Francis II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Francis II |
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Portrait of Francis II with his wife Mary and their family, originally in Franzhagen Castle chapel, now in St. Mary's Church in Büchen.
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| Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg | |
| Reign | 1586–1619 |
| Predecessor | Francis I |
| Successor | Augustus |
| Co-ruler | Maurice |
| Born | 10 August 1547 Ratzeburg |
| Died | 2 July 1619 (aged 71) Lauenburg upon Elbe |
| Burial | St. Mary Magdalene Church, Lauenburg upon Elbe |
| Spouse | Margaret of Pomerania-Wolgast Maria of Brunswick-Lüneburg |
| Issue more.... |
Augustus Francis Julius Julius Henry Francis Charles Francis Henry |
| House | House of Ascania |
| Father | Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg |
| Mother | Sybille of Saxe-Freiberg |
| Religion | Lutheran |
Francis II of Saxe-Lauenburg was born in Ratzeburg on August 10, 1547. He was the third son of Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg and Sybille of Saxe-Freiberg. From 1581 until his death in 1619, he ruled the area known as Saxe-Lauenburg as its duke. He passed away on July 2, 1619, in Lauenburg upon Elbe.
Contents
Life of a Duke
Early Life and Challenges
As the third son, Francis II wasn't expected to become duke. This was because of a rule called primogeniture, which meant the oldest son usually inherited everything. So, Francis II chose a career in the military, serving the Holy Roman Emperor.
In 1571, his father, Francis I, owed a lot of money. He decided to let his oldest son, Magnus II, take over. Magnus had promised to get back the lands that were promised as security for loans. However, Magnus didn't keep his promise. Instead, he sold off even more of the duchy's land. This caused big problems and fights between Magnus, his father, his brothers, and the important people of the duchy. Magnus was also known for being angry and violent.
Becoming Duke
In 1573, Francis II stepped in. He helped his father remove Magnus from power, and his father became duke again. The next year, Magnus gathered an army to try and take Saxe-Lauenburg by force. Francis II, who was an experienced military leader, helped his father defeat Magnus. In return, Saxe-Lauenburg had to give up an area called Steinhorst in 1575.
Francis II also helped his father stop Magnus's second attempt to take over in 1578. After this, Francis I made Francis II his main helper. Francis II was actually the one running the duchy.
In 1581, just before he died, Francis I made a big decision. He chose Francis II, his third son, to be his only successor. He thought Francis II was the most capable. This decision broke the rule of primogeniture, which usually meant the oldest son should inherit. He didn't tell his other sons, Magnus and Maurice, about this.
This decision made things even worse with the important people of the duchy, who were already unhappy that the duke kept borrowing more and more money. For a while, Francis was only allowed to manage things, not fully rule. Magnus asked the Emperor Rudolph II for help. In 1585, the Emperor decided that Francis II should indeed be the duke, just as Francis I had wanted.
Francis II managed to get his brother Maurice on his side by promising to share power. Together, they tricked Magnus and captured him later in 1585. Francis and Maurice kept their brother Magnus in prison for the rest of his life, mostly in Ratzeburg castle. Magnus died there in 1603.
Ruling the Duchy
Because Francis II became duke by breaking the usual rules, the important people of the duchy thought he wasn't the rightful ruler. This forced Francis II to talk with them. On December 16, 1585, they reached an agreement called the "Eternal Union." This agreement created a permanent group of nobles and city representatives who would have a big say in how the duchy was run. In return, they accepted Francis II as their rightful duke in 1586.
Things got better between the duke and the estates. Francis II used money he earned as an imperial commander to get back the lands that had been promised for loans. In 1585, he also created a set of rules for the Lutheran church in Saxe-Lauenburg.
In 1592, Francis II gave his second wife, Maria of Brunswick-Lüneburg, a large estate near Schulendorf. Starting in 1608, Francis expanded the house there into a castle with a big garden. It was eventually called Franzhagen. Francis II used this castle until he died. His wife Mary then lived there until she passed away in 1626.
In 1608, Francis II gained the right to mint coins for Saxe-Lauenburg. After his brother Maurice died in 1612, Francis became the only ruling duke. In 1616, the duke's main castle in Lauenburg upon Elbe, which was very old, burned down. Francis then used another home in Neuhaus.
Francis II died in 1619. He was buried in the family tomb at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Lauenburg upon Elbe. His widow, Mary, was buried next to him when she died in 1626.
Marriages and Family
Francis II was married two times.
His first marriage was on December 26, 1574, in Wolgast to Margaret of Pomerania-Wolgast. She was born on March 19, 1553, and died on August 7, 1581. They had four children:
- Marie (born 1576 – died 1625)
- Augustus (born 1577 – died 1656), who became Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg after his father.
- Philip (born 1578 – died 1605)
- Catharina Ursula (born 1580 – died 1611)
On November 10, 1582, Francis II married his second wife, Maria of Brunswick-Lüneburg, in Wolfenbüttel. She was born on January 13, 1566, and died on August 13, 1626. Mary and Francis had 14 children together. Twelve of them lived to be adults:
- Francis Julius (born 1584 – died 1634)
- Julius Henry (born 1586 – died 1665), who also became Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg later.
- Ernest Louis (born 1587 – died 1620)
- Hedwig Sibylla (born 1588 – died 1635)
- Juliana (born 1589 – died 1630)
- Joachim Sigismund (born 1593 – died 1629)
- Francis Charles (born 1594 – died 1660)
- Rudolph Maximilian (born 1596 – died 1647)
- Hedwig Maria (born 1597 – died 1644)
- Francis Albert (born 1598 – died 1642)
- Sophia Hedwig (born 1601 – died 1660)
- Francis Henry (born 1604 – died 1658)
Images for kids
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Portrait of Francis II with his wife Mary and their family, originally in Franzhagen Castle chapel, now in St. Mary's Church in Büchen.
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Francis' coat-of-arms from 1608 on a church in Cuxhaven. The words mean "Of God's Grace Francis Duke of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia."
