# Albertine branch

The Albertine branch is a German princely family of the House of Wettin. The name derives from the progenitor of the line, Albert III, Duke of Saxony. The Albertine branch ruled from 1485 to 1918 as dukes, electors and kings in Saxony.

## History of the Albertine Branch

Ernest and Albert of Saxony, the two sons of Frederick II, Elector of Saxony, initially ruled their paternal inheritance for a long time, with Ernest as the eldest being the elector. In 1485, the two brothers divided their countries (Treaty of Leipzig). Albert and his descendants received their own territory with Dresden as the center, which they ruled from now on as the dukes of Saxony.
While Frederick III, Elector of Saxony supported the Reformation, George, Duke of Saxony tried to prevent it in his area. It was not until his brother Henry IV, Duke of Saxony, who succeeded George as duke, that the Reformation was also introduced in Saxony.

## Acquisition of the dignity

Although Maurice, Elector of Saxony was also a Protestant, in 1546 he sided with Emperor Charles V against the Protestant princes of the Schmalkaldic League under the leadership of his cousin John Frederick I. After the defeat of the Protestants in the Schmalkaldic War, in 1547 he received the electoral dignity and large parts of the Ernestine lands as a reward for his services. Since then, the Albertine branch have been the leading line of the House of Wettin.
The common minting agreed between the Ernestines and Albertine branch in the main division of Leipzig in 1485 was finally abandoned. The new Albertine Elector Moritz only coins in his own name (Saxon coin separation).

## Family tree of the Albertine branch

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | House of Wettin | House of Wettin | House of Wettin | House of Wettin | House of Wettin | House of Wettin | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Margaret of Austria | Margaret of Austria | Margaret of Austria | Margaret of Austria | Margaret of Austria | Margaret of Austria | Frederick II | Frederick II | Frederick II | Frederick II | Frederick II | Frederick II | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Sidonie of Poděbrady | Sidonie of Poděbrady | Sidonie of Poděbrady | Sidonie of Poděbrady | Sidonie of Poděbrady | Sidonie of Poděbrady | Albert III | Albert III | Albert III | Albert III | Albert III | Albert III | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ernestine | Ernestine | Ernestine | Ernestine | Ernestine | Ernestine |
| Catherine of Mecklenburg | Catherine of Mecklenburg | Catherine of Mecklenburg | Catherine of Mecklenburg | Catherine of Mecklenburg | Catherine of Mecklenburg | Henry IV | Henry IV | Henry IV | Henry IV | Henry IV | Henry IV | George, Duke of Saxony | George, Duke of Saxony | George, Duke of Saxony | George, Duke of Saxony | George, Duke of Saxony | George, Duke of Saxony | Barbara Jagiellon | Barbara Jagiellon | Barbara Jagiellon | Barbara Jagiellon | Barbara Jagiellon | Barbara Jagiellon | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Anne of Denmark | Anne of Denmark | Anne of Denmark | Anne of Denmark | Anne of Denmark | Anne of Denmark | Augustus, Elector of Saxony | Augustus, Elector of Saxony | Augustus, Elector of Saxony | Augustus, Elector of Saxony | Augustus, Elector of Saxony | Augustus, Elector of Saxony | Maurice, Elector of Saxony | Maurice, Elector of Saxony | Maurice, Elector of Saxony | Maurice, Elector of Saxony | Maurice, Elector of Saxony | Maurice, Elector of Saxony | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Sophie of Brandenburg | Sophie of Brandenburg | Sophie of Brandenburg | Sophie of Brandenburg | Sophie of Brandenburg | Sophie of Brandenburg | Christian I, Elector of Saxony | Christian I, Elector of Saxony | Christian I, Elector of Saxony | Christian I, Elector of Saxony | Christian I, Elector of Saxony | Christian I, Elector of Saxony | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Duchess Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia | Duchess Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia | Duchess Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia | Duchess Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia | Duchess Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia | Duchess Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia | John George I | John George I | John George I | John George I | John George I | John George I | Christian II | Christian II | Christian II | Christian II | Christian II | Christian II | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Margravine Magdalene Sibylle of Brandenburg-Bayreuth | Margravine Magdalene Sibylle of Brandenburg-Bayreuth | Margravine Magdalene Sibylle of Brandenburg-Bayreuth | Margravine Magdalene Sibylle of Brandenburg-Bayreuth | Margravine Magdalene Sibylle of Brandenburg-Bayreuth | Margravine Magdalene Sibylle of Brandenburg-Bayreuth | John George II | John George II | John George II | John George II | John George II | John George II | Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels (Founder of the Weißenfels branch, died out in 1746) | Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels (Founder of the Weißenfels branch, died out in 1746) | Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels (Founder of the Weißenfels branch, died out in 1746) | Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels (Founder of the Weißenfels branch, died out in 1746) | Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels (Founder of the Weißenfels branch, died out in 1746) | Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels (Founder of the Weißenfels branch, died out in 1746) | Christian I (Founder of the Merseburg branch, died out in 1738) | Christian I (Founder of the Merseburg branch, died out in 1738) | Christian I (Founder of the Merseburg branch, died out in 1738) | Christian I (Founder of the Merseburg branch, died out in 1738) | Christian I (Founder of the Merseburg branch, died out in 1738) | Christian I (Founder of the Merseburg branch, died out in 1738) | Maurice (Founder of the Zeitz branch, died out in 1718) | Maurice (Founder of the Zeitz branch, died out in 1718) | Maurice (Founder of the Zeitz branch, died out in 1718) | Maurice (Founder of the Zeitz branch, died out in 1718) | Maurice (Founder of the Zeitz branch, died out in 1718) | Maurice (Founder of the Zeitz branch, died out in 1718) | | | | | | |
| Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark | Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark | Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark | Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark | Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark | Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark | John George III | John George III | John George III | John George III | John George III | John George III | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth | Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth | Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth | Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth | Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth | Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth | Augustus II the Strong (born as August II, King of Poland) | Augustus II the Strong (born as August II, King of Poland) | Augustus II the Strong (born as August II, King of Poland) | Augustus II the Strong (born as August II, King of Poland) | Augustus II the Strong (born as August II, King of Poland) | Augustus II the Strong (born as August II, King of Poland) | John George IV | John George IV | John George IV | John George IV | John George IV | John George IV | Eleonore Erdmuthe of Saxe-Eisenach | Eleonore Erdmuthe of Saxe-Eisenach | Eleonore Erdmuthe of Saxe-Eisenach | Eleonore Erdmuthe of Saxe-Eisenach | Eleonore Erdmuthe of Saxe-Eisenach | Eleonore Erdmuthe of Saxe-Eisenach | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Maria Josepha of Austria | Maria Josepha of Austria | Maria Josepha of Austria | Maria Josepha of Austria | Maria Josepha of Austria | Maria Josepha of Austria | Augustus III of Poland (born as August III, King of Poland) | Augustus III of Poland (born as August III, King of Poland) | Augustus III of Poland (born as August III, King of Poland) | Augustus III of Poland (born as August III, King of Poland) | Augustus III of Poland (born as August III, King of Poland) | Augustus III of Poland (born as August III, King of Poland) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Duchess Maria Antonia of Bavaria | Duchess Maria Antonia of Bavaria | Duchess Maria Antonia of Bavaria | Duchess Maria Antonia of Bavaria | Duchess Maria Antonia of Bavaria | Duchess Maria Antonia of Bavaria | Frederick Christian | Frederick Christian | Frederick Christian | Frederick Christian | Frederick Christian | Frederick Christian | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Princess Carolina of Parma | Princess Carolina of Parma | Princess Carolina of Parma | Princess Carolina of Parma | Princess Carolina of Parma | Princess Carolina of Parma | Maximilian, Hereditary Prince of Saxony (renounces the throne in 1830) | Maximilian, Hereditary Prince of Saxony (renounces the throne in 1830) | Maximilian, Hereditary Prince of Saxony (renounces the throne in 1830) | Maximilian, Hereditary Prince of Saxony (renounces the throne in 1830) | Maximilian, Hereditary Prince of Saxony (renounces the throne in 1830) | Maximilian, Hereditary Prince of Saxony (renounces the throne in 1830) | Frederick Augustus I of Saxony (since 1806 as Friedrich August I. King of Saxony) | Frederick Augustus I of Saxony (since 1806 as Friedrich August I. King of Saxony) | Frederick Augustus I of Saxony (since 1806 as Friedrich August I. King of Saxony) | Frederick Augustus I of Saxony (since 1806 as Friedrich August I. King of Saxony) | Frederick Augustus I of Saxony (since 1806 as Friedrich August I. King of Saxony) | Frederick Augustus I of Saxony (since 1806 as Friedrich August I. King of Saxony) | Anthony of Saxony | Anthony of Saxony | Anthony of Saxony | Anthony of Saxony | Anthony of Saxony | Anthony of Saxony | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Amalie Auguste of Bavaria | Amalie Auguste of Bavaria | Amalie Auguste of Bavaria | Amalie Auguste of Bavaria | Amalie Auguste of Bavaria | Amalie Auguste of Bavaria | John of Saxony | John of Saxony | John of Saxony | John of Saxony | John of Saxony | John of Saxony | Frederick Augustus II of Saxony | Frederick Augustus II of Saxony | Frederick Augustus II of Saxony | Frederick Augustus II of Saxony | Frederick Augustus II of Saxony | Frederick Augustus II of Saxony | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Infanta Maria Anna of Portugal | Infanta Maria Anna of Portugal | Infanta Maria Anna of Portugal | Infanta Maria Anna of Portugal | Infanta Maria Anna of Portugal | Infanta Maria Anna of Portugal | George, King of Saxony | George, King of Saxony | George, King of Saxony | George, King of Saxony | George, King of Saxony | George, King of Saxony | Albert of Saxony | Albert of Saxony | Albert of Saxony | Albert of Saxony | Albert of Saxony | Albert of Saxony | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Archduchess Louise of Austria | Archduchess Louise of Austria | Archduchess Louise of Austria | Archduchess Louise of Austria | Archduchess Louise of Austria | Archduchess Louise of Austria | Frederick Augustus III of Saxony | Frederick Augustus III of Saxony | Frederick Augustus III of Saxony | Frederick Augustus III of Saxony | Frederick Augustus III of Saxony | Frederick Augustus III of Saxony | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Georg, Crown Prince of Saxony | Georg, Crown Prince of Saxony | Georg, Crown Prince of Saxony | Georg, Crown Prince of Saxony | Georg, Crown Prince of Saxony | Georg, Crown Prince of Saxony | Friedrich Christian, Margrave of Meissen | Friedrich Christian, Margrave of Meissen | Friedrich Christian, Margrave of Meissen | Friedrich Christian, Margrave of Meissen | Friedrich Christian, Margrave of Meissen | Friedrich Christian, Margrave of Meissen | Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony | Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony | Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony | Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony | Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony | Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony | Margarete Carola Wilhelmine | Margarete Carola Wilhelmine | Margarete Carola Wilhelmine | Margarete Carola Wilhelmine | Margarete Carola Wilhelmine | Margarete Carola Wilhelmine | Maria Alix Luitpolda | Maria Alix Luitpolda | Maria Alix Luitpolda | Maria Alix Luitpolda | Maria Alix Luitpolda | Maria Alix Luitpolda | Anna Pia Monika | Anna Pia Monika | Anna Pia Monika | Anna Pia Monika | Anna Pia Monika | Anna Pia Monika |

## Literature

* Konrad Sturmhoefel: Illustrated history of Saxony and their authorities. Volume 2: Illustrated History of Albertine Saxony. Hübel & Denck, Leipzig 1909.