Tags
Emperor Charles IV, Emperor Ludwig IV, Holy Roman Empire, Margrave Friedrich I, Margrave Friedrich II, Margrave of Meissen, Mathilde of Bavaria
Friedrich II (November 30, 1310 – November 18, 1349) was the Margrave of Meissen from 1323 until his death.
Margrave Friedrich II was born on November 30, 1310 in Gotha. His parents were Margrave Friedrich I of Meissen and Elisabeth von Lobdeburg-Arnshaugk. In 1323, under the guardianship of his mother, he succeeded his father in the Margraviate of Meissen and Thuringia.
Personal rule
After reaching the age of majority in 1329, he had to pass long-term fights with the vassals and neighbours. These conflicts mainly rose due to Friedrich’s declaration of peace in 1338, which drastically diminished the rights and influence of the small landlords and the local rulers, and which goal was the subjugation of the latter two groups.
In 1342, dissatisfied nobles, whose concerns were their rights and independence, banded together in Arnstadt (southwest of Erfurt) against Friedrich II, in what would be known as the Thuringian Count’s War. The conflict would last up to 1346.
After the death of Emperor Ludwig IV, the Bavarian party tried to move him to the acceptance of the German crown, however, he mistrusted the inconstancy of his voters and rejected such strange request in favour of Emperor Charles IV.
Margrave Friedrich II limited himself to consolidate his rule and to defend against the danger going out from Emperor Charles IV. At a meeting 1348 in Bautzen both recognized the existing possession states. Frederick died on November 18, 1349 in Wartburg.
Family
Margrave Friedrich II married May 1323 in Nürnberg Princess Mathilde of Bavaria, daughter of Ludwig IV, Holy Roman Emperor aand his first wife Beatrix of Świdnica. Matilde was a member of the House of Wittelsbach
They had 9 children:
1. Elisabeth (1329 – 1375), married to Burgrave Friedrich V of Nuremberg of the House of Hohenzollern.
2. Friedrich (born and died 1330)
3. Friedrich III, Landgrave of Thuringia
4. Balthasar (1336-1406)
5. Beatrice (1339 – 1399)
6. Ludwig (1340 – 1382), Bishop of Bamberg
7. Wilhelm the One-eyed
8. Anne (1345 – 1363)
9. Clara Elisabetta (1345)