Maurice, Elector of Saxony facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maurice
Portrait by Lucas Cranach the Younger
Elector of Saxony
Reign	24 April 1547 – 9 July 1553
Predecessor	John Frederick I
Successor	Augustus
Duke of Saxony
Reign	18 August 1541 – 24 April 1547
Predecessor	Henry IV
Successor	John Frederick I
Margrave of Meissen
Reign	18 August 1541 – 9 July 1553
Predecessor	Henry IV
Successor	Merged into the Electorate
Born	21 March 1521 Freiberg
Died	9 July 1553(1553-07-09) (aged 32) Battle of Sievershausen
Burial	Freiberg Cathedral
Spouse	Agnes of Hesse
Issue	Anna, Princess of Saxony and Orange-Nassau Prince/Duke Albrecht of Saxony
House	House of Wettin Albertine Branch
Father	Henry IV, Duke of Saxony
Mother	Catherine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Religion	Roman Catholic (1521-1536) Lutheran (1536-1553)
Signature

Maurice (born March 21, 1521 – died July 9, 1553) was an important ruler in Germany. He was first the Duke from 1541 to 1547. Later, he became the Elector of Saxony from 1547 to 1553. Through smart choices and alliances, Maurice helped his family gain more land and power.

Early Life and Family (1521–1541)

Maurice was born in Freiberg, Saxony. He was the fourth child and first son of Henry IV, Duke of Saxony. His mother was Catherine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Growing Up and Education

When Maurice was 11, he lived for two years with his godfather, Cardinal Albert of Mainz. He lived a quiet life there. Later, his uncle, Duke George, brought him back to Saxony. Duke George raised Maurice as a Catholic.

However, in 1536, Maurice's father became a Protestant. When his father became Duke in 1539, he made the Duchy of Saxony Protestant. Maurice's parents then took over his education.

In 1539, Maurice, at 18, moved to Torgau. He lived with his older cousin, John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony. They did not get along well and developed a strong dislike for each other. But Maurice became lifelong friends with another cousin, Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse, whom he met in Dresden.

Marriage and Children

When Maurice was old enough, his parents looked for a wife for him. They favored Philip of Hesse's oldest daughter, Agnes. Their wedding plans almost failed because of a problem with Philip's own marriage. But Maurice secretly stayed committed to Agnes.

His mother especially did not approve of the marriage. Still, the wedding happened in Marburg on January 9, 1541. Letters from that time show that Maurice and Agnes loved each other very much. They had two children:

• Anna (born December 23, 1544 – died December 18, 1577). She married Prince William I of Orange-Nassau in 1561. They later divorced in 1574.
• Albert (born November 28, 1545 – died April 12, 1546).

Becoming Duke and Early Challenges (1541–1548)

On August 18, 1541, Maurice's father, Henry, died. Maurice became the Duke of Saxony and the leader of his family line. He changed most of his advisors because they had not supported his marriage to Agnes.

Working with the Emperor

One of Maurice's new advisors, George von Carlowitz, told him to avoid war with Emperor Charles V. This was important to protect the Protestant movement.

So, Maurice joined the Emperor's army in wars against the Ottoman Empire (1542), William of Jülich-Cleves-Berg (1543), and Francis I of France (1544). At the same time, Maurice took over the Catholic Church's properties in his lands.

With the money from these former monasteries, Maurice started three special schools for princes. These schools were in Schulpforta, Meissen, and Grimma. This was part of his "New National Order" from 1543.

The Schmalkaldic War and a Difficult Choice

Maurice refused to join the Protestant Schmalkaldic League, even though his friend and father-in-law, Philip of Hesse, was its leader. Maurice disliked his cousin, John Frederick I, who was also a powerful Protestant leader. The Emperor had also hinted that Maurice could become the Elector of Saxony if he helped him.

In 1542, Maurice and John Frederick almost went to war over taxes from a shared region. This event was called the "Wurzener Feud." Luckily, Philip of Hesse and Martin Luther helped stop the conflict.

Portrait of Maurice in armour, painted by Lucas Cranach the Younger.

Because John Frederick strongly supported the Protestant faith, Emperor Charles V declared him an outlaw on July 20, 1546. This meant John Frederick lost his rights and lands. The Emperor asked Maurice to enforce this punishment. Charles V hoped to divide the Protestants and stop their religion from spreading. Maurice hesitated because his father-in-law, Philip of Hesse, would also be affected.

But when the Emperor's brother, Ferdinand I, planned to attack Saxony himself, Maurice decided to act. He didn't want the Habsburg family to gain too much power in his lands.

Maurice joined Charles V's side. He quickly took over the Electorate of Saxony without much fighting. But then, the Schmalkaldic League pushed his army back towards Bohemia.

Battle of Mühlberg and Becoming Elector

The most important battle was the Battle of Mühlberg on April 24, 1547. Emperor Charles V, his brother Ferdinand, and Maurice defeated the Schmalkaldic League. They captured both Philip of Hesse and John Frederick.

To avoid being executed, John Frederick gave up his title as Elector and large parts of his lands to Maurice. On June 4, 1547, Maurice officially became the Elector of Saxony. This was a high price to pay. Maurice had gone against the Protestant cause and put his father-in-law, Philip of Hesse, in a terrible situation. Maurice had promised Philip he wouldn't be imprisoned if he surrendered to the Emperor. However, Philip was taken prisoner and sent away.

Later Years and Peace (1548–1553)

After these events, many people called Maurice a "Judas" for betraying his fellow Protestants. He was also disappointed with the Emperor. Charles V tried to bring Catholicism back to Protestant areas and kept Philip of Hesse imprisoned, even though he had promised his freedom.

Maurice hid his true feelings until the Diet of Augsburg on February 25, 1548. This was where Maurice was formally made Elector of Saxony. Charles V hoped that with Maurice's help and a new agreement called the Augsburg Interim, they could end the religious conflicts in his empire.

Alliance Against the Emperor

In 1550, Maurice was asked to capture the rebellious Lutheran city of Magdeburg. He used this chance to build up his own army. He also secretly made agreements with France and other Protestant German princes against the Habsburg family.

In January 1552, Maurice signed the Treaty of Chambord with the French King Henry II. Maurice promised the King money and weapons to fight Charles V. In return, Henry was allowed to take four Imperial cities (Metz, Toul, Verdun, and Cambrai) and their church lands. Maurice didn't have the right to give these lands away, but he did so anyway.

In March 1552, the rebels, led by Maurice, quickly took over parts of southern Germany and Austria. This forced the Emperor to flee. Philip of Hesse was finally released from prison. While Henry II took the promised Imperial lands, the Emperor fled to Villach in Austria.

The Peace of Passau

After these successes, Maurice ended his alliance with Henry II. He began to negotiate a treaty with Charles's brother, King Ferdinand I. Charles V agreed to this. The Peace of Passau was signed in August 1552. This agreement temporarily protected the Lutheran religion.

As part of this peace, John Frederick I of Saxony and Philip of Hesse were released. The war officially ended in 1556. The Imperial cities that France had taken remained under French control.

When Maurice returned to Saxony after the Peace of Passau, people no longer saw him as a traitor. Both Protestants and Catholics respected him. The Emperor also urged everyone to keep the peace. Soon after, the Emperor went to fight the Ottomans in Hungary.

Another ruler, Albert Alcibiades, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach, refused to accept the Peace of Passau. He conquered some church lands. This started the Second Margrave War, which ended with the Peace of Augsburg in 1555.

In 1552, Maurice led an army of 11,000 men into Hungary to fight the Ottomans. The Ottomans were attacking the city of Eger. However, the Black Death (a deadly disease) broke out in Hungary, and Maurice did not move his forces forward.

Moritzmonument in Dresden.

Death

Albert Alcibiades, who had been Maurice's ally in the Schmalkaldic War, was now his enemy. Maurice joined an alliance of princes, including Ferdinand I, to fight against Albert Alcibiades.

On July 9, 1553, the Battle of Sievershausen took place. Maurice won the battle, but he was badly wounded in the stomach by a shot from behind. He died two days later in the army camp at the age of 32. He was buried in Freiberg Cathedral. In 1853, 300 years after the battle, a monument was built to remember him at the place where he died.

Because Maurice had no sons who survived him, his brother Augustus became the next Elector. In Dresden, shortly after Maurice's death, Augustus built the Maurice Monument (Moritzmonument). This was the first historical monument ever built in Saxony.

See also

In Spanish: Mauricio de Sajonia para niños

• Leipzig University Library

Images for kids

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  Portrait of Maurice by Lucas Cranach the Younger

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  Maurice's signature