Friedrich Wilhelm III. (Saxony-Altenburg)
Friedrich Wilhelm III. von Sachsen-Altenburg (* July 12, 1657 in Altenburg ; † April 14, 1672 ibid) was the last Duke of Sachsen-Altenburg . With his death, the Sachsen-Altenburg line died out.
Life
Friedrich Wilhelm was a son from the second marriage of Duke Friedrich Wilhelm II of Saxony-Altenburg with the Princess Magdalena Sibylle of Saxony . Friedrich Wilhelm III. followed his father Friedrich Wilhelm II as Duke of Saxony-Altenburg at the age of 12 . His reign was governed by a guardianship arrangement of Elector Johann Georg II of Saxony and Duke Moritz of Saxony-Zeitz . Only 14 years old, the young duke died on April 14, 1672 of the "Kindsblattern" ( smallpox ) shortly after returning from a trip to Dresden. He was buried in his father's crypt in the Altenburg Castle Church on July 17th. With him, the older Sachsen-Altenburg line in the male line, founded in 1603, became extinct.
He was succeeded by Ernst I of Saxe-Gotha , the pious, due to Friedrich Wilhelm II's testamentary determination that the oldest agnate should inherit alone. However, Ernst the Pious bought the restraint of the Ernestine line of Saxony-Weimar, which was also entitled to inheritance, by relinquishing six offices and other goods and rights (about a quarter of the territory) - but as he emphasized, willingly and of his own free will.
literature
- August Beck : Friedrich Wilhelm III . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 7, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1877, p. 794.
Web links
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| Friedrich Wilhelm II. |
Duke of Saxe-Altenburg 1669 - 1672 |
Ernst I. |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Friedrich Wilhelm III. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Saxony-Altenburg, Duke Friedrich Wilhelm III. from |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Duke of Saxe-Altenburg |
| DATE OF BIRTH | July 12, 1657 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Altenburg |
| DATE OF DEATH | April 14, 1672 |
| Place of death | Altenburg |