Electorate of Saxony

Also known as Upper Saxony, Saxony

state of the Holy Roman Empire, established when Emperor Charles IV raised the Ascanian duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg to the status of an Electorate 1356

Key facts

1356: Rudolph I (first)
Status: State of the Holy Roman Empire and Imperial Electorate Personal union with Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth , (1697–1706 and 1709–1763)
Capital: Wittenberg (1356–1547), Dresden (1547–1806)
Religion: Dominant confession: Roman Catholic (until 1520s), Lutheran (from 1520s) Elector: Roman Catholic until 1525, then Lutheran until 1697, then again Roman Catholic from 1697
Government: Feudal monarchy
1419 1422: Albert III (last Ascanian)
1423 1428: Frederick I (first Wettin)
1763 1806: Frederick Augustus III (last)
Historical era: Early modern Europe
Golden bull: 10 January 1356
Merged with meissen and thuringia: 6 January 1423

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Article

Today part ofGermany Poland

The Electorate of Saxony, also known as Electoral Saxony (German: Kurfürstentum Sachsen or Kursachsen), was an electorate of the Holy Roman Empire, ruled by the Prince-Electors of Saxony from 1356 to 1806. It was a major state within the Holy Roman Empire, territorially centred on the Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg, as regulated by the Golden Bull of 1356. The Saxon Electorate was governed by rulers from the House of Ascania (until 1422), and the House of Wettin (1423–1806).