Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg

Augustus
Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Reign1619 – 1656
PredecessorFrancis II
SuccessorJulius Henry
Born17 February 1577
Ratzeburg
Died18 January 1656(1656-01-18) (aged 78)
Lauenburg upon Elbe
SpouseElisabeth Sophia of Holstein-Gottorp
Catherine of Oldenburg
Issue
more...		Anna Elisabeth
HouseHouse of Ascania
FatherFrancis II
MotherMargaret of Pomerania-Wolgast
ReligionLutheran

Augustus of Saxe-Lauenburg (Ratzeburg, 17 February 1577 – 18 January 1656, Lauenburg upon Elbe) was Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg between 1619 and 1656. He was a son of Duke Francis II and his first wife Margaret of Pomerania-Wolgast, daughter of Philip I, Duke of Pomerania-Wolgast. Since Augustus survived all his sons he was succeeded by his half-brother Julius Henry.

On his ascension Augustus moved Saxe-Lauenburg's capital from Neuhaus, whereto Francis II had moved it after the residential castle in Lauenburg upon Elbe (started in 1180–1182 by Bernhard, Count of Anhalt) had burnt down in 1616, towards Ratzeburg, where it remained since.[1]

During the Thirty Years' War Augustus always remained neutral, however, billeting and alimenting foreign troops marching through posed a heavy burden onto the ducal subjects.[2]

Marriages and issue

Augustus married twice. On 5 March 1621 he married in Husum Elisabeth Sofie of Holstein-Gottorp (12 December 1599 – 25 November 1627), daughter of John Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp.

On 4 June 1633 he married, as his second wife, Catherine of Oldenburg (20 September 1582 – 29 February 1644), daughter of John VII, Count of Oldenburg. This marriage remained without children.

His children with Elisabeth Sophia of Holstein-Gottorp were the following:

Notes

  1. ^ Cordula Bornefeld, "Die Herzöge von Sachsen-Lauenburg", in: Die Fürsten des Landes: Herzöge und Grafen von Schleswig, Holstein und Lauenburg [De slevigske hertuger; German], Carsten Porskrog Rasmussen (ed.) on behalf of the Gesellschaft für Schleswig-Holsteinische Geschichte, Neumünster: Wachholtz, 2008, pp. 373-389, here p. 383. ISBN 978-3-529-02606-5
  2. ^ Cordula Bornefeld, "Die Herzöge von Sachsen-Lauenburg", in: Die Fürsten des Landes: Herzöge und Grafen von Schleswig, Holstein und Lauenburg [De slevigske hertuger; German], Carsten Porskrog Rasmussen (ed.) on behalf of the Gesellschaft für Schleswig-Holsteinische Geschichte, Neumünster: Wachholtz, 2008, pp. 373-389, here p. 382. ISBN 978-3-529-02606-5
Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Born: 17 February 1577 in Ratzeburg Died: 18 January 1656 in Lauenburg upon Elbe
Regnal titles
Preceded by Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
1619–1656 		Succeeded by