Frederick William I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar

Frederick William I (Weimar, 25 April 1562 – Weimar, 7 July 1602), was a duke of Saxe-Weimar. He was the eldest son of John William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Dorothea Susanne of Simmern.

Life

At the time of the death of his father (1573) Frederick William was still under age; for this, a tutelary government for the duchy was appointed. This was stressed by the Dowager Duchess Dorothea Susanne, because she cannot not prevent, however, the Elector Augustus of Saxony -from the Albertine line- was designated as the regent in her place.

In 1586 Frederick William was declared an adult and began his independent government over in Saxe-Weimar. Five years later, in 1591, the Elector Christian I of Saxony died and was succeeded by his eldest son Christian II. Because the new Elector was still under age, the regency of the Electorate was assigned to Frederick William. With the title of Administrator des Sächsischen Kurstaates (Administrator of the Saxon Electorate) took residence in Torgau, and neglected the government of his duchy. These were led by his younger brother John, which had to be taken part -in accordance with the Ernestine House Law- anyway in the government.

In 1601 ended the regency in the Electorate of Saxony with the majority of Elector Christian II, and Frederick William returned to Weimar. Since he however already died one year later, he not left large traces in the history of the duchy.

Marriage and children

In Weimar on 5 May 1583 Frederick William married firstly with Sophie of Württemberg (born Stuttgart 20 November 1563, died Vacha 21 July 1590), daughter of Christoph, Duke of Württemberg. They had six children:

1. Dorothea Marie (b. Weimar, 8 May 1584 - d. Weimar, 9 September 1586).
2. John William (b. Weimar, 30 June 1585 - d. Weimar, 23 January 1587).
3. Frederick (b. Weimar, 26 September 1586 - d. Weimar, 19 January 1587).
4. Dorothea Sophia (b. Weimar, 19 December 1587 - d. Weimar, 10 February 1645), Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg (1618).
5. Anna Marie (b. Weimar, 31 March 1589 - d. Dresden, 15 December 1626).
6. stillborn son (Vacha, 21 July 1590).

In Neuburg on 9 September 1591 Frederick Wilhelm married secondly with Anna Maria of the Palatinate-Neuburg (born Neuberg 18 August 1575, died Dornburg an der Saale 11 May 1643), daughter of Philip Louis, Count Palatine of Neuburg. They had six children:

1. John Philip, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg (b. Torgau, 25 January 1597 - d. Altenburg, 1 April 1639).
2. Anna Sophie (b. Torgau, 3 February 1598 - d. Öls, 20 March 1641), married on 4 December 1618 to Duke Karl Frederick of Münsterberg-Öls.
3. Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg (b. Torgau, 12 February 1599 - killed in battle, 24 October 1625).
4. John William, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg (1600–1632) (b. Torgau, 13 April 1600 - d. army camp outside Brieg, 2 December 1632).
5. Dorothea (b. Torgau, 26 June 1601 - d. Altenburg, 10 April 1675), married on 24 June 1633 to Albrecht, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach.
6. Frederick William II, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg (b. posthumously, Weimar, 12 February 1603 - d. Altenburg, 22 April 1669).

References

German Wikipedia: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Wilhelm_I._(Sachsen-Weimar)