Electors of Saxony in Luther’s Time: John Frederick the Magnanimous

John Frederick was wounded and taken prisoner at Muehlberg on 24 April 1547 and was condemned to death in order to induce Wittenberg to surrender. The sentence was not carried out, but by the capitulation of Wittenberg (May 1547) he renounced the electoral dignity and a part of his lands in favor of Maurice. John Frederick steadfastly refused to make any concessions on religious matters. As a result he remained in captivity until May 1552. It was then that he was freed and he returned to the Thuringian lands which his sons had been allowed to retain. He was enthusiastically greeted upon his return. During his imprisonment he had refused to accept the Interim, issued from Augsburg in May 1548, and had urged his sons to make no peace with Maurice.

When John Frederick was released, the emperor restored his dignities to him. His assumption of the electoral arms and title prevented any arrangement with Maurice. However, after the death of Maurice in July 1553, a treaty was made at Naumburg in February 1554 with the successor Augustus. John Frederick consented to the transfer of the electoral dignity, but retained the title of "born elector," receiving some lands and a sum of money. This makes John Frederick the last Ernestine elector of Saxony.

He founded the university of Jena and was a benefactor to that of Leipzig.

John Frederick died at Weimar on 3 March 1554. He was succeeded by his eldest son, John Frederick.

John Frederick was a great hunter and a hard drinker. His brave and dignified bearing in times of misfortune won for him his surname of Magnanimous. He was eulogized by Roger Ascham and Melanchthon.

Luther judged John Frederick to be "too indulgent, though he hates untruth and loose living. He fears God, and has his five wits about him. You never hear an impure or dishonorable word from his lips. He is a chaste husband, and loves his wife, - a rare virtue among kings and princes. One fault he has: he eats and drinks too much. Perhaps so big a body requires more than a small one. Otherwise he works like a donkey; and, drink what he will, he always reads the Bible or some good book before he goes to sleep."

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