Duke of Saxe-Altenburg
Johann Philipp
(25 January 1597 – 1 April 1639), was a duke of
Saxe-Altenburg
.
He was born in
Torgau
, the eldest (but fourth in order of birth) surviving son of
Friedrich Wilhelm I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
and
Anna Maria of the Palatinate-Neuburg
, his second wife.
Childhood
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When his father died (1602), Johann Philipp and his younger brothers Frederick, Johann Wilhelm and Friedrich Wilhelm were underage. Because of this, his uncle
Johann
(more interested in natural sciences and art than politics) took over his guardianship and the regency of his inheritance; but shortly after he took all the duchy of Saxe-Weimar into his own hands.
The next year (1603), the young prince of Saxe-Weimar demanded his own inheritance, but his uncle Johann opposed this. But finally, both parts made a divisionary treaty of the family lands: Johann Philipp and his brothers took
Altenburg
and some towns, and Johann retained
Weimar
and
Jena
.
Because they were still underage, the regency of his duchy was taken by
Christian II, Elector of Saxony
(1603?1611) and later by his brother and next Elector,
John George I
(1611?1618).
Adulthood
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In 1618, Johann Philipp, as elder son, was declared adult and assumed the government of the duchy of Saxe-Altenburg. Also, he took over the guardianship of his younger siblings. The four brothers co-ruled the duchy, but two of them died soon after and childless: Frederick, who was killed in action in 1625, and Johann Wilhelm, died in
Brieg
on 1632.
Johann Philipp and his only surviving brother,
Friedrich Wilhelm II
, continued as co-rulers; but, in fact, it was Johann Philipp who really assumed the supreme and full control of the government until his death.
In 1613, Johann Philipp was appointed Dean of the
University of Leipzig
. Also, he was an active member of the
Fruitbearing Society
.
In 1638, he received the towns of
Coburg
,
Bad Rodach
,
Romhild
,
Hildburghausen
and
Neustadt
, according to the divisionary treaty between him and the branch of
Saxe-Weimar
after the death of the duke
John Ernest of Saxe-Eisenach
without surviving issue.
Before his death, he made a will, when he declared his daughter the general heiress of the branch of Saxe-Altenburg, only in case of extinction of the male issue of the family. This will later originated a dispute between the branches of
Saxe-Gotha
and
Saxe-Weimar
.
Johann Philipp died in
Altenburg
, and was succeeded by his younger and only surviving brother, Frederick William II.
Marriage and issue
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In
Altenburg
on 25 October 1618 Johann Philipp married
Elisabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel
(dowager sister-in-law of his former regents, the Electors of Saxony Christian II and Johann Georg I). They had only one surviving child, a daughter:
- Elisabeth Sophie
(b. Halle, 10 October 1619 - d. Gotha, 20 December 1680), married on 24 October 1636 to
Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha
.
Ancestry
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Ancestors of Johann Philipp, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg
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References
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