Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg

August von Sachsen -Lauenburg (* February 17, 1577 in Ratzeburg, † January 18, 1656 in Lauenburg / Elbe) was 1619-1656 Duke of Saxe- Lauenburg.

Life

August was the eldest son of Duke Francis II of Saxe -Lauenburg (1547-1619) from his first marriage to Margaret (1553-1581), daughter of Duke Philip I of Pomerania. August followed his father was 42 years old. To exclude disputes with his younger half-brothers, one agreement was concluded on October 4, 1619 in Lauenburg, was confirmed in August as sole ruler.

After the death of his step-mother Marie in 1626 occupied August, her assured Amt Neuhaus, which led to disputes with their biological sons. Nevertheless August behaved politically neutral during the Thirty Years' War, the country suffered considerably, mainly due to the sweden friendly behavior of Augustus brother Franz Karl. After the death of Crown Prince Johann Adolf in 1646 again broke discord among the brethren in regard to the succession.

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

August was buried in the cathedral of Ratzeburg, where he had his own grave vault for his family can create. His epitaph from 1649 is considered a masterpiece of the North German cartilage style.

Marriages and descendants

August was married twice. His first wife was born on March 5, 1621 in Husum Elisabeth Sophie ( 1599-1627 ), daughter of Duke Johann Adolf of Schleswig -Holstein - Gottorp, with whom he had the following children:

• Sophie Margarete (1622-1637)
• Franz August (1623-1625)
• Anna Elisabeth (1624-1688)

• Sibylle Hedwig (1625-1703)

• Johann Adolf (1626-1646)
• Philipp Friedrich ( * / † 1627 )

His second wife is married August on June 4, 1633 to Catherine ( 1582-1644 ), daughter of Count Johann XVI. of Oldenburg. This marriage remained childless.