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John (30 June 1468 – 16 August 1532), [1] known as John the Steadfast or John the Constant (Johann, der Beständige), was Elector of Saxony from 1525 until 1532 from the House of Wettin. He is notable for organising the Lutheran Church in the Electorate of Saxony from a state and administrative level. In that, he was aided by Martin Luther ...
The Electorate of Saxony, also known as Electoral Saxony (German: Kurfürstentum Sachsen or Kursachsen), was a territory of the Holy Roman Empire from 1356–1806. Its territory included the areas around the cities of Dresden, Leipzig and Chemnitz.
John Frederick was the last elector of the Ernestine branch of the Saxon House of Wettin and leader of the Protestant Schmalkaldic League. His wars against the Holy Roman emperor Charles V and his fellow princes caused him to lose both the electoral rank and much of his territory.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Aug 12, 2024 · John was an elector of Saxony and a fervent supporter of Martin Luther; he took a leading part in forming alliances among Germany’s Protestant princes against the Habsburg emperors’ attempts at forced reconversion.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
The electors of Saxony from John the Steadfast onwards were Lutheran until Augustus II of Saxony converted to Catholicism in order to be elected King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. His descendants (including all Kings of Saxony) have since been Catholic.
NameReignNotes838 – 840Comes et marchio850 – 12 March 864 or 866Comes et marchio12 March 864 or 866 – 2 February 880Comes et marchio2 February 880 – 30 November 912first Duke of the Younger stem duchyElector of Saxony; follower of Martin Luther (q.v.) and head of the Schmalkaldic League.
Woodcut of John Frederick I the Magnanimous, Elector of Saxony. The scene of John Frederick I receiving his death sentence decreed by Charles V Holy Roman Emperor, and sent to the Elector while he was held prisoner at Worms from April 1547 until September 1552.
