Christian II of Saxe-Merseburg (19 November 1653 – 20 October 1694), was a duke of

Saxe-Merseburg The Duchy of Saxe-Merseburg was a duchy of the Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire was a Polity, political entity in Western Europe, Western, Central Europe, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and con ...

and member of the

House of Wettin The House of Wettin () is a dynasty of German kings, prince-electors, dukes, and counts that once ruled territories in the present-day German states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The dynasty is one of the oldest in Europe, and its ori ...

. He was the second (but eldest surviving) son of

Christian I, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg Christian I of Saxe-Merseburg (Dresden, 27 October 1615 – Merseburg, 18 October 1691), was the first duke of Saxe-Merseburg and a member of the House of Wettin. He was the sixth (third surviving) son of Johann Georg I, Elector of Saxony, an ...

, and

Christiana of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg Princess Christiana of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, often referred to as ''Christiane'' (22 September 1634 in Copenhagen – 20 May 1701 at Delitzsch Castle) was the consort of Christian I, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg, who was the r ...

Life

The death of his older brother Johann Georg on 3 January 1654 made him the new heir of the duchy of Saxe-Merseburg. Christian succeeded his father when he died, on 18 October 1691. Christian II's short reign had little impact on the history of the duchy. In fact, he is only remembered today for one of the

obelisk An obelisk (; from grc, ὀβελίσκος ; diminutive of ''obelos'', " spit, nail, pointed pillar") is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape or pyramidion at the top. Originally constructed by Anc ...

s in the gardens of Castle Merseburg, where he appears together with his wife.

Marriage and issue

In Moritzburg an der Elster on 14 October 1679, Christian married his paternal cousin, Princess

Erdmuthe Dorothea of Saxe-Zeitz Erdmuthe Dorothea of Saxe-Zeitz (13 November 1661 – 29 April 1720) was the wife of Duke Christian II of Saxe-Merseburg, whom she married on 14 October 1679 at Moritzburg Palace in Zeitz. Regent of the duchy of Saxe-Merseburg After her husban ...

. They had seven children: # Christian III Maurice, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg (b. Merseburg, 7 November 1680 – d. Merseburg, 14 November 1694). #Johann Wilhelm (b. Merseburg, 11 October 1681 – d. Merseburg, 29 May 1685). #August Frederick (b. Delitzsch, 10 March 1684 – d. Merseburg, 13 August 1685). #Philipp Ludwig (b. Merseburg, 3 November 1686 – d. Merseburg, 9 June 1688). #

Maurice Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg Maurice Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg (5 February 1688 – 21 April 1731) was a duke of Saxe-Merseburg and member of the House of Wettin. He was born in Merseburg, the fifth (but second surviving) son of Christian II, Duke of Saxe-Mersebu ...

(b. Merseburg, 5 February 1688 – d. Merseburg, 21 April 1731). #Frederick Erdmann (b. Merseburg, 20 September 1691 – d. Köthen, 2 June 1714), married on 15 February 1714 to

Eleonore Wilhelmine of Anhalt-Köthen Eleonore Wilhelmine of Anhalt-Köthen (7 May 1696 in Köthen – 30 August 1726 in Weimar) was a princess of Anhalt-Köthen by births and by marriage successively Princess of Saxe-Merseburg and Duchess of Saxe-Weimar. Life Eleonore Wilhel ...

. The union lasted only four months and was childless. #Christiane Eleonore Dorothea (b. Merseburg, 6 November 1692 – d. Merseburg, 30 March 1693).

References

* Heinrich Theodor Flathe: '' Christian II. (Herzog von Sachsen-Merseburg).'' In:

Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' (ADB, german: Universal German Biography) is one of the most important and comprehensive biographical reference works in the German language. It was published by the Historical Commission of the Bavarian Aca ...

(ADB). Band 4, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1876, S. 175. {{DEFAULTSORT:Christian 02, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg 1653 births 1694 deaths House of Saxe-Merseburg Dukes of Saxe-Merseburg Albertine branch