Historic Realms: The Electorate of Saxony Quiz

Answer: Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg

The Wettin coat of arms of a green crown of rue with the yellow and black background is often the image that is evoked when one is thinking of Saxony. However, with the Electorate of Saxony, the Wittenberg crossed red swords were also added to the flag, as the previous duchy was known as the Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg. Subsequently, the Electorate lasted from 1356-1806.

Answer: Vlaanderen

If we break down the bull's statement we can see where the different prince-electors came from.

The prelates (nominally) for Germany, Gaul, and Italy were the archbishops of Mainz, Trier, and Cologne respectively. The Bohemian cupbearer is certainly the king of Bohemia, the Saxon marshal refers to Saxony and the Brandenburg chamberlain to Brandenburg. The Palatine seneschal refers to the Electorate of the Palatinate, which was located near the Rhine. These seven electors had the power to elect any leader to be the next Holy Roman Emperor.

Vlaanderen (or Flanders) is a region in modern Belgium which is primarily Dutch-speaking.

Answer: primogeniture

In the past, Saxony had often practiced splitting its lands amongst the different children so that they could individually rule. Lands had to be reunited in order to make a full Saxon state. Once Saxony was elevated into an electorate, this practice had to stop out of necessity.

The Holy Roman Emperor could not allow a crisis in which multiple heirs could claim to be the elector. Therefore, the practice of primogeniture was forced onto Saxony so that only the eldest male heir could claim the title of prince-elector.

Answer: Anhalt

The Ascanian line ruled the Principality of Anhalt, a member state of the Holy Roman Empire, from c. 1100-1918. The last Ascanian ruler of Saxony, Albert III, angered the general populace by instituting a stall tax. The plan backfired and he was attacked. He was known as "Albert the Poor" because his realm was bankrupt and he couldn't afford servants in some instances.

The current German state it shares its name with is Saxony-Anhalt, which has its capital in Magdeburg (on the Elbe) .

Answer: Ernestine and Albertine

Since Saxony could only have one prince-elector, the title originally went with the elder brother Ernest and his Wettin dynasty line. However, in the sixteenth century this power was given to the Albertine line by the Holy Roman Emperor. The split of the Electorate was believed to have significantly weakened the power of Saxony, giving other electors such as Brandenburg more power and influence in the region.

Answer: Martin Luther

Martin Luther was an Augustinian monk and professor at the University at Wittenberg, which was established in the Electorate of Saxony. When he posted "The Ninety-Five Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences", he caused quite a stir. Even the Saxon prince-elector didn't initially espouse Lutheran ideas, but he did protect Luther.

The one-two punch came when Luther was excommunicated and then had an imperial ban placed upon him by the Holy Roman Emperor. Saxon rulers hid Luther in the Wartburg Castle under the pseudonym of Junker Jörg (Knight George). Saxon involvement was vital to the spread of ideas spawned by the Protestant Reformation.

Answer: Schmalkaldic War over Protestant reforms

The Schmalkaldic War was fought between the Holy Roman Empire under the Catholic emperor, Charles V, and the Schmalkaldic League, which included many Lutheran princes in Germany. The pretense for the war was certainly religious; the Lutheran princes wished not to be forced to submit to Catholicism. However, Charles V believed that the princes were using Lutheran reforms as a guise, and that the princes wanted less imperial authority over them. The religious and political reasons for the war were certainly intertwined.

The Lutheran princes lost, and Charles V ramped up efforts to reintroduce the Protestants back into the Catholic Church. However, the hold of Lutheranism had been far too much, and he was forced to back down. Nonetheless, Charles V indeed counted the Duke of Saxony amongst his defeated.

Answer: Gustavus Adolphus

Gustavus Adolphus had attempted to woo the Saxon armies onto the Protestant side, but he failed until the Holy Roman Empire invaded Saxon lands. The Thirty Years' War devastated the lands of Saxony, much like the whole of Central Europe. Saxony, however, did receive lands after the war's completion known as Lusatia.

Answer: Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

In order to be a valid heir of the throne of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, one needed to be Catholic. Though Saxony had long been a Lutheran stronghold, the Albertine king Augustus had grand plans, and so he converted to Catholicism to gain the crown. The Commonwealth was enormous and wealthy, so it was no small prize.

The conversion shocked Protestant Europe, and Saxony trembled, believing that Augustus would force Catholicism upon them. However, Augustus relayed much of his religious authority to councils composed of Protestants, helping to soothe their fears. Augustus' plan to unite Poland, Lithuania, and Germany were much of a pipe dream, however. Catholic Poland and Protestant Germany would not have created the most stable of realms.

Answer: Confederation of the Rhine

The Confederation of the Rhine was a group of German states located near the Rhine (hence the name) that backed Napoleon's efforts in Europe. In return, the many princes gained freedom from the authority of the Holy Roman Empire. Saxon rulers were allowed to take the title of king, and as prince-electors were no longer necessary due to the dismantling of the Holy Roman Empire, the kingdom lost that title. To them, ruling as kings was totally worth it.