John of Saxony

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John (full name: Johann Nepomuk Maria Joseph Anton Xaver Vincenz Aloys Franz de Paula Stanislaus Bernhard Paul Felix Damasus) (German: Johann; b. Dresden, 12 December 1801 – d. Pillnitz, 29 October 1873) was a King of Saxony and a member of the House of Wettin.

He was the third son of Maximilian, Prince of Saxony -younger son of the Elector Frederick Christian of Saxony- by his first wife, Caroline of Bourbon, Princess of Parma.

Contents 1 Early life 2 King of Saxony 3 Ancestors 4 Marriage and Issue

[edit] Early life

During most part of his life, Johann had little chances to inherited the Saxon Crown: he was preceded by his father and two older brothers, Frederick Augustus and Klemens. However, in 1822 Klemens died unmarried in Italy, and Johann became now only preceded by his older brother Frederick Augustus in the line of succession.

When his uncle Anton succeeded his older brother as King (1827), Johann became in the third in line to the throne, and after the renunciation of his father Maximilian to his succession rights in 1830, in the second in line. Johann's older brother became King Frederick Augustus II in 1836; now he was the first in line of succession to the throne as Crown Prince (de: Kronprinz). The King, married twice, was childless, and for this, Johann remained as Heir presumptive during all the reign of his brother.

[edit] King of Saxony

Johann became King of Saxony after the death of his brother Frederick Augustus II on 9 August 1854.

The Judiciary Organization of 1855, the extension of the railroad network, the introduction of the freedom of trade are mainly to be owed to his suggestion and promotion. Under his government, it came to the acceptance of the French Commercial Treaty (1862) and for the acknowledgment of Italy of a contract with this Empire. He exerted himself under influence of his Minister Friedrich Ferdinand von Beust for the Great Germany Solution (de: Großdeutsche Lösung) of the imperial arrangement (under inclusion of Austria). In 1866 Saxony fought on the Austrian side in the Austro-Prussian War. Finally, after the defeat of the Battle of Königgrätz, Saxony joined to the North German Confederation and in 1871 to the German Empire under the hegemony of the Kingdom of Prussia. The King died two years later, aged seventy-one.

Near his political work Johann was busy with literature. Under the pseudonym Philalethes translated to German the Dante's Divine Comedy; some parts of this work were placed in the Schloss Weesenstein. The Dresden district of Johannstadt was named after him.

[edit] Ancestors

John's ancestors in three generations

John of Saxony	Father: Prince Maximilian of Saxony	Paternal Grandfather: Frederick Christian, Elector of Saxony	Paternal Great-grandfather: Augustus III of Poland
			Paternal Great-grandmother: Maria Josepha of Austria
		Paternal Grandmother: Maria Antonia Walpurgis of Bavaria	Paternal Great-grandfather: Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
			Paternal Great-grandmother: Maria Amalia of Austria
	Mother: Princess Caroline of Parma	Maternal Grandfather: Ferdinand, Duke of Parma	Maternal Great-grandfather: Philip, Duke of Parma
			Maternal Great-grandmother: Princess Louise-Élisabeth of France
		Maternal Grandmother: Archduchess Marie Amalie of Austria	Maternal Great-grandfather: Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
			Maternal Great-grandmother: Maria Theresa of Austria

[edit] Marriage and Issue

In Munich on 10 November 1822 (by proxy) and again in Dresden on 21 November 1822 (in person), Johann married with the Princess Amalia of Bavaria (Amalie Auguste), daughter of King Maximilian I of Bavaria. They had nine children:

1. Maria Auguste Fredericka Karoline Ludovike Amalie Maximiliane Franziska Nepomucena Xaveria (b. Dresden, 22 January 1827 - d. Dresden, 8 October 1857), known as Maria.
2. Frederick Augustus Albert Anton Ferdinand Joseph Karl Maria Baptist Nepomuk Wilhelm Xaver Georg Fidelis (b. Dresden, 23 April 1828 - d. Schloss Sibyllenort, 19 June 1902), King Albert of Saxony.
3. Maria Elisabeth Maximiliana Ludovika Amalie Franziska Sophia Leopoldine Anna Baptista Xaveria Nepomucena (b. Dresden, 4 February 1830 - d. Stresa, 14 August 1912), known as Elisabeth; married firstly on 22 April 1850 to Ferdinando, Prince of Savoy and Sardinia and 1st Duke of Genoa, and secondly on 4 October 1856 to Niccolo, Marchese Rapallo.
4. Frederick Augustus Ernst Ferdinand Wilhelm Ludwig Anton Nepomuk Maria Baptist Xaver Vincenz (b. Dresden, 5 April 1831 - d. Schloss Weesenstein, 12 May 1847), known as Ernst.
5. Frederick Augustus Georg Ludwig Wilhelm Maximilian Karl Maria Nepomuk Baptist Xaver Cyriacus Romanus (b. Pillnitz, 8 August 1832 - d. Pillnitz, 15 October 1904), King Georg of Saxony (1902).
6. Maria Sidonia Ludovica Mathilde Wilhelmine Auguste Xaveria Baptista Nepomucena Veronica Hyacinthia Deodata (b. Pillnitz, 16 August 1834 - d. Dresden, 1 March 1862), known as Sidonia.
7. Anna Maria Maximiliane Stephania Karoline Johanna Luisa Xaveria Nepomucena Aloysia Benedicta, (b. Dresden, 4 January 1836 - d. Naples, 10 February 1859), known as Anna; married on 24 November 1856 to Ferdinand IV, Grand Duke of Tuscany.
8. Margarete Karoline Fredericka Cecilie Auguste Amalie Josephine Elisabeth Maria Johanna (b. Dresden, 24 May 1840 - d. Monza, 15 September 1858), known as Margarete; married on 4 November 1856 to Archduke Carl Ludwig of Austria, her cousin.
9. Sophie Maria Friederike Auguste Leopoldine Alexandrine Ernestine Albertine Elisabeth (b. Dresden, 15 March 1845 - d. Munich, 9 March 1867), known as Sophie; married on 11 February 1865 to Karl-Theodor, Duke in Bavaria, her cousin and brother of Empress Elisabeth of Austria.

John of Saxony House of Wettin Born: December 12 1801 Died: October 29 1873
Regnal titles
Preceded by Frederick Augustus II	King of Saxony 1854-1873	Succeeded by Albert