Francis Erdmann, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg

Franz Erdmann of Saxe- Lauenburg ( born February 25, 1629 in Toužim; † 30 July 1666 Schwarzenbek ) was 1665-1666 Duke of Saxe- Lauenburg and Imperial Field Marshal.

Life

Franz Erdmann was the eldest son of the Duke Julius Henry of Saxe-Lauenburg (1586-1665) from his second marriage with Elisabeth Sophie (1589-1629), daughter of the Elector Johann Georg of Brandenburg. The Prince was brought up in the Lutheran doctrine even though his father had converted to Catholicism.

Franz Erdmann served both in the Swedish army as a major general against Poland and in the imperial army as a Field Marshal in the war against France.

Franz Erdmann married in 1654 his cousin Sibylle Hedwig ( 1625-1703 ), daughter of Duke Augustus of Saxe - Lauenburg. In the United Groenau he was in the same year the Fürstenhof palace built later he put in this place he made ​​his residence, a coin and a book printer to. He succeeded his father in 1665 as Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg, but reigned a full year before he died. In his reign the uprising Lübeck craftsmen of 1665, which spread to the Duchy of Lauenburg and worsening of witch hunts with increasing executions falls.

Under the company name The Fort Sprawling he was accepted as a member of the literary Fruitbearing society.

Franz Erdmann marriage remained childless, Duke therefore succeeded by his younger half- brother Julius French