Heinrich, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg

Heinrich of Saxe- Merseburg ( born September 2, 1661 Merseburg, † July 28, 1738 in Dobrilugk ) was a member of a branch of the Albertine Wettin and the fifth and last Duke of Saxe- Merseburg Saxon Sekundogeniturfürstentums.

Family

Henry was the sixth son of Duke Christian I of Saxe- Merseburg and his wife Christiana, a daughter of Duke Philip of Schleswig -Holstein -Sonderburg- Glücksburg.

Life

Government in Spremberg

To supply his three posthumous sons befitting them pointed Duke Christian I. in his lifetime each own small dominions as appanages to, but more remained a function of the Merseburger main line and its sovereign rights were severely restricted. Heinrich received as part of this distribution, the Lusatian town Spremberg own residence and founded by the line Sachsen- Merseburg -Spremberg.

Henry's reign resulted in Spremberg an extraordinary flowering, so he had the castle Spremberg 1694 to expand his summer residence. There were two stately three-storey wing to the east and west, which were connected by a wooden gallery on the courtyard side, built the tower and provided with a tent roof.

In addition, he built a pleasure garden and likes to indulge in hunting. His favorite hunting ground was later named after him, Henry Field - today a district of Spremberg.

Furthermore, it was rebuilt after the great fire of July 30, 1705 again with his support of the city. For his craftsman, he issued privileges that led to the flourishing of trade and commerce. He also considered a great promoter of culture; so he appointed Johann Theodor Roemhildt 1726 to his court music and this deal later in Merseburg on. From the sculptor Johann Michael Hoppenhaupt he was designing a medal cabinet, which is the only original piece of furniture in the Cultural History Museum at Schloss Merseburg today.

Extinction of the main line brings Henry to the throne

Since the last duke of the Merseburg main line, Henry 's nephew Maurice William, had fathered no male children and the only one else remaining heir, Prince Friedrich Erdmann, was already dead, the duchy fell on April 21, 1731 at the now 69 years old Heinrich about.

The economic and cultural friendly regency of his nephew, he continued. So was the 1735 construction of the Duke pavilion in Bad Lauchstaedt and 1738 the so-called Upper Water art, a baroque fountain and economic house in Merseburg - Oberaltenburg, by his sculptor and architect Johann Michael Hoppe main. The between and the Anhalt Zoerbig Radegast ( Southern Anhalt) located Fuhnedamm his father Christian I. He was mending. At Henry's honor, therefore, a memorial plaque on the monument ways Theurer Christian was later attached.

Death and funeral

Duke Henry died 76 years old on July 28, 1738 at Schloss Doberlug and was buried in a Zinnprunksarg in the royal crypt of Merseburg Cathedral. Since neither he usually another male member of the branch line had left still surviving male issue, the line was considered extinct in the male line and the Merseburger Sekundogenitur reverted to the Electorate of Saxony.

Marriage and issue

He completed his only marriage on March 29, 1692 in Güstrow with Elisabeth of Mecklenburg- Güstrow, the daughter of Gustavus Adolphus, Duke of Mecklenburg- Güstrow from his marriage to Magdalene Sibylle of Schleswig -Holstein - Gottorp.

With his wife he had the following children:

  • Moritz ( born October 29, 1694 Spremberg, † April 11, 1695 in Spremberg ), Hereditary Prince of Saxe- Merseburg -Spremberg
  • Christiane Friederike ( born May 17, 1697 in Spremberg; † August 21, 1722 in Spremberg ), Princess of Saxe- Merseburg -Spremberg
  • Gustav Magdalena ( born October 2, 1699 Spremberg; † October 3, 1699 in Spremberg ), Princess of Saxe- Merseburg -Spremberg

Links as sources

  • Literature of and over Heinrich ( Saxony- Merseburg ) in the VD 17
  • Pierer 's Universal -Lexikon, Altenburg 1857-1865, Vol 14, p 685
  • Johann Hübner ... Drey hundred and thirty -three Genealogical Tables, Table 170
  • Entry in ThePeerage.com
  • Duke (Sachsen- Merseburg )
  • Albertiner
  • Support of the White Eagle Order
  • Carrier of the elephant - Order
  • Born in 1661
  • Died in 1738
  • Man
Secundogeniture Christian I, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg Maurice Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg Radegast (disambiguation) Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow Integrated Authority File
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