List of rulers of Saxony

The list of electors, dukes and kings includes in chronological order (above ) Saxon rulers of the collection of the old part of the duchy of Saxe -Wittenberg under the Ascanians in the Elector Stand ( 1356) on their extinction and the transition of electoral rights and territories of the acquis House of Wettin up to the end of the monarchy (1918 ) collected in the Kingdom of Saxony as the predecessor of the present-day free State. Both noble families practiced doing a patrilineal succession, that is, as heir to the throne came only the sons of a ruler or - his brothers in question - if there were none. Princesses, duchesses and queens of Saxony there was not therefore in its own right, but as a title of honor of the wives of the respective ruler. They are found in the list of princesses, duchesses and queens of Saxony.

Except where otherwise noted, is listed here for the rulers to the sons of their predecessors. Due to lack of primogeniture, however, all male offspring were equally entitled to inherit, which is why there was diverse and complicated splintering of territories and the removal form new secondary lines to the late time. So governed, for example, in the 15th century next to the Elector himself at times also his uncle and brothers alone and leached for this from the possession of the entire house lands - as there is a whole hand was possible on the basis of previous investitures of Wettin that all (even younger ) members of a royal family could perform all titles of the general house, wore eg each Wettin from 1423 the title of Duke of Saxony - regardless of whether he was also elector of the empire, had only land in Thuringia or not the reigning prince was.

The Ascanians

The 1356 by Emperor Charles IV issued the Golden Bull was one of the duchy of Saxe- Wittenberg under the Elector. This was Saxe- Wittenberg, the previously exercised right of election of a king, and many other privileges represented what was to ascend the dukes under the senior princes of the empire.

The Wettin

After the extinction of witten bergischen Ascanians Margrave Frederick IV of Meissen was invested with the duchy of Saxe- Wittenberg, recognizing the related Electorate. The name Saxony wandered so now further upriver to cover eventually all the other Wettin possessions (including the heartland Meissen and Thuringia Landgraviate ). The now resulting new Electorate of Saxony, however, had in common with the old tribal duchy (main part of today's Lower Saxony ) and the former countries of the Ascanians complex, which continues to Lauenburg and Anhalt are, nothing more.

The Leipzig division

The brothers Ernst and Albrecht shared in the division of Leipzig in 1485 the Wettin land among themselves. The Duchy of Saxe -Wittenberg ( with the later Kurkreis ) and the electoral dignity associated with them and most of the Thuringian lands remained with Ernst and his descendants ( " Ernestine line "). The descendants of Albert ( " Albertine line " ) received the bulk of Meissen and ruled henceforth in Dresden as Dukes of Saxony.

Electorate of Saxony under the Alberti formers

As a result of the Smalcald War Johann Friedrich lost as head of the Federal Schmalkaldic large parts of his country in the Upper Saxon and the electoral dignity to his cousin Moritz, who had been on the side of the emperor. His sons could keep only the possessions in Thuringia.

Elevation to the Kingdom of Saxony

Napoleon raised his standing on his side Electorate of Saxony in 1806 to the Kingdom.