Johann Adolf II, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels
Encyclopedia
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, 16 May 1746), was the last duke of Saxe-Weissenfels
Saxe-Weissenfels
Saxe-Weissenfels was a duchy of the Holy Roman Empire from 1656/7 until 1746 with its residence at Weißenfels. Ruled by a cadet branch of the Albertine House of Wettin, the duchy passed to the Electorate of Saxony upon the extinction of the line....
-Querfurt and a member of the House of Wettin. He was also a commander in the Saxon army.
Johann Adolf was the youngest of the twenty children of Johann Adolf I, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels
Johann Adolf I, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels
Johann Adolf I, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels , was a duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Querfurt and member of the House of Wettin....
, and Johanna Magdalene of Saxe-Altenburg. His mother died five months after his birth, on 22 January 1686.
Life
In the War of the Polish SuccessionWar of the Polish Succession
The War of the Polish Succession was a major European war for princes' possessions sparked by a Polish civil war over the succession to Augustus II, King of Poland that other European powers widened in pursuit of their own national interests...
, Johann Adolf led Saxon troops into Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
(October 1733). For the next 3 years, the Saxon army remained mainly in southern Poland, until the coronation of the Elector Frederick August II of Saxony
Augustus III of Poland
Augustus III, known as the Saxon ; ; also Prince-elector Friedrich August II was the Elector of Saxony in 1733-1763, as Frederick Augustus II , King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1734-1763.-Biography:Augustus was the only legitimate son of Augustus II the Strong, Imperial Prince-Elector...
as King of Poland after the defeat of the rival candidate for the Polish throne, Stanisław Leszczyński. The same year, Johann Adolf inherited Saxe-Weissenfels when his brother Christian died without children.
During the Second Silesian War, Prussian troops crossed the Saxon border, and 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....
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
agreed to proceed together against Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
. Saxon troops planned to cut off the Prussians in northern Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
, while Austrian troops would advance from the south. But in June 1745, they were defeated at the Battle of Hohenfriedberg
Battle of Hohenfriedberg
The Battle of Hohenfriedberg or Hohenfriedeberg, also known as the battle of Striegau, now Dobromierz, was one of the crowning achievements of Frederick the Great...
. Johann Adolf planned a new offensive campaign in September 1745, but he changed his mind two weeks later. Because of this, he was replaced as commander-in-chief by Count Frederick August Rutowski
Frederick Augustus Rutowsky
Frederick Augustus, Count Rutowsky , was a Saxon Field Marshal who commanded Saxon forces in the Siege of Pirna during the Seven Years War.-Early years:...
, an illegitimate half-brother of the King-Elector.
After the Battle of Kesselsdorf
Battle of Kesselsdorf
The Battle of Kesselsdorf was fought on December 15, 1745, between Prussia and the combined forces of Austria and Saxony during the part of the War of the Austrian Succession known as the Second Silesian War. The Prussians were led by Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, while the Austrians and...
, the Elector removed his half-brother Rutowski as commander-in-chief and reinstated Johann Adolf, who began his duties as commander on 1 December 1745. Additionally, he was appointed chief of the Saxon government during the absence of the Elector and the Minister Heinrich of Brühl
Heinrich, count von Brühl
Heinrich, count von Brühl , was a German statesman at the court of Saxony and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth...
.
Johann Adolf retreated with the Saxon troops to Bohemia. Five months later, he suffered a heart attack and died at age sixty-one.
Marriages and Issue
In EisenachEisenach
Eisenach is a city in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated between the northern foothills of the Thuringian Forest and the Hainich National Park. Its population in 2006 was 43,626.-History:...
on 9 May 1721, Johann Adolf married Johannette Antoinette Juliane of Saxe-Eisenach. They had one son:
- Frederick Johann Adolf (b. DahmeDahme, BrandenburgDahme is a town in the Teltow-Fläming district of Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated on the Dahme River, 30 km southeast of Luckenwalde, and 38 km west of Lübbenau....
, 26 May 1722 - d. Dahme, 10 July 1724).
In Altenburg
Altenburg
Altenburg is a town in the German federal state of Thuringia, 45 km south of Leipzig. It is the capital of the Altenburger Land district.-Geography:...
on 27 November 1734, Johann Adolf married for a second time to Fredericka of Saxe-Gotha
Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg , was a duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.He was the fifth child and first son of Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Magdalene Sibylle of Saxe-Weissenfels....
. They had five children:
- Karl Frederick Adolf (b. Weissenfels, 7 June 1736 - d. Weissenfels, 24 March 1737).
- Johann Adolf (b. Weissenfels, 27 June 1738 - d. Weissenfels, 21 October 1738).
- August Adolf (b. Weissenfels, 6 June 1739 - d. Weissenfels, 7 June 1740).
- Johann Georg Adolf (b. Weissenfels, 17 May 1740 - d. Weissenfels, 10 July 1740).
- Fredericka Adolfine (b. Weissenfels, 27 December 1741 - d. Langensalza, 4 July 1751).
He was the last member of the line of Saxe-Weissenfels-Querfurt. After his death without surviving male issue, his lands passed to the Electorate of Saxony, from which they had been extracted in 1657 under the terms of the will of John George I, Elector of Saxony
John George I, Elector of Saxony
John George I was Elector of Saxony from 1611 to 1656.-Biography:Born in Dresden, he was the second son of the Elector Christian I and Sophie of Brandenburg....