Duke Francis Henry of Saxe-Lauenburg
Encyclopedia
Francis Henry of Saxe-Lauenburg (born: 9 April 1604; died: 26 November 1658) was a Prince of Saxe-Lauenburg
(1547-1619) from his second marriage to Maria
(1566-1626), daughter of Duke Julius of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Prince of Wolfenbüttel. King Henry IV of France
was his godfather. In a contract of inheritance dated 1619, Francis Henry recognized his elder brother Augustus
as sovereign, in exchange for an annual appanage
of 2500 thaler
.
When King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden landed in Peenemünde
in 1630, Francis Henry entered his service and earned his affection. He fought as colonel and regiment commander under general Johan Banér
and was victorious in the Battle of Wittstock
in 1636. Gustav Adolf gave Francis Henry the estates of the nunnery of Marienfließ Abbey in Pomerania. On 28 June 1643 Gustav Adolf's daughter, Christina of Sweden
, leased Marienfließ to Francis Henry for 10 years, after which it reverted to the new ruler of Pomerania, Frederick William, the Great elector, on 12 December 1653, rewarding Francis Henry's improvements to the estate.
After his mother's death in 1635, he received Franzhagen
in a division of her property among her sons. When his brother Augustus died, Francis Henry received Wangelau
and Rothenbeck (a part of today's Grande) in addition. While in Swedish service and thereafter he spent a lot of time with Sophia of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (1579–1658), dowager
of Philip II, Duke of Pomerania
. Sophia's and Francis Henry's fathers were cousins. It was at her dower
in Treptow upon Rega, a former nunnery which she had converted into a castle, where Francis Henry and Marie Juliane of Nassau-Siegen (1612-1665) married on 13 December 1637. Their first child was born in Treptow in 1640.
Francis Henry also served Sophia as administrator of the estates pertaining to her dower. Francis Henry and his brother Francis Charles
objected the planned succession of their brother Julius Henry
as sole ruler of Saxe-Lauenburg. However, when Julius Henry succeeded their late elder half-brother Augustus
, deceased in 1656, this dispute was finally resolved.
Later Francis Henry resided at Franzhagen Castle
. Due to his miserliness, his subjects gave him the nickname Francis Drybread .
Francis Henry had two more children born out of wedlock.
Life
Francis Henry, was the ninth and youngest son of Duke Francis II of Saxe-LauenburgFrancis II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Francis II of Saxe-Lauenburg , was the third son of Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg and Sybille of Saxe-Freiberg , daughter of Duke Henry IV the Pious of Saxony...
(1547-1619) from his second marriage to Maria
Maria of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was a princess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel by birth and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg.- Life :...
(1566-1626), daughter of Duke Julius of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Prince of Wolfenbüttel. King Henry IV of France
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
was his godfather. In a contract of inheritance dated 1619, Francis Henry recognized his elder brother Augustus
Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Augustus of Saxe-Lauenburg was Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg between 1619 and 1656. He was a son of Duke Francis II and his first wife Margaret of Pomerania-Wolgast , daughter of Philip I, Duke of Pomerania-Wolgast...
as sovereign, in exchange for an annual appanage
Appanage
An apanage or appanage or is the grant of an estate, titles, offices, or other things of value to the younger male children of a sovereign, who would otherwise have no inheritance under the system of primogeniture...
of 2500 thaler
Rixdollar
Rixdollar is the English term for silver coinage used throughout the European continent .The same term was also used of currency in Cape Colony and Ceylon. However, the Rixdollar only existed as a coin in Ceylon. Unissued remainder banknotes for the Cape of Good Hope denominated in Rixdollars...
.
When King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden landed in Peenemünde
Peenemünde
The Peenemünde Army Research Center was founded in 1937 as one of five military proving grounds under the Army Weapons Office ....
in 1630, Francis Henry entered his service and earned his affection. He fought as colonel and regiment commander under general Johan Banér
Johan Banér
Johan Banér was a Swedish Field Marshal in the Thirty Years' War.-Biography:Johan Banér was born at Djursholm Castle in Uppland. As a four year old he was forced to witness how his father, the Privy Councillour Gustaf Banér, and uncle, Sten Axelsson Banér , were executed at the Linköping Bloodbath...
and was victorious in the Battle of Wittstock
Battle of Wittstock
The Battle of Wittstock took place during the Thirty Years' War . It was fought on 24 September or 4 October 1636. A Swedish-allied army under general Johan Baner decisively defeated a combined Imperial-Saxon army, led by Count Melchior von Hatzfeld and the Saxon Elector John George I...
in 1636. Gustav Adolf gave Francis Henry the estates of the nunnery of Marienfließ Abbey in Pomerania. On 28 June 1643 Gustav Adolf's daughter, Christina of Sweden
Christina of Sweden
Christina , later adopted the name Christina Alexandra, was Queen regnant of Swedes, Goths and Vandals, Grand Princess of Finland, and Duchess of Ingria, Estonia, Livonia and Karelia, from 1633 to 1654. She was the only surviving legitimate child of King Gustav II Adolph and his wife Maria Eleonora...
, leased Marienfließ to Francis Henry for 10 years, after which it reverted to the new ruler of Pomerania, Frederick William, the Great elector, on 12 December 1653, rewarding Francis Henry's improvements to the estate.
After his mother's death in 1635, he received Franzhagen
Franzhagen Castle
The Franzhagen Castle - also known as Franzgarten or Franzhof was a castle near the present-day Schulendorf in southern Schleswig-Holstein. Before its destruction in 1716 it was owned by the dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg....
in a division of her property among her sons. When his brother Augustus died, Francis Henry received Wangelau
Wangelau
Wangelau is a municipality in the district of Lauenburg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany....
and Rothenbeck (a part of today's Grande) in addition. While in Swedish service and thereafter he spent a lot of time with Sophia of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (1579–1658), dowager
Dowager
A dowager is a widow who holds a title or property, or dower, derived from her deceased husband. As an adjective, "Dowager" usually appears in association with monarchical and aristocratic titles....
of Philip II, Duke of Pomerania
Philip II, Duke of Pomerania
Philip II, Duke of Pomerania was from 1606 to 1618 the reigning duke of Pomerania-Stettin and is considered among the one of the most artistic of the Pomeranian dukes. He married Sophia of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg in 1607...
. Sophia's and Francis Henry's fathers were cousins. It was at her dower
Dower
Dower or morning gift was a provision accorded by law to a wife for her support in the event that she should survive her husband...
in Treptow upon Rega, a former nunnery which she had converted into a castle, where Francis Henry and Marie Juliane of Nassau-Siegen (1612-1665) married on 13 December 1637. Their first child was born in Treptow in 1640.
Francis Henry also served Sophia as administrator of the estates pertaining to her dower. Francis Henry and his brother Francis Charles
Francis Charles of Saxe-Lauenburg
Francis Charles of Saxe-Lauenburg was a prince of Saxe-Lauenburg and a general during the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
objected the planned succession of their brother Julius Henry
Julius Henry, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Julius Henry of Saxe-Lauenburg was duke of Saxe-Lauenburg between 1656 and 1665. Before ascending to the throne he served as Field Marshal in the imperial army.-Before regency:...
as sole ruler of Saxe-Lauenburg. However, when Julius Henry succeeded their late elder half-brother Augustus
Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Augustus of Saxe-Lauenburg was Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg between 1619 and 1656. He was a son of Duke Francis II and his first wife Margaret of Pomerania-Wolgast , daughter of Philip I, Duke of Pomerania-Wolgast...
, deceased in 1656, this dispute was finally resolved.
Later Francis Henry resided at Franzhagen Castle
Franzhagen Castle
The Franzhagen Castle - also known as Franzgarten or Franzhof was a castle near the present-day Schulendorf in southern Schleswig-Holstein. Before its destruction in 1716 it was owned by the dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg....
. Due to his miserliness, his subjects gave him the nickname Francis Drybread .
Marriage and issue
Francis Henry married on 13 December 1637 in Treptow upon Rega with Marie Juliane (1612-1665), a daughter of Count John VII of Nassau-Siegen, with whom he had the following children:- Catherine Marie (1640-1641)
- Christine Juliane (1642-1644)
- Erdmuthe Sophie (1644-1689)
- married in 1665 Duke Gustav Rudolph of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1632-1670)
- Francis (1645-1645)
- Eleanore CharlotteEleonore Charlotte of Saxe-Lauenburg-FranzhagenEleonore Charlotte of Saxe-Lauenburg-Franzhagen was a duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg by birth and, by marriage, Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Franzhagen, whose line and territorial legacy she co-founded.- Life :...
(1646-1709)
- married in 1676 Duke Christian Adolph of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Franzhagen (1641-1702)
- Erdmann (1649-1660)
Francis Henry had two more children born out of wedlock.