Johann Philipp (Saxony-Altenburg)

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Duke Johann Philipp of Saxe-Altenburg

Johann Philipp von Sachsen-Altenburg (born January 25, 1597 in Torgau , † April 1, 1639 in Altenburg ), from the house of the Ernestine Wettins, was the first self-ruling Duke of Sachsen-Altenburg .

Life

Johann Philipp was the eldest 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, Johann Philipp inherited the Duchy of Saxony-Altenburg together with his brothers Friedrich , Johann Wilhelm and Friedrich Wilhelm . The division of the fatherly duchy had already been determined by the father in a contract with his brother Johann , to which Saxony-Weimar fell. The princes were guarded by the Elector of Saxony and their uncle Johann; after his death in 1605 the former alone. The so-called “precedent dispute” about former joint property soon broke out between the Weimar and Altenburg lines, especially about the share in the county of Henneberg , the court and protection money from Erfurt , the University of Jena and the Saalfeld mint and the priority of the houses in the Fall of the Albertine extinction , which, despite mediation by the Kaiser, was not settled until 1672 when the Sachsen-Altenburg line became extinct.

After the Jülich-Klevischen succession dispute , the brothers carried the titles of dukes of Jülich, Kleve and Berg, but only nominally. In 1612 the brothers went to the University of Leipzig for further training, where Johann Philipp was appointed rector the following year. In 1618 Johann Philipp came of age and took over the government. He resigned his brothers with personal belongings .

Johann Philipp acquired the rule of Gräfenthal in 1621 , issued improved land regulations and printed tax regulations for craftsmen. Johann Philipp made further territorial gains through the extinction of the Counts of Gleichen and the older Saxon-Coburg line . The country suffered badly in the Thirty Years' War. The population fell rapidly and in 1632 the city was sacked by Wallenstein . When Johann Philipp protested against this and referred to a promise made by his general Heinrich von Holk , Wallenstein replied: "When the Lord Christ himself comes, the apostles must be silent."

Johann Philipp was a member of the Fruit-Bringing Society with the company name "der Köstlichste". He is buried in the Brethren Church in Altenburg.

Marriage and offspring

Johann Philipp married Elisabeth (1593–1650), daughter of Duke Heinrich Julius of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel , on October 25, 1618 in Altenburg . She was the widow of the Duke August of Saxony . From the marriage a daughter emerged:

⚭ 1636 Duke Ernst I of Saxe-Gotha (1601–1675)

literature

predecessor Office successor
--- Duke of Saxony-Altenburg
1603–1639 		Friedrich Wilhelm II.
personal data
SURNAME Johann Philipp
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Saxony-Altenburg, Johann Philipp von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Duke of Saxe-Altenburg
DATE OF BIRTH January 25, 1597
PLACE OF BIRTH Torgau
DATE OF DEATH April 1, 1639
Place of death Altenburg