Biography
Henry was the second son of Albert III, Duke of Saxony, Albert, Duke of Saxony, and his wife Sidonie Podiebrad, princess of Bohemia. When Albert died in 1500, his eldest son George, Duke of Saxony, George succeeded to the Duchy of Saxony, and Henry became Lord of Friesland. Saxon rule of Friesland was disturbed by constant revolts. Consequently, Henry, who was of a rather inert disposition, gave up his title there. In 1505 Henry ceded Friesland to George, in return for an annuity and the districts of Wolkenstein and Freiberg, Saxony, Freiberg, where Henry made his residence. In 1517, Martin Luther posted the ''Ninety-five Theses'' which sparked the Reformation in Germany, and a few years later Henry adopted the ''Lutheranism, Evangelical'' faith. George remained a devout Catholic. Only two of George's sons survived to adulthood, John, Hereditary Prince of Saxony, John and Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Saxony, Frederick, but they both predeceased him without issue. When Frederick died in 1539, the Lutheran Henry became heir presumptive to the Duchy under the Act of Settlement of 1499. To prevent a Protestant succession, George tried to override his father's will, disinherit Henry, and bequeath the Duchy to Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor, Ferdinand, brother of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V. However, George died only two months later, and Henry succeeded to the Duchy aged 66. He made Lutheranism the state religion of the Duchy of Saxony but reigned for only two years.Marriage and children
In Freiberg, Saxony, Freiberg, on 6 July 1512, Heinrich married Catherine of Mecklenburg, daughter of Duke Magnus II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. They had six children: *Sybille of Saxony, Sybille (b. Freiberg, 2 May 1515 – d. Buxtehude, 18 July 1592), married on 8 February 1540 to Duke Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg, Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg. *Emilie of Saxony, Emilie (b. Freiberg, 27 July 1516 – d. Ansbach, 9 March 1591), married on 25 August 1533 to Georg, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach. *Sidonie of Saxony, Sidonie (b. Meissen, 8 March 1518 – d. Kloster Weissenfels, 4 January 1575), married on 17 May 1545 to Eric II, Duke of Calenberg, Eric II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Calenberg). *Maurice, Elector of Saxony, Maurice (b. Freiberg, 21 March 1521 – d. of wounds received in action at Sievershausen, 11 July 1553), later Elector of Saxony. *Severinus of Saxony, Severinus (b. Freiberg?, 28 August 1522 – d. Innsbruck, 10 October 1533). *Augustus, Elector of Saxony, Augustus (b. Freiberg, 31 July 1526 – d. Dresden, 11 February 1586).References
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