time, and in a later contract in 1624, finally, permanent government. Together with his brother Johann Wilhelm, Friedrich Wilhelm undertook his cavalier journey to Italy, England, Holland, France and Hungary.

Under his brother Johann Wilhelm he also served in the Electorate of Saxony from 1631 and took part in the Battle of Leipzig . Two years later he became a colonel and general of the cavalry under Hans Georg von Arnim-Boitzenburg, and in his absence he became commander-in-chief of the troops in Electoral Saxony.

In 1639, all three of Friedrich Wilhelm's older brothers died. He resigned from military service and became the sovereign Duke of Saxony-Altenburg. After the Thirty Years War , the country was utterly devastated. Friedrich Wilhelm concentrated on a policy aimed at the common good. He issued various ordinances, invested in church and school systems and brought mining in Saalfeld back on track.

After the death of Duke Johann Ernst von Sachsen-Eisenach , the Weimar line was divided up on February 13, 1640, and his lands were divided. Friedrich Wilhelm received the offices of Coburg , Hildburghausen , Römhild , Sonneberg , Mönchröden , Rodach , Gestungshausen , Neustadt , Schalkau and Sonnefeld Monastery . In 1660 he also acquired part of the former county of Henneberg with Meiningen , Themar and Behrungen . Permanent disputes with Sachsen-Weimar persisted until his death.

Friedrich Wilhelm II had a hunting lodge built in Hummelshain in 1664 . A year later he built a dignified widow's residence for his second wife in Altenburg with the Magdalenenstift .

Marriages and offspring

In his first marriage, Friedrich Wilhelm II married Sophie Elisabeth von Brandenburg (1616–1650), daughter of the administrator of Magdeburg, Christian Wilhelm von Brandenburg on September 18, 1638 in Altenburg . The marriage remained childless.

Friedrich Wilhelm concluded his second marriage on October 11, 1652 in Dresden with Magdalena Sibylle von Sachsen (1617–1668), the youngest daughter of the Elector Johann Georg I of Saxony and widow of the Danish Crown Prince Christian . He had the following children with her:

⚭ 1671 Duke Johann Adolf I of Saxony-Weißenfels (1649–1697)

literature

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Commons : Friedrich Wilhelm II.  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files
predecessor Office successor
Johann Philipp Duke of Saxony-Altenburg
1639–1669 		Friedrich Wilhelm III.
personal data
SURNAME Friedrich Wilhelm II.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Sachsen-Altenburg, Friedrich Wilhelm II. Von (full name); Posthumus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Duke of Saxe-Altenburg
DATE OF BIRTH February 12, 1603
PLACE OF BIRTH Weimar
DATE OF DEATH April 22, 1669
Place of death Altenburg