Frederick II, Margrave of Meissen

Frederick II, the Serious (German: Friedrich II. der Ernsthafte) (30 November 1310 in Gotha 18 November 1349 at the Wartburg), Margrave of Meissen, son of Frederick I, Margrave of Meissen and Elisabeth von Lobdeburg-Arnshaugk.

Frederick II
Frederick I, Margrave of Meissen (1307–1324), Frederick II, Margrave of Meissen (1324–1349), and Frederick III, Landgrave of Thuringia (1349–1381); Fürstenzug, Dresden, Germany
Margrave of Meissen
Landgrave of Thuringia
Reign1323-1349
PredecessorFrederick I
SuccessorFrederick III
Born30 November 1310
Gotha, Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg, Holy Roman Empire
Died18 November 1349(1349-11-18) (aged 38)
Wartburg, Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg, Holy Roman Empire
SpouseMathilde of Bavaria
Issue
Detail
Elisabeth, Burgravine of Nuremberg
Frederick III, Landgrave of Thuringia
Balthasar, Landgrave of Thuringia
Louis, Archbishop of Magdeburg
William I, Margrave of Meissen
Full name
Frederick the Serious
HouseHouse of Wettin
FatherFrederick I, Margrave of Meissen
MotherElisabeth von Lobdeburg-Arnshaugk

Biography

In 1323 he started as a sole heir under guardianship of his mother the succession of his late father in the Margraviate of Meissen and the Thuringia. After he had become mature in 1329, he had to pass long-term fights with the vassals and neighbours. These conflicts mainly rose due to Frederick's declaration of peace in 1338, which drastically diminished the rights and influence of the small landlords and the local rulers, and which goal was the subjugation of the latter two groups.[1] In 1342, dissatisfied nobles, whose concerns were their rights and independence, banded together in Arnstadt (southwest of Erfurt) against Frederick II, in what would be known as the Thuringian Count's War.[1] The conflict would last up to 1346. After the death of emperor Ludwig IV, the Bavarian party tried to move him to the acceptance of the German crown, however, he mistrusted the inconstancy of his voters and rejected such strange request in favour of Charles IV of Luxembourg. Friedrich II limited himself to consolidate his rule and to defend against the danger going out from Charles IV. At a meeting 1348 in Bautzen both recognized the existing possession states.

Family

Frederick II married May 1323 in Nürnberg Mathilde of Bavaria, daughter of Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor and had 9 children:

  1. Elisabeth (22 November 1329 21 April 1375), married to Frederick V of Nuremberg.
  2. Frederick (born and died 1330)
  3. Frederick III, Landgrave of Thuringia
  4. Balthasar (1336-1406)
  5. Beatrice (1 September 1339 15 July 1399), nun in Weißenfels
  6. Louis (25 February 1340 17 February 1382), (Bishop of Bamberg)
  7. William the One-eyed
  8. Anne (7 August 1345 22 March 1363), nun in Seußlitz
  9. Clara Elisabetta (born 7 August 1345)

Ancestors

References

  1. Rogers 2010, p. 190.

Sources

  • Rogers, Clifford J. (2010). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology, Volume 3. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 190. ISBN 978-0195334036.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

See also

  • List of Margraves of Meissen
  • Wettin (dynasty)
Frederick II, Margrave of Meissen
Born: 30 November 1310 Died: 18 November 1349
Preceded by
Frederick I
Margrave of Meissen
13231349
Succeeded by
Frederick III
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