Rulers of Saxony

List of Dukes, Electors, and Kings of Saxony, 880-1918

The original Duchy of Saxony was in Northern Germany, roughly corresponding to the modern German state of Lower Saxony and Westphalia.

Table of contents
1 Dukes of Saxony
2 Dukes of Saxe-Wittenberg
3 Electors of Saxony
4 Kings of Saxony
5 Heads of the House of Wettin since 1918

Dukes of Saxony

Early dukes Ottonian or Liudolfing dynasty Billung Dynasty Supplinburg Dynasty Welf Dynasty Ascanian Dynasty Welf Dynasty With the final removal of the Welfs in 1180, the Duchies of Brunswick and Lüneburg, which fell to their descendants, passed out of the control of the Duchy of Saxony. The Ascanians, who now took control, were based further east, near the Elbe.

Ascanian Dynasty

Dukes of Saxe-Wittenberg

On Albert II's death, Saxony was split between his sons, who became Duke of Saxe-Wittenberg and Saxe-Lauenburg. The Dukes of Saxe-Wittenberg were as follows:

Ascanian Dynasty

Electors of Saxony

In 1356 was issued the Golden Bull, which raised the Duke of Saxe-Wittenberg to the status of Elector. Henceforth he was known by the title of Elector of Saxony.

Ascanian Dynasty'

The last Ascanian Elector of Saxony died in 1422. He was succeeded by the Margrave Frederick of Meissen and Thuringia, of the Wettin Dynasty.

Wettin Dynasty

(on Frederick II's death, the Wettin territories were divided between his sons. The elder, Ernest, inherited Northern Meissen, Southern Thuringia, and Wittenberg, along with the Electoral title. Albert, the younger, received Northern Thuringia and Southern Meissen)

Ernestine Electors of Saxony

Albertine Dukes of Saxony In 1547, following Emperor Charles V's victory at the Battle of Mühlberg, Wittenberg and the Electoral dignity were transferred to the Albertine line. The Ernestine line continued to rule in southern Thuringian, but eventually split up into many different tiny duchies, of which Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Saxe-Meiningen, and Saxe-Altenburg lasted until 1918. These will not be listed here.

Albertine Electors of Saxony

Kings of Saxony

In 1806, the Holy Roman Empire came to an end. Saxony became a Kingdom, and Frederick Augustus III became King Frederick Augustus I

House of Wettin

Heads of the House of Wettin since 1918