Johann Philipp, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg

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Johann Philipp, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg (b. Torgau, 25 January 1597 - d. Altenburg, 1 April 1639), was a duke of Saxe-Altenburg.

He was the eldest (but fourth in order of birth) surviving son of Frederick Wilhelm I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Anna Marie of Bavaria-Neuburg, his second wife.

When his father died (1602), Johann Philipp and his younger brothers Frederick, Johann Wilhelm and Frederick Wilhelm are underage. For this, his uncle Johann (more interested in natural sciences and art than politics) took his guardianship and the regency of hih inheritance; but shortly after he took all the duchy of Saxe-Weimar on his own hands.

The next year (1603), the young princes of Saxe-Weimar demanded his own inheritance, but his uncle Johann opposed to this. But finally, both parts make a divisionary treaty of the family lands: Johann Philipp and his brothers took Altenburg and some towns, and Johann retained Weimar and Jena.

Because they still underage, the regency of his duchy was taken by Christian II, Elector of Saxony (1603-1611) and later by his brother and next Elector, Johann Georg I (1611-1618).

In 1618, Johann Philipp, as elder son, was declared adult and asumed the government of the duchy of Saxe-Altenburg. Also, he took the guardianship of his younger siblings. The four brothers co-ruled the duchy, but two of then died soon and childless: Frederick, who was killed in action in 1625, and Johann Wilhelm, died in Brieg on 1632.

Johann Philipp and his only surviving brother, Frederick Wilhelm II, continued as co-rulers; but, in fact, was Johann Philipp who really asumed the supreme and full control of the government until his death.

In Altenburg on 25 October 1618 Johann Philipp married with Elisabeth of Brünswick-Wolfenbüttel. They had only one daughter:

Elisabeth Sophie (b. Halle, 10 October 1619 - d. Gotha, 20 December 1680), married on 24 October 1636 to Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha.

In 1613, Johann Philipp was appointed Dean of the University of Leipzig. Also, he was a active member of the Fruitbearing Society.

In 1638, he received the towns of Coburg, Rodach, Römhild, Hildburghausen and Neustadt, according to the divisionary treaty between him and the branch of Saxe-Weimar after the death of the duke Johann Ernst of Saxe-Eisenach-Coburg without surviving issue.

Before his death, he made a will, when he declared his daughter the general heiress of the branch of Saxe-Altenburg, only in case of extinction of the male issue of the family. This will later originated a dispute between the branches of Saxe-Gotha and Saxe-Weimar.

Johann Philipp was succeded by his younger and only surviving brother, Frederick Wilhelm II.