Friedrich Wettin von Sachsen
Encyclopedia
Duke Frederick of Saxony (26 October 1474 – 14 December 1510), also known as Friedrich von Sachsen or Friedrich von Wettin, was the 36th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights
, serving from 1498-1510. He was the third (and youngest surviving) son of Albert, Duke of Saxony
, and Sidonie of Poděbrady
, daughter of George of Podebrady
.
The Teutonic Knights had been in a long power struggle with Poland over Prussia
. Because the Teutonic Knights' fortunes had declined throughout the 15th century, they hoped that by selecting someone connected by marriage to the ruling Jagiellon dynasty
of Poland, they would strengthen their position.
Born in Torgau
, Frederick was a member of the Albertine line, the junior branch of the prestigious House of Wettin which ruled Saxony
. Frederick should not be confused with his cousin of the same name
from the Ernestine line, who ruled the Electorate of Saxony
. Frederick's older brother George had married Barbara, a sister of King John I Albert of Poland
. The young duke was elected Grand Master in 1498.
When the Polish king summoned Frederick to do homage
for the Order's holdings, he referred the matter to the Imperial Reichstag
set to meet in Worms
in 1495. The Reichstag informed John I Albert that he could not interfere in the Grand Master's free exercise of power in Prussia. Frederick's delaying tactics were assisted by the quick succession of three Polish kings during his 12 years in office.
Frederick died in Rochlitz
. By custom, grand masters of the Order did not marry, so he had neither wife nor descendants.
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
, serving from 1498-1510. He was the third (and youngest surviving) son of Albert, Duke of Saxony
Albert, Duke of Saxony
Albert III was a Duke of Saxony. He was nicknamed Albert the Bold or Albert the Courageous and founded the Albertine line of the House of Wettin....
, and Sidonie of Poděbrady
Sidonie of Poděbrady
Sidonie of Poděbrady was a daughter of George of Poděbrady, King of Bohemia, and his first wife Kunigunde of Sternberg. She was the twin sister of Catherine of Poděbrady, wife of Matthias Corvinus of Hungary....
, daughter of George of Podebrady
George of Podebrady
George of Kunštát and Poděbrady , also known as Poděbrad or Podiebrad , was King of Bohemia...
.
The Teutonic Knights had been in a long power struggle with Poland over Prussia
Prussia (region)
Prussia is a historical region in Central Europe extending from the south-eastern coast of the Baltic Sea to the Masurian Lake District. It is now divided between Poland, Russia, and Lithuania...
. Because the Teutonic Knights' fortunes had declined throughout the 15th century, they hoped that by selecting someone connected by marriage to the ruling Jagiellon dynasty
Jagiellon dynasty
The Jagiellonian dynasty was a royal dynasty originating from the Lithuanian House of Gediminas dynasty that reigned in Central European countries between the 14th and 16th century...
of Poland, they would strengthen their position.
Born in Torgau
Torgau
Torgau is a town on the banks of the Elbe in northwestern Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district Nordsachsen.Outside Germany, the town is most well known as the place where during the Second World War, United States Army forces coming from the west met with forces of the Soviet Union...
, Frederick was a member of the Albertine line, the junior branch of the prestigious House of Wettin which ruled Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
. Frederick should not be confused with his cousin of the same name
Frederick III, Elector of Saxony
Frederick III of Saxony , also known as Frederick the Wise , was Elector of Saxony from 1486 to his death. Frederick was the son of Ernest, Elector of Saxony and his wife Elisabeth, daughter of Albert III, Duke of Bavaria...
from the Ernestine line, who ruled the Electorate of Saxony
Electorate of Saxony
The Electorate of Saxony , sometimes referred to as Upper Saxony, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire. It was established when Emperor Charles IV raised the Ascanian duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg to the status of an Electorate by the Golden Bull of 1356...
. Frederick's older brother George had married Barbara, a sister of King John I Albert of Poland
John I Albert of Poland
John I Albert was King of Poland and Duke of Głogów .-Life:John was the third son of Casimir IV Jagiellon, King of Poland, and Elisabeth of Austria, daughter of Albert II of Germany. As crown prince, he distinguished himself by his brilliant victory over the Tatars at Kopersztyn...
. The young duke was elected Grand Master in 1498.
When the Polish king summoned Frederick to do homage
Homage
Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
for the Order's holdings, he referred the matter to the Imperial Reichstag
Reichstag (Holy Roman Empire)
The Imperial Diet was the Diet, or general assembly, of the Imperial Estates of the Holy Roman Empire.During the period of the Empire, which lasted formally until 1806, the Diet was not a parliament in today's sense; instead, it was an assembly of the various estates of the realm...
set to meet in Worms
Worms, Germany
Worms is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Rhine River. At the end of 2004, it had 85,829 inhabitants.Established by the Celts, who called it Borbetomagus, Worms today remains embattled with the cities Trier and Cologne over the title of "Oldest City in Germany." Worms is the only...
in 1495. The Reichstag informed John I Albert that he could not interfere in the Grand Master's free exercise of power in Prussia. Frederick's delaying tactics were assisted by the quick succession of three Polish kings during his 12 years in office.
Frederick died in Rochlitz
Rochlitz
Rochlitz is a major district town in the district of Mittelsachsen, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. Rochlitz is the head of the “borough partnership Rochlitz” with its other members being the boroughs of Königsfeld, Seelitz und Zettlitz...
. By custom, grand masters of the Order did not marry, so he had neither wife nor descendants.