start page Charles V TOUR :   Maurice of Saxony

      Contemporaries in the Holy Roman Empire      


John Frederic I the Magnanimous
- duke of Saxony 1532-1554, elector up to 1547 -
*1503. The last elector of the Ernestine branch of the Saxon House of Wettin was a nephew of Frederic the Wise and succeeded his father, elector John the Steadfast. He had close connections with Luther and was always in conflict with his cousin Maurice of the Albertine Line. In 1547 he lost the decisive Battle of Mühlberg against Charles V at the head of the Protestant Schmalkaldic League. He was taken prisoner and condemned to death. In 1547 he lost his electoral rank to Maurice of the Albertine Line of the House of Wettin. In 1552 John Frederic was set free when Maurice, who had once helped the emperor during the Schmalkaldic war, rebelled against the emperor's predominance.
During the time of imprisonment his three sons ruled his country and minted thalers with the effigy of Charles V.


    First government, 1532-1547 (as Elector of Saxony)    


2 Thalers, 1535, Buchholz.     Ø 50mm , 58g     Schnee 83 , Dav.9723
Obv.:   IOANNeS·FRIDERICVS·ELECTOR·DVX·SAXONIAE·FIERI·FECIT
"John Frederic, Elector, Duke of Saxony, he had this coin made"
Effigy in electoral coat, electoral sword on his shoulder and both hands at the grip.
Rev.:   SPES - MEA - IN - DEO - EST - 1 5 3 5     "My hope is in God"
arms with central shield of Electoral Saxonia (crossed swords) and crests for Thuringia, Saxonia and Meissen


    Second government, 1552-1554 (as duke)    


Thaler, 1552, Saalfeld.     Ø 40 mm, 28,6g.     Schnee 144 , Schulten 3172 , Dav.9748
Obv.:   ¤ IOannes·FRIDERicus·SENIor - NATVs·ELECtor·SAXoniae·
"John Frederic, first born Elector of Saxony"     bust above arms (Electoral Saxony & Saxony)
Rev.:   CAROLVS:V:ROManorum:IMPerator:SEMPer·AVGustus:155Z
title of the emperor ,   crowned double eagle with orb on the breast
design and legend in accordance with the 2nd Imperial Mint Order of 1551


Double Goldgulden, 1552, Saalfeld.     Ø 27mm   6,48g   Friedberg 2937
Obv.:   IO·FRIDER·SEN - · - NAT·ELEC·SAXO·     bust and arms (Electoral Saxony & Saxony)
Rev.:   CAROL·V·RO·IMPER·SEM·AVGV·155Z
The double gold gulden carries the titles of Charles V, John Frederic's adversary. John Frederic is shown with a long and deep cut on his left cheek: according to contemporary testemonies, he received this injury in the battle of Mühlberg.

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