Johann Philip of Saxe-Altenburg

Johann Philipp of Saxe-Altenburg ( German: Johann Philipp von Sachsen-Altenburg ; January 25, 1597 , Torgau - April 1, 1639 , Altenburg ) - the first representative of the eldest branch of the Dukes of Saxe-Altenburg .

Johann Philip of Saxe-Altenburg
1st Duke of Saxe-Altenburg 1603 - 1639
Regents	Christian II (1603 - 23.6.1611), Johann Georg I (23.6.1611 - 1618)
Together with	Johann Wilhelm , Frederick Frederick William II (1603 - 1618)
Predecessor	duchy created
Successor	Frederick William II
Birth
Death
Burial place
Kind
Father
Mother
Spouse
Children
Religion

Johann Philip was the eldest of the surviving sons of the Saxe-Weimar Duke Frederick William I and Anna Maria Pfalz-Neuburgskoy . Friedrich Wilhelm died in 1602, and his younger brother Johann became the guardian of his children (and the new Duke of Saxe-Weimar). The following year, 1603, little Johann Philip demanded his inheritance. Johann refused to give him the duchy, but the parties agreed on the division of possessions: Johann left territory with Weimar, and the sons of Friedrich Wilhelm received Saxe-Altenburg . Since Johann Philip was still too small, the Saxon Elector Christian II began to regency over him, and after his death, his younger brother and new Elector Johann George I.

In 1618, Johann Philip was declared an adult and began to manage the duchy, and also became the guardian of the younger brothers. The brothers became his co-rulers, but two of them soon died without leaving children. Friedrich Wilhelm II remained the formal co-ruler, but in fact Johann Philip held in his hands all the fullness of power until his death.

After the founding of the “ Fruitful Society ” in 1617, Johann Philip became one of its active members.

During the Thirty Years War, Johann Philip, like other representatives of his family, fought on the side of the Protestants, served under the leadership of Hans Georg von Arnim-Boyzenburg , participated in the Battle of Breitenfeld .

In 1638, Johann Ernst of Saxe-Eisenach died childless, because of which the Saxe-Eisenach Vettin line was cut short. It was decided to divide its lands between Saxe-Weimar and Saxe-Altenburg, and by agreement with Wilhelm of Saxe-Weimar Saxe-Altenburg transferred Coburg , Bad Rodach , Röhmild , Hildburghausen and Neustadt-Coburg (the partition was already completed after Irene).

On October 25, 1618, Johann Philippe married in Altenburg Elizabeth Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttelsky , daughter of the Duke Heinrich Julius Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttelsky . Their only daughter was born:

• Elizabeth Sofia of Saxe-Altenburg (October 10, 1619 - December 20, 1680), married Ernst I of Saxe-Gotha

Before his death, Johann Philip expressed the desire that if the male line of the family is completely suppressed, the line coming from his daughter will become the main heiress of the Saxe-Altenburg branch. This subsequently led to a dispute between the Saxe-Gotha and the Saxe-Weimar lines. He was buried in the fraternal church in Altenburg.