George of Saxony

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King George of Saxony
by Franz Kops (1895)

George (German: Georg; 8 August 1832 – 15 October 1904) was a King of Saxony of the House of Wettin.

George was born in the Saxon capital Dresden. He was the second son of King John of Saxony (1801-1873) and his wife Amelia of Bavaria (1801-1877), daughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria.

On 11 May 1859 at Lisbon, George married the Infanta Maria Anna of Portugal (1843-1884), the eldest surviving daughter of Queen Maria II of Portugal and her consort, King Ferdinand II. Ferdinand was born as the Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Kohary, and as such was a Catholic Saxon kinsman of George.

George served under his brother Albert's command during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and in the Franco-German War. In the re-organisation of the army which accompanied the march towards Paris, his brother the Crown Prince gained a separate command over the 4th army (Army of the Meuse) consisting of the Saxon XII corps, the Prussian Guard corps, and the IV (Prussian Saxony) corps and George succeeded him in command of the XII corps.

Prince George was a Generalfeldmarschall before his ascension. It gradually became clear that George's older brother King Albert would not have any children, thereby making George the heir to the throne. He succeeded Albert as King of Saxony on June 19, 1902, albeit for just a brief two-year reign. He died in Pillnitz and was succeeded by his eldest son Frederick Augustus III (1865-1932), who was deposed in 1918.

Eight children were born of George and Maria Anna's marriage:

Marie Johanna (1860-1861)
Elisabeth (1862-1863)
Mathilde (1863-1933).
Frederick Augustus (1865-1932)
Maria Josepha (1867-1944). Married Archduke Otto Franz of Austria.
John George (1869-1938). Married first Isabella, Duchess of Württemberg and second Maria, Immacolata Princess of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, daughter of Prince Alfonso, Count of Caserta and Duke of Calabria.