Friedrich I, Duke and Elector of Saxony

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Elector and Duke of Saxony, Emperor Sigismund, Frederick of Saxony, Holy Roman Empire, Margrave of Meissen

Friedrich I, the Belligerent or the Warlike (April 11, 1370 – January 4, 1428), a member of the House of Wettin, ruled as Margrave Friedrich IV of Meissen from 1407 and Elector of Saxony (as Friedrich I) from 1423 until his death.

He is not to be confused with his cousin Landgrave Friedrich IV of Thuringia, the son of Landgrave Balthasar.

Friedrich I of Saxony was the eldest son of Friedrich III, Landgrave of Thuringia, and Catherine of Henneberg.

After the death of his uncle Wilhelm I, Margrave of Meissen in 1407, he was made governor of the Margraviate of Meissen together with his brother Wilhelm II as well as with his cousin Friedrich IV (son of Balthasar), until their possessions were divided in 1410 and 1415.

In the German town war of 1388 he assisted Friedrich V of Hohenzollern, burgrave of Nuremberg, and in 1391 did the same for the Teutonic Order against Wladislaus II of Poland. Friedrich supported Rupert III, Elector Palatine of the Rhine, in his struggle with King Wenceslaus for the Imperial throne, probably because Wenceslaus refused to fulfill a promise to give him his sister Anna in marriage.

The danger to the Holy Roman Empire rom the Hussites induced Friedrich to ally himself with Emperor Sigismund; and he took a leading part in the war against them, during the earlier years of which he met with considerable success.

For his victory at the Battle of Brüx in 1421, Friedrich was granted the ranks of Duke and Elector of Saxony. In the prosecution of this enterprise Friedrich spent large sums of money, for which he received various places in Bohemia and elsewhere in pledge from Sigismund, who further rewarded him on January 6, 1423 with the vacant electoral Duchy of Saxony-Wittenberg; and Friedrich’s formal investiture followed at Ofen on the August 1, 1425.

Thus ascended Friedrich IV, Margrave of Meissen, who called himself Friedrich I now as Duke and Elector of Saxony. Thus spurred to renewed efforts against the Hussites, the elector was endeavouring to rouse the German princes to aid him in prosecuting this war when the Saxon army was almost annihilated at Aussig on the 16 August 16, 1426.

After the death of his brother Wilhelm II, Friedrich became the ruler over the entire possession of The House of Wettin except Thuringia.

In 1409, Friedrich and his brother Wilhelm founded the University of Leipzig, for the benefit of German students who had left the University of Prague after the events relating to the Western Schism.

Friedrich died in 1428 at Altenburg. He was buried as the first Wettin in the centre of what is now known as the Princes Chapel in Meissen Cathedral. The cathedral is now accessible to the public for a small fee and the tomb is readily seen.

Family

Friedrich I married Catherine of Brunswick-Lüneburg (d. 1442), the only daughter and second child of Heinrich I Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg from his first marriage to Sophie of Pomerania, daughter of Duke Wartislaw VI of Pomerania.

Friedrich I of Saxony was succeeded by his eldest son.
Friedrich II, Elector of Saxony (1412–1464).

The limits of power of monarchs in exile

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Albertine Branch, Alexander of Saxe-Gessaphe, German Empire, House of Wettin, Kingdom of Saxony, Margrave of Meissen, Maria Emanuel of Saxony, Monarchs in exile, vacant thrones

One of the problems in royal families that no longer rule, surrounds the ability to change the house laws that governed the family. Often, though not always, these house laws also formed parts of the constitution of the State. The problem becomes that when the house laws are no longer functional or realistic yet amending the constitution is impossible for the throne is gone and the constitution which governed the country is frozen in time and not amenable.

The old Royal House of Saxony is a prime example of this problem. HRH Prince Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen became head of the Royal House of Saxony upon the death of his father, HRH Prince Friedrich Christian, Margrave of Meissen on August 9th, 1968. Since Prince Maria Emanuel fathered no legitimate children, he chose as his eventual heir Prince Alexander of Saxe-Gessaphe, the son of his eldest sister Princess Anna and her late husband Prince Robert of Gessaphe a descendants of a Lebanese Christian family which ruled a province north of Beirut). On June 1st, 1999 Prince Maria Emanuel formally adopted Alexander who had married Princess Gisela of Bavaria in 1987. In 1997 the surviving male dynasts of the Albertine line of Wettins (House of Saxony) consented to the Margrave’s decision. On July 23rd, 2012 HRH Prince Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen passed away at the age of 86 having been head of the Royal House of Saxony for 44 years.

Immediately after Maria Emanuel’s death, his brother, Prince Albert of Saxony, ignored the 1997 agreement and assumed headship of the House of Saxony with the title Margrave of Meissen. Prince Alexander of Saxe-Gessaphe also assumed the headship to the Royal House of Saxony with the title Margrave of Meissen. However, Prince Albert’s claim were short lived for he died a few months after his brother dying on October, 6 20112. Since this time the claims to the headship of the house have been disputed.

Recently as a joint statement was issued by the three heads of the Ernestine branch of the House of Wettin: Prince Michael of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Duke of Saxony, Count of Wettin, Prince Andreas of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Duke of Saxony, Duke Conrad of Saxe-Meiningen, Duke of Saxony: The statement makes three announcements in reference to Alexander Prinz von Sachsen:

1. as an adopted Prinz von Sachsen he does not belong to the nobility, but is a non-noble bearer of the name; 2. he is not a blood member of the House of Wettin; 3. he is not the head of the Albertine branch of the House of Wettin, nor the bearer of the customary title Margrave of Meissen.

This statement places another throne and the headship of the House in dispute. However, not only is the headship of the House in dispute, but the power and ability to alter the succession is in question. There are other cases I could site but the Royal House of Saxony is a prime example of the problem. Next week I will discuss my opinion on these problems and discuss other examples and why I think the way I do.

Until then, I would like to hear from readers what your thoughts on this issue is. You may leave your comments below.

2012 A Royal Year in Review

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2012. Parliament, Act of Settlement 1701, Cathedral of Our Lady of Luxembourg, Claire Lademacher, Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy, Diamond Jubilee, Duke of Edinburgh, Elizabeth II, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, King Harald V of Norway, King Juan Carlos of Spain, Kings and Queens of England, Margrave of Meissen, Mrs. Lorentzen, Prince Albert of Saxony, Prince Alexander of Saxe-Gessaphe, Prince Félix of Luxembourg, Prince Maria Emanuel, Prince Philip, Prince William, Princess Ragnhild of Norway, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Margarethe II of Denmark, Royal Marriages Act of 1772, The Duchess of Cambridge

I am back posting! I had some computer problems so that explains my absence. It has been quite a royal year! It seems like it was one of the busiest royal years in my recent memory.

We had two jubilees. Her Majesty Queen Margarethe II of Denmark celebrated 40 years on the Danish throne and of course Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her diamond jubilee as she celebrated 60 years on the British throne and moves ever so closer to being Britain’s longest reigning monarch. There were many celebrations throughout the year culminating in the regatta sailing along the Themes. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, age 91, gave a scare a few times as he was in and out of the hospital with a bladder infection. The Olympics were also held in London and Her Majesty opened the ceremony and even participated in a fun little filmed skit with Daniel Craig as James Bond. Toward the end of the year Her Majesty missed the Christmas service due to a lingering cold. I hope Her Majesty gets some rest because she was looking a bit tired and worn out toward the end of the year.

As the Queen of the United Kingdom was basking in her popularity, His Majesty, King Juan Carlos of Spain, had a not so stellar year. He broke his hip in a hunting accident while he was with his mistress and at a time when Spain is suffering severe economic hardships. He is still trying to recover his image.

There were also losses this past year. Princess Ragnhild of Norway, Mrs. Lorentzen, died in September at the age of 82. She was the sister to His Majesty King Harald V of Norway.

HRH Prince Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen pretender to the throne of Saxony died in July. The claims to the vacant throne are contested between his brother, Prince Albert of Saxony and his nephew, Prince Alexander of Saxe-Gessaphe. However, Prince Albert died a few months after his brother died this October. The claims to the throne are still be contested by other branches of the Wettin Family.

There was a royal wedding in Luxumbourg when the HRH The Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume married Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy on October 20, 2012 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Luxembourg. Guillaume’s brother, Prince Félix of Luxembourg, announced his engagement to the German-born Claire Lademacher on December 13.

Another big story of 2012 was the announcement of the pregnancy of HRH The Duchess of Cambridge. This announcement also required pushing through changes of the succession laws to a gender neutral succession and getting rid of the ban against marrying Catholics along with the requirement for seeking the monarch’s consent to marry. All of these are very historical changes in the succession to the British monarchy!

All in all a very busy year with many changes. I am really looking forward to the events of 2013 and wait with anticipation for the birth of the 3rd in line to the British throne.

Funeral of HRH Prince Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen, Duke of Saxony

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Kingdom of Saxony. Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen

Monday July 30 was the funeral of Prince Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meisse, Duke of Saxony There have been reports that his brother, Prince Albert of Saxony, claimed the title of Margave of Meissen instead of Maria Emanuel’s designated heir, Prince Alexander of Saxe-Gessaphe. According to the report below there seems to be a reconciliation between the two men and another vacant title will not fall into dispute…hopefully. 

Dresden – bells ringing on Monday at 15.40 clock on the Austrian Inn Valley. In the valley below the Alps, 2370 meters high summit Tschirgant a small funeral procession moved to the Royal Chapel of Wettin in Brennbichl .

The immediate family here was Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen, Prince of Saxony, Duke of Saxony (86) carried to the grave. He would have been king, it would give the monarchy in the Free State still.

After 44 years at the helm of the 1000 year old dynasty, he died eight days in his palace on Lake Geneva. His body was buried in a sealed zinc coffin, which covered an oak coffin.

At the grave grieving widow with Anastasia Louise (71) including the new Margrave Alexander Prince of Saxony (59) with wife Gisela (47) and four children.

Previously, it had come to a meeting in the chapel of the new Marquis of Albert Prince of Saxe (77). This arose in recent days claims to the chief post of Wettin. Prince Albert conciliatory: “I just want peace in the royal house!”

http://www.bild.de/regional/chemnitz/chemnitz-regional/am-grab-des-sachsen-prinzen-25408164.bild.html

Death of the Margrave of Meissen Head of the House of Saxony

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Kingdom of Saxony. Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen

HRH Prince Maximilian Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen, head of the Royal House of Saxony died yesterday at the age of 86 at his Villa La Tour de Peilz at  Genfer Lake.

The Margrave of Meissen was heir to the Kingdom of Saxony which was part of the German Empire. He succeeded his father, Hereditary Prince Frederick Christian of Saxony, Margrave of Meissen, to the headship of the Royal House in 1968. He was married to Princess Anastasia of Anhalt but since they had no children he chose as his heir Prince Alexander of Saxe-Gessaphe, who is the son of his eldest sister Princess Anna and her late husband Prince Robert of Gessaphe. Prince Alexander is married to Princess Gisela of Bavaria. 

The Royal Saxon line was semi-Salic and allowed succession through the female line when the male line died out. However, the Margrave of Meissen does have a brother, Albert who married unequally, and this would bar him from the succession. The Margrave and Albert have a cousin, Timo, who married unequally but have male descendants. 

I would not be surprised to see the succession of Alexander challenged in the future.