This article lists Dukes, Electors, and Kings ruling over different territories named Saxony from the beginning of the Saxon Duchy in the 9th century to the end of the Saxon Kingdom in 1918.

Dukes of Saxony

The original Duchy of Saxony comprised lands of the Saxon people in the north-western part of present-day Germany, namely, the contemporary German state of Lower Saxony

Lower Saxony

Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...

 as well as Westphalia

Westphalia

Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...

 and Western Saxony-Anhalt

Saxony-Anhalt

Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...

, not corresponding to the modern German state of Saxony

Saxony

The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....

.

Early dukes

• Hadugato (fl
  Floruit
  Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
  
  . c. 531)
• Berthoald
  Berthoald, Duke of Saxony
  Berthoald was the Duke of the Saxons during the reign of the Frankish kings Chlothar II and his son Dagobert I, the last ruling Merovingians. He despised Frankish suzerainty and rebelled, but was defeated...
  
   (fl. c. 627)
• Theoderic
  Theoderic, Duke of Saxony
  Theoderic or Theodoric was the leader of the Saxons in 743–744. Onomastics suggests that he was related to the family of Widukind.In 743 the Frankish mayors of the palace, the brothers Pepin the Short and Carloman, marched against Odilo of Bavaria, who was nominally a Frankish subject...
  
   (fl. c. 743–744)
• Widukind
  Widukind
  Widukind was a pagan Saxon leader and the chief opponent of Charlemagne during the Saxon Wars. Widukind was the leader of the Saxons against the Frankish king Charlemagne...
  
   (fl. c. 777–810)
• Abo (fl. c. 785–811)

Hattonid dynasty

• Banzleib (830s)

Ottonian

Ottonian

The Ottonian dynasty was a dynasty of Germanic Kings , named after its first emperor but also known as the Saxon dynasty after the family's origin. The family itself is also sometimes known as the Liudolfings, after its earliest known member Liudolf and one of its primary leading-names...

 Dynasty

Monarch	Image	Began	Ended	Notes
Liudolf I Liudolf, Duke of Saxony Liudolf was a Saxon count, son of one count Brun and his wife Gisla von Verla ; later authors called him duke of the Eastern Saxons and count of Eastphalia...		850	12 March 864 or 866
Bruno		12 March 864 or 866	2 February 880
Otto I the Illustrious		2 February 880	30 November 912
Henry I the Fowler		30 November 912	2 July 936	Also German King 919–936
Otto II the Great Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor Otto I the Great , son of Henry I the Fowler and Matilda of Ringelheim, was Duke of Saxony, King of Germany, King of Italy, and "the first of the Germans to be called the emperor of Italy" according to Arnulf of Milan...		2 July 936	961	Also German King 936–973, Emperor 962–973

Billung

Billung

The House of Billung was a dynasty of Saxon noblemen in the 9th through 12th centuries.The first known member of the house was Count Wichmann, mentioned as a Billung in 811...

 Dynasty

Monarch	Image	Began	Ended	Notes
Hermann		961	27 March 973
Bernard I Bernard I, Duke of Saxony Bernard I was the duke of Saxony , the second of the Billung dynasty, a son of Duke Herman and Oda. He extended his father's power considerably....		27 March 973	9 February 1011
Bernard II Bernard II, Duke of Saxony Bernard II was the Duke of Saxony , the third of the Billung dynasty, a son of Bernard I and Hildegard. He had the rights of a count in Frisia....		9 February 1011	29 June 1059
Ordulf Ordulf, Duke of Saxony Ordulf was the duke of Saxony from 1059, when he succeeded his father Bernard II, until his death. He was a member of the Billung family.-Reign:...		29 June 1059	28 March 1072
Magnus Magnus, Duke of Saxony Magnus was the duke of Saxony from 1072 to 1106. Eldest son and successor of Ordulf and Wulfhild of Norway, he was the last member of the House of Billung.-Rebellion:...		28 March 1072	23 August 1106

Supplinburg Dynasty

Monarch	Image	Began	Ended	Notes
Lothair I		1106	4 December 1137	Also German King 1125–1137, Emperor 1133–1137

Welf Dynasty

Monarch	Image	Began	Ended	Notes
Henry II the Proud		4 December 1137	20 October 1139	Also Duke of Bavaria as Henry X

Ascanian

Ascanian

The House of Ascania was a dynasty of German rulers. It was also known as the House of Anhalt, after Anhalt, its longest-held possession.The Ascanians are named after Ascania Castle, which is located near and named after Aschersleben...

 Dynasty

Monarch	Image	Began	Ended	Notes
Albert I the Bear		20 October 1139	1142	Also Margrave of Brandenburg Margraviate of Brandenburg The Margraviate of Brandenburg was a major principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1157 to 1806. Also known as the March of Brandenburg , it played a pivotal role in the history of Germany and Central Europe....

Welf Dynasty

Monarch	Image	Began	Ended	Notes
Henry III the Lion		1142	1180	Also Duke of Bavaria as Henry XII

With the final removal of the Welfs in 1180, the Duchy of Saxony was sharply reduced in territory. Westphalia fell to the Archbishop of Cologne, while the Duchies of Brunswick and Lüneburg

Lüneburg

Lüneburg is a town in the German state of Lower Saxony. It is located about southeast of fellow Hanseatic city Hamburg. It is part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region, and one of Hamburg's inner suburbs...

 remained with the Welfs. The Ascanian

Ascanian

The House of Ascania was a dynasty of German rulers. It was also known as the House of Anhalt, after Anhalt, its longest-held possession.The Ascanians are named after Ascania Castle, which is located near and named after Aschersleben...

 Dukes had their base further east, near the Elbe

Elbe

The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...

, resulting in the name Saxony moving towards the east. The post carve-up Saxony is therefore sometimes called the younger Duchy of Saxony. Also the counting of its dukes is discontinued. While the first post carve-up duke is competingly counted as Bernard III—because of two predecessors of the same name before 1180—or as Bernard I with his great-great-great-great grandson Bernard II

Bernard II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg

Bernard II of Saxe-Lauenburg was a son of Duke Eric IV of Saxe-Lauenburg and Sophia of Brunswick and Lunenburg , daughter of Duke Magnus II of Brunswick and Lunenburg ....

 being counted second. The second post carve-up duke Albert I

Albert I, Duke of Saxony

Albert I was a Duke of Saxony, Angria, and Westphalia; Lord of Nordalbingia; Count of Anhalt; and Prince-elector and Archmarshal of the Holy Roman Empire...

 is already usually counted as the first, although before 1180 he had one predecessor of the same name, being even his grandfather Albert the Bear.

Ascanian or younger Duchy of Saxony

The new dukes replaced the Saxon horse emblem () and introduced their Ascanian family colours and emblem added by a bendwise crancelin, symbolising the Saxon ducal crown, as new coat-of-arms of Saxony (). The later rulers of the House of Wettin adopted the Ascanian coat-of-arms.

Dukes of Saxony
Ascanian Dynasty
Image	Name	Date	Notes
	Bernard I (or III) Bernhard, Count of Anhalt Bernhard, Count of Anhalt was a German prince of the House of Ascania, Count of Anhalt and Ballenstedt, and Lord of Bernburg through his paternal inheritance...	1180–1212.	numberings starting with Ascanian rule or continuing after prior dukes of the same name. Father of the following
	Albert I Albert I, Duke of Saxony Albert I was a Duke of Saxony, Angria, and Westphalia; Lord of Nordalbingia; Count of Anhalt; and Prince-elector and Archmarshal of the Holy Roman Empire...	1212-1260.	father of the following two dukes
	John I John I, Duke of Saxony Duke John I of Saxony was the elder son of Duke Albert I of Saxony and his third wife Helen of Brunswick and Lunenburg, a daughter of Otto the Child...	1260–1282.	joint rule with his brother Albert II until 1282, when John I resigned. Some time after 1272 John I and Albert II divided some competences among each other, however, continued joint rule.
	Albert II Albert II, Duke of Saxony Albert II of Saxony was a son of Duke Albert I of Saxony and his third wife Helen of Brunswick and Lunenburg, a daughter of Otto the Child. He supported Rudolph I of Germany at his election as Roman king and became his son-in-law...	1260–1296.	joint rule with his brother until 1282, then fostering John I's minor sons Albert III, Eric I, and John II, who later ascended as co-rulers. In 1296 uncle and nephews partitioned Saxony into the Lauenburg line (Albert III, Eric I, and John II jointly) and the Wittenberg line, where Albert II continued as sole ruler until 1298, then succeeded by his son Rudolph I (see section Dukes of Saxe-Wittenberg below in this arcticle). Uncle of the following three dukes
	Albert III,	1282–1296.	joint rule with his uncle Albert II and his brothers Eric I and John II until 1296. In 1296 uncle and brothers partitioned Saxony into the Wittenberg line (Albert II) and the Lauenburg line, where Albert III, Eric I, and John II continued to rule jointly (see section Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg below in this arcticle). Brother of the following two dukes
	Eric I,	1282–1296.	joint rule with his uncle Albert II and his brothers Albert III and John II until 1296. In 1296 uncle and brothers partitioned Saxony into the Wittenberg line (Albert II) and the Lauenburg line, where Albert III, Eric I, and John II continued to rule jointly (see section Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg below in this article). Brother of the following duke
	John II,	1282–1296.	joint rule with his uncle Albert II and his brothers Albert III and Eric I until 1296. In 1296 uncle and brothers partitioned Saxony into the Wittenberg line (Albert II) and the Lauenburg line, where Albert III, Eric I, and John II continued to rule jointly (see section Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg below in this article)
In 1296 Albert II and his nephews Albert III, Eric I, and John II terminated their joint rule and partitioned Saxony into the Lauenburg line, where Albert III, Eric I, and John II continued to rule jointly until 1303, and the Wittenberg line, where Albert II continued as sole ruler until 1298.

Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg

Since the Duke of Saxony was considered one of the prince-elector

Prince-elector

The Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Roman king or, from the middle of the 16th century onwards, directly the Holy Roman Emperor.The heir-apparent to a prince-elector was known as an...

s electing a new Holy Roman Emperor

Holy Roman Emperor

The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...

, conflict arose between the lines of Lauenburg and Wittenberg over the issue of who should cast Saxony's vote. In 1314 both lines found themselves on different sides in a double election. Eventually, the Dukes of Saxe-Wittenberg succeeded in 1356 after the promulgation of the Golden Bull

Golden Bull of 1356

The Golden Bull of 1356 was a decree issued by the Reichstag assembly in Nuremberg headed by the Luxembourg Emperor Charles IV that fixed, for a period of more than four hundred years, important aspects of the constitutional structure of the Holy Roman Empire...

. To distinguish him from other rulers bearing the title Duke of Saxony, he was commonly called Elector of Saxony

Electorate of Saxony

The Electorate of Saxony , sometimes referred to as Upper Saxony, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire. It was established when Emperor Charles IV raised the Ascanian duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg to the status of an Electorate by the Golden Bull of 1356...

.

• Eric I 1296–1303 joint rule, then ruling until 1360 in Saxe-Bergedorf, partitioned from Saxe-Lauenburg (see section Dukes of Saxe-Ratzeburg-Lauenburg below in this article)
• John II 1296–1303 joint rule, then ruling until 1321 in Saxe-Ratzeburg, partitioned from Saxe-Lauenburg (see section Dukes of Saxe-Bergedorf-Mölln below in this article)
• Albert III 1296–1303 joint rule, then ruling until 1308 in Saxe-Ratzeburg, partitioned from Saxe-Lauenburg, dying without issue Eric I inherited his share

In 1303 the brothers split their inheritance between them, however, only two brothers had heirs creating the Bergedorf-Mölln and the Ratzeburg-Lauenburg lines.

Dukes of Saxe-Bergedorf-Mölln

First named Saxe-Mölln, however, renamed following a territorial redeployment including parts of Albert III's share in 1321.

• John II, 1285–1321, rivalled as Saxon Prince-Elector by his cousin Rudolph I of Saxe-Wittenberg
• Albrecht (Albert) IV, 1321–1343.
• John III, 1343–1356.
• Albrecht (Albert) V, 1356–1370.
• Eric III, 1370–1401.

In 1401, the elder branch became extinct and Lauenburg rejoined the Ratzeburg-Lauenburg line.

Dukes of Saxe-Ratzeburg-Lauenburg

First named Saxe-Bergedorf-Lauenburg, however, renamed following a territorial redeployment after inheriting Albert III's share.

• Eric I, 1305–1361 (joint rule until 1308).
• Eric II, 1361–1368.
• Eric IV, 1368–1412.

In 1401, the younger branch inherited Lauenburg and other possessions of the extinct elder Bergedorf-Mölln line.

Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg (1401–1876)

Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg
Ascanian Dynasty, Lauenburg Line
Image	Name	Date	Notes
	Eric V	1401–1436.	joint rule with his father Eric IV (until 1411), his younger brother John IV (until 1414), and his youngest brother Bernard II (from 1426)
	John IV	1401–1411/1414	joint rule with his father Eric IV (until 1411) and his elder brother Eric V, brother of the following
	Bernard II Bernard II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg Bernard II of Saxe-Lauenburg was a son of Duke Eric IV of Saxe-Lauenburg and Sophia of Brunswick and Lunenburg , daughter of Duke Magnus II of Brunswick and Lunenburg ....	1426–1463	joint rule with his brother Eric V until 1436. Father of the following duke
	John V	1463–1507	father of the following duke
	Magnus I Magnus I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg Magnus I of Saxe-Lauenburg was a Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg from the House of Ascania.-Life:...	1507–1543.	father of the following duke
	Francis I	1543–1571 and again 1573–1581.	joint rule with his son Francis II from 1578. Father of the following three dukes
	Magnus II	1571–1573.	brother of the following two dukes
	Francis II	1578–1619.	vice-regent from 1578, administrator from 1581. Joint rule with his brother Maurice between 1581 and 1612. Father of Augustus and Julius Henry
	Maurice	1581–1612.	joint rule with his brother Francis II. Uncle of the following two dukes
	Augustus	1619–1656.	brother of the following duke
	Julius Henry	1656–1665.	father of the following two dukes
	Francis Erdmann	1665–1666.	elder son of Julius Henry and his second wife.
	Julius Francis	1666–1689.	younger son of Julius Henry and his third wife.
The male line of the Saxe-Lauenburgish Ascanians was extinguished in 1689. The House of Welf usurped the duchy, preventing the succession of the legitimate heiress, Anna Maria Franziska of Saxe-Lauenburg Anna Maria Franziska of Saxe-Lauenburg Anna Maria Franziska of Saxe-Lauenburg was the legal Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg in the eyes of the Holy Roman Emperor, the overlord of Saxe-Lauenburg, from 1689 until 1728; however, because her distant cousin George William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, conquered the duchy by force in 1689, she... , and resucceeded with its Brunswick and Lunenburg-Celle Principality of Lüneburg The Principality of Lüneburg was a territorial division of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg within the Holy Roman Empire, immediately subordinate to the emperor. It existed from 1269 until 1705 and its territory lay within the modern-day state of Lower Saxony in Germany...  line.
Welf Dynasty, Lüneburg Principality of Lüneburg The Principality of Lüneburg was a territorial division of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg within the Holy Roman Empire, immediately subordinate to the emperor. It existed from 1269 until 1705 and its territory lay within the modern-day state of Lower Saxony in Germany... ish Line
Image	Name	Date	Notes
	George William George William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg George William was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and ruled first over the Principality of Calenberg, a subdivision of the duchy, then over the Lüneburg subdivision. In 1689 he occupied the Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg....	1689–1705.	He invaded Saxe-Lauenburg with his troops, preventing the ascension of the legitimate heiress, Duchess Anna Maria Franziska of Saxe-Lauenburg Anna Maria Franziska of Saxe-Lauenburg Anna Maria Franziska of Saxe-Lauenburg was the legal Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg in the eyes of the Holy Roman Emperor, the overlord of Saxe-Lauenburg, from 1689 until 1728; however, because her distant cousin George William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, conquered the duchy by force in 1689, she... ; this de facto takeover was imperially legitimised only in 1728. He was a great-great-grandson of Magnus I Magnus I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg Magnus I of Saxe-Lauenburg was a Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg from the House of Ascania.-Life:...  through his great-grandmother Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg , consort of Christian III from 1525 and Queen consort of Denmark and Norway. She was daughter of Duke Magnus I of Saxe-Lauenburg and Catherine, daughter of Henry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
Welf Dynasty, Hanover House of Hanover The House of Hanover is a deposed German royal dynasty which has ruled the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg , the Kingdom of Hanover, the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland... ian Line
	George I Louis George I of Great Britain George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698....	1705–1727.	He was a nephew and son-in-law of George William.
	George II Augustus George II of Great Britain George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...	1727–1760.	in 1728 Emperor Charles VI enfeoffed George II Augustus with Saxe-Lauenburg, finally legitimating his grandfather's de facto takeover.
	George III	1760–1814.	De facto deposed by various occupations in the Napoleonic Wars Napoleonic Wars The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to... , he was a grandson of George II Augustus George III's son, Regent George George IV of the United Kingdom George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...  agreed to pass Saxe-Lauenburg to his Danish cousin in a general territorial realignment at the Congress of Vienna Congress of Vienna The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg
Oldenburg House of Oldenburg The House of Oldenburg is a North German dynasty and one of Europe's most influential Royal Houses with branches that rule or have ruled in Denmark, Russia, Greece, Norway, Schleswig, Holstein, Oldenburg and Sweden...  Dynasty, Main Line
Image	Name	Date	Notes
	Frederick I Frederick VI of Denmark Frederick VI reigned as King of Denmark , and as king of Norway .-Regent of Denmark:Frederick's parents were King Christian VII and Caroline Matilda of Wales...	1814–1839.	Frederick was a great-grandson of Duke George II Augustus George II of Great Britain George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...  on both sides, through his mother Caroline and through his father. The official colours of Saxe-Lauenburg were changed to red and gold.
	Christian I Christian VIII of Denmark Christian VIII , was king of Denmark from 1839 to 1848 and, as Christian Frederick, king of Norway in 1814. He was the eldest son of Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway and Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, born in 1786 at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen...	1839–1848.	half nephew of the former, but not related to the Saxe-Lauenburgish Welfs, however, great-great-great-great-grandson of Duke Francis I Francis I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg was the eldest child and only son of Duke Magnus I of Saxe-Lauenburg and Catherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel , daughter of Duke Henry IV the Evil of Brunswick and Lunenburg...
	Frederick II Frederick VII of Denmark Frederick VII was a King of Denmark. He reigned from 1848 until his death. He was the last Danish monarch of the older Royal branch of the House of Oldenburg and also the last king of Denmark to rule as an absolute monarch...	1848–1863.	son of the former
Oldenburg Dynasty, Glücksburg Line
	Christian II Christian IX of Denmark Christian IX was King of Denmark from 16 November 1863 to 29 January 1906.Growing up as a prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, a junior branch of the House of Oldenburg which had ruled Denmark since 1448, Christian was originally not in the immediate line of succession to the Danish...	1863–1864.	deposed in Second Schleswig War and resigned by Treaty of Vienna Treaty of Vienna (1864) The Treaty of Vienna was a peace treaty signed on October 30, 1864 in Vienna between the Austrian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Kingdom of Denmark. The treaty ended the Second War of Schleswig. Based on the terms of the treaty, Prussia would administer Schleswig and Austria would... . His mother was a cousin of Frederick I and Christian I as well as maternally and paternally a great-granddaughter of George II Augustus George II of Great Britain George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany... .
Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg
Hohenzollern House of Hohenzollern The House of Hohenzollern is a noble family and royal dynasty of electors, kings and emperors of Prussia, Germany and Romania. It originated in the area around the town of Hechingen in Swabia during the 11th century. They took their name from their ancestral home, the Burg Hohenzollern castle near...  Dynasty, Berlin Line
Image	Name	Date	Notes
	William	1865–1876.	In 1865, the Estates Estates of the realm The Estates of the realm were the broad social orders of the hierarchically conceived society, recognized in the Middle Ages and Early Modern period in Christian Europe; they are sometimes distinguished as the three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and commoners, and are often referred to by...  of Saxe-Lauenburg offered him the ducal throne and he accepted. He was a great-great-great-great-grandson of Duke George William George William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg George William was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and ruled first over the Principality of Calenberg, a subdivision of the duchy, then over the Lüneburg subdivision. In 1689 he occupied the Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg.... . The coat-of-arms of Saxe-Lauenburg was changed to the colours red and silver, with a border in the Prussian colours of black and white. Both duke and estates decided to merge Saxe-Lauenburg into Prussia, as district Duchy of Lauenburg, with effect from 1 July 1876.

The Ascanian Dynasty continued in Saxe-Lauenburg until 1689, but after the Lauenburgish line had finally lost the Saxon Electorate to the Wittenberg line in 1356 and failed to obtain the succession in the Electorate after 1422, recognition of the Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg as Dukes of Saxony waned.

Dukes of Saxe-Wittenberg

For the predecessor see the section Ascanian or younger Duchy of Saxony above in this article.

Dukes of Saxe-Wittenberg
Ascanian Dynasty
Image	Name	Date	Notes
	Albert II Albert II, Duke of Saxony Albert II of Saxony was a son of Duke Albert I of Saxony and his third wife Helen of Brunswick and Lunenburg, a daughter of Otto the Child. He supported Rudolph I of Germany at his election as Roman king and became his son-in-law...	1296–1298.	1260–1296 joint rule of Saxony with his brother John I, Duke of Saxony John I, Duke of Saxony Duke John I of Saxony was the elder son of Duke Albert I of Saxony and his third wife Helen of Brunswick and Lunenburg, a daughter of Otto the Child...  (till 1282) and thereafter with the latter's sons Albert III, Eric I, and John II. In 1296 uncle and nephews had partitioned Saxony into the Wittenberg line, where Albert II continued as sole ruler, and the Lauenburg line, where his nephews ruled jointly (see section Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg above in this article). Father of the following duke
	Rudolph I	1298-1356	rivalled as Saxon Prince-Elector by his cousin John II.
In January 1356 the Golden Bull Golden Bull of 1356 The Golden Bull of 1356 was a decree issued by the Reichstag assembly in Nuremberg headed by the Luxembourg Emperor Charles IV that fixed, for a period of more than four hundred years, important aspects of the constitutional structure of the Holy Roman Empire...  confirmed Rudolph I as the legitimate Saxon Prince-Elector, thus the rulers of Saxe-Wittenberg are conceived as Electors of Saxony since (see section Electors of Saxony below in this article).

Albertine Dukes of Saxony

The Albertines were a junior branch of the Wettin dynasty of Electors of Saxony (section below), who ruled in Northern Thuringia and Southern Meissen until they replaced the senior "Ernestine" branch as Electors and rulers of most Saxon territory in 1547.

Dukes of Saxony
Wettin Dynasty, Albertine Line
Image	Name	Date	Notes
	Albert the Bold Albert, Duke of Saxony Albert III was a Duke of Saxony. He was nicknamed Albert the Bold or Albert the Courageous and founded the Albertine line of the House of Wettin....	1464-1500.	Younger son of Frederick II, Elector of Saxony. Divided the Saxon lands, including Thuringia and Meissen, with his brother Ernest in 1485.
	George the Bearded George, Duke of Saxony George the Bearded, Duke of Saxony , was duke of Saxony from 1500 to 1539.Duke George was a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece.-Early life:...	1500-1539	Son of Albert. Opposed Martin Luther Martin Luther Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517... .
	Henry IV the Pious Henry IV, Duke of Saxony Henry IV the Pious, Duke of Saxony was a Duke of Saxony from the House of Wettin.-Biography:Heinrich was the second son of Albert, Duke of Saxony and his wife Sidonie Podiebrad, princess of Bohemia...	1539-1541	Brother of George. Introduced Lutheranism to Albertine Saxony.
	Maurice Maurice, Elector of Saxony Maurice was Duke and later Elector of Saxony. His clever manipulation of alliances and disputes gained the Albertine branch of the Wettin dynasty extensive lands and the electoral dignity....	1541-1553,	Son of Henry IV. Became Elector 1547.

Ernestine Dukes of Saxony

Following their displacement by the Albertines, the Ernestine branch of the Wettins continued to rule in southern Thuringia as "Dukes of Saxony", but their lands eventually split up into many different tiny "Ernestine duchies". Of these, Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach

Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach

The Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach was created in 1809 by the merger of the Ernestine duchies of Saxe-Weimar and Saxe-Eisenach. It was raised to a Grand duchy in 1815 by resolution of the Vienna Congress. In 1877, it officially changed its name to the Grand Duchy of Saxony , but this name was...

, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Saxe-Meiningen

Saxe-Meiningen

The Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine line of the Wettin dynasty, located in the southwest of the present-day German state of Thuringia....

, and Saxe-Altenburg

Saxe-Altenburg

Saxe-Altenburg was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine branch of the Wettin dynasty in present-day Thuringia.-History:The duchy originated from the medieval Burgraviate of Altenburg in the Imperial Pleissnerland , a possession of the Wettin Margraves of Meissen since 1243...

 lasted until 1918. This article does not list the subsequent Ernestine dukes.

Electors of Saxony

The Golden Bull of 1356

Golden Bull of 1356

The Golden Bull of 1356 was a decree issued by the Reichstag assembly in Nuremberg headed by the Luxembourg Emperor Charles IV that fixed, for a period of more than four hundred years, important aspects of the constitutional structure of the Holy Roman Empire...

 confirmed the right to participate in the election of a Holy Roman Emperor

Holy Roman Emperor

The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...

 to the Duke of Saxony in the Saxe-Wittenberg line. For the predecessor see the section Ascanian Dukes of Saxe-Wittenberg above in this article.

Electors of Saxony
Ascanian Dynasty
Image	Name	Began	Ended	Notes
	Rudolf I	10 January 1356	11 March 1356	Since 1298 Duke of Saxe-Wittenberg.
	Rudolf II	11 March 1356	6 December 1370	Son of Rudolf I.
	Wenceslaus Wenzel	6 December 1370	15 May 1388	Brother of Rudolf II.
	Rudolf III Rudolf III, Duke of Saxe-Wittenberg Duke Rudolf III of Saxe-Wittenberg was a member of the House of Ascania and Elector of Saxony. He ruled Saxe-Wittenberg from 1388-1419.- Life :...	15 May 1388	9 June 1419	Son of Wenceslaus.
	Albert III Albert III, Duke of Saxe-Wittenberg Duke Albert III of Saxe-Wittenberg was the last Wittenberg Ascanian and prince-elector of the German Nation.- Life :When Prince-Elector Rudolf III was poisoned in 1419 and died, his younger brother Albert III, , also known as Albert the Poor, took over the running of Saxe-Wittenberg... Albrecht II	9 June 1419	12 November 1422	Brother of Rudolf III.
Wettin Dynasty
Image	Name	Began	Ended	Notes
	Frederick I Frederick I, Elector of Saxony Frederick IV of Meissen and Elector of Saxony was Margrave of Meissen and Elector of Saxony from 1381 until his death. He is not to be confused with his cousin Frederick IV, Landgrave of Thuringia, the son of Balthasar, Landgrave of Thuringia... Friedrich I	6 January 1423	4 January 1428	Nicknamed "the Warlike." After the Wittenberg line of the Ascanians became extinct, the Electorate was given to Frederick, Margrave Margrave A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...  of Meissen Meissen Meissen is a town of approximately 30,000 about northwest of Dresden on both banks of the Elbe river in the Free State of Saxony, in eastern Germany. Meissen is the home of Meissen porcelain, the Albrechtsburg castle, the Gothic Meissen Cathedral and the Meissen Frauenkirche...  and Landgrave of Thuringia Thuringia The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states.... , of the House of Wettin.
	Frederick II Frederick II, Elector of Saxony Frederick II was Elector of Saxony and was Landgrave of Thuringia .-Biography:... Friedrich II	4 January 1428	7 September 1464	Nicknamed "the Gentle". Son of Frederick I. Ruled jointly in Saxony with his brothers, but was the sole holder of the Electorate. Father of Ernest and Albert, founders of the Ernestine (continuing below) and Albertine Saxon lines (see section Albertine Dukes of Saxony above in this article).
Ernestine Line
	Ernest Ernest, Elector of Saxony Ernst, Elector of Saxony was Elector of Saxony from 1464 to 1486.-Biography:Ernst was founder of the Ernestine line of Saxon princes, ancestor of George I of Great Britain, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, as well as his wife and cousin Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, and their... Ernst	7 September 1464	26 August 1486	Son of Frederick II, divided Saxony with his brother Albert, taking Wittenberg Wittenberg Wittenberg, officially Lutherstadt Wittenberg, is a city in Germany in the Bundesland Saxony-Anhalt, on the river Elbe. It has a population of about 50,000.... , northern Meissen, and southern Thuringia. Inherited Thuringia Thuringia The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....  in 1482 and ruled it jointly with Albert until 1485.
	Frederick III Frederick III, Elector of Saxony Frederick III of Saxony , also known as Frederick the Wise , was Elector of Saxony from 1486 to his death. Frederick was the son of Ernest, Elector of Saxony and his wife Elisabeth, daughter of Albert III, Duke of Bavaria... Friedrich III	26 August 1486	5 May 1525	Nicknamed "the Wise." Son of Ernest. Protector of Martin Luther Martin Luther Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517... , but a life-long Catholic.
	John John, Elector of Saxony John of Saxony , known as John the Steadfast or John the Constant, was Elector of Saxony from 1525 until 1532... Johann	5 May 1525	16 August 1532	Nicknamed "the Steadfast." Brother of Frederick III. Legally established Lutheranism in his territories in 1527.
	John Frederick I John Frederick, Elector of Saxony John Frederick I of Saxony , called John the Magnanimous, was Elector of Saxony and Head of the Protestant Confederation of Germany , "Champion of the Reformation".-Early years:... Johann Friedrich I	16 August 1532	19 May 1547	Nicknamed "the Magnanimous." Son of John the Steadfast. Deprived of his Electorate by Emperor Charles V Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...  for his role in the Schmalkaldic War Schmalkaldic War The Schmalkaldic War refers to the short period of violence from 1546 until 1547 between the forces of Emperor Charles I of Spain and V of the Holy Roman Empire, commanded by Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba, and the Lutheran Schmalkaldic League within the domains of the Holy Roman... . Died 1554.
Albertine Line
	Maurice Maurice, Elector of Saxony Maurice was Duke and later Elector of Saxony. His clever manipulation of alliances and disputes gained the Albertine branch of the Wettin dynasty extensive lands and the electoral dignity.... Moritz	4 June 1547	11 July 1553	Second cousin of John Frederick, grandson of Albert Albert, Duke of Saxony Albert III was a Duke of Saxony. He was nicknamed Albert the Bold or Albert the Courageous and founded the Albertine line of the House of Wettin.... . Though a Lutheran, allied with Emperor Charles V Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...  against the Schmalkaldic League Schmalkaldic League The Schmalkaldic League was a defensive alliance of Lutheran princes within the Holy Roman Empire during the mid-16th century. Although originally started for religious motives soon after the start of the Protestant Reformation, its members eventually intended for the League to replace the Holy... . Gained the Electorate for the Albertine line in 1547 after Charles V's victory at the Battle of Mühlberg Battle of Mühlberg The Battle of Mühlberg was a large battle at Mühlberg in the Electorate of Saxony during the Protestant Reformation at which the Catholic princes of the Holy Roman Empire led by the Emperor Charles I of Spain and V of the Holy Roman Empire decisively defeated the Lutheran Schmalkaldic League of... .
	Augustus I Augustus, Elector of Saxony Augustus was Elector of Saxony from 1553 to 1586.-First years:Augustus was born in Freiberg, the youngest child and third son of Henry IV, Duke of Saxony, and Catherine of Mecklenburg. He consequently belonged to the Albertine branch of the Wettin family... August I	11 July 1553	12 February 1586	Brother of Maurice. Recognized as Elector by the ousted John Frederick John Frederick, Elector of Saxony John Frederick I of Saxony , called John the Magnanimous, was Elector of Saxony and Head of the Protestant Confederation of Germany , "Champion of the Reformation".-Early years:...  in 1554.
	Christian I Christian I, Elector of Saxony Christian I of Saxony was Elector of Saxony from 1586 to 1591.He was the sixth but second surviving son of Elector Augustus of Saxony and Anna of Denmark...	12 February 1586	25 September 1591	Son of Augustus I.
	Christian II	25 September 1591	23 June 1611	Son of Christian I.
	John George I John George I, Elector of Saxony John George I was Elector of Saxony from 1611 to 1656.-Biography:Born in Dresden, he was the second son of the Elector Christian I and Sophie of Brandenburg.... Johann Georg I	23 June 1611	8 October 1656	Brother of Christian II, ruled during the Thirty Years' War Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history.... , during which he was at times allied with the Emperor Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...  and at times with the King of Sweden Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden Gustav II Adolf has been widely known in English by his Latinized name Gustavus Adolphus Magnus and variously in historical writings also as Gustavus, or Gustavus the Great, or Gustav Adolph the Great,... .
	John George II John George II, Elector of Saxony John George was the Elector of Saxony from 1656 to 1680.He was the third but eldest surviving son of the Elector John George I of Saxony and Magdalene Sybille of Prussia, his second spouse.... Johann Georg II	8 October 1656	1 September 1680	Son of John George I.
	John George III Johann Georg III	1 September 1680	22 September 1691	Son of John George II.
	John George IV John George IV, Elector of Saxony John George IV was Elector of Saxony from 1691 to 1694.He was the eldest son of the Elector John George III and Anna Sophie of Denmark.-First years as elector:... Johann Georg IV	22 September 1691	27 April 1694	Son of John George III.
	Frederick Augustus I Friedrich August I	27 April 1694	1 February 1733	Brother of John George IV. Converted to Catholicism 1697 in order to compete for the crown of Poland. Took the Polish crown 1697, opposed by Stanisław Leszczyński 1704, forced to renounce the throne 1706, returned as monarch 1709 until his death. Called "the Strong".
	Frederick Augustus II Augustus III of Poland Augustus III, known as the Saxon ; ; also Prince-elector Friedrich August II was the Elector of Saxony in 1733-1763, as Frederick Augustus II , King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1734-1763.-Biography:Augustus was the only legitimate son of Augustus II the Strong, Imperial Prince-Elector... Friedrich August II	1 February 1733	5 October 1763	Son of Frederick Augustus I. Converted to Catholicism 1712. King of Poland 1734-1763. Called ""the Fat" or (in Poland) "the Saxon".
	Frederick Christian Friedrich Christian	5 October 1763	17 December 1763	Son of Frederick Augustus II, raised Catholic.
	Frederick Augustus III Friedrich August III	17 December 1763	20 December 1806	Son of Frederick Christian. His Electorate ceased with the fall of the Holy Roman Empire Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...  in 1806, and he became King of Saxony. Called "the Just."

Kings of Saxony

The Holy Roman Empire came to an end in 1806. The Elector of Saxony, allied to Napoleon I

Napoleon I

Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...

, anticipated its dissolution by becoming the ruler of an independent Kingdom of Saxony in 1806.

Kings of Saxony
Wettin Dynasty
Image	Name	Began	Ended	Notes
	Frederick Augustus I Frederick Augustus I of Saxony Frederick Augustus I was King of Saxony from the House of Wettin. He was also Elector Frederick Augustus III of Saxony and Duke Frederick Augustus I of Warsaw... Friedrich August I	20 December 1806	5 May 1827	Duke of Warsaw Duchy of Warsaw The Duchy of Warsaw was a Polish state established by Napoleon I in 1807 from the Polish lands ceded by the Kingdom of Prussia under the terms of the Treaties of Tilsit. The duchy was held in personal union by one of Napoleon's allies, King Frederick Augustus I of Saxony...  1807-1813. Called "the Just."
	Anthony Anton	5 May 1827	6 June 1836	Brother of Frederick Augustus I.
	Frederick Augustus II Frederick Augustus II of Saxony Frederick Augustus II |Tyrol]], 9 August 1854) was King of Saxony and a member of the House of Wettin.He was the eldest son of Maximilian, Prince of Saxony --younger son of the Elector Frederick Christian of Saxony—by his... Friedrich August II	6 June 1836	9 August 1854	Nephew of Anthony.
	John Johann	9 August 1854	29 October 1873	Brother of Frederick Augustus II.
	Albert Albert of Saxony Albert of Saxony may refer to:* Albert of Saxony * Albert I, Duke of Saxony * Albert, Duke of Saxony * Prince Albert of Saxony, Duke of Teschen * Albert of Saxony... Albert	29 October 1873	19 June 1902	Son of John. Called "the Good"
	George George of Saxony -Life:George was born in the Saxon capital Dresden. He was the second son of King John of Saxony and his wife Princess Amelia of Bavaria , daughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria .... Georg	19 June 1902	15 October 1904	Brother of Albert.
	Frederick Augustus III Frederick Augustus III of Saxony This article is about King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony. For the elector Frederick Augustus III, see Frederick Augustus I of Saxony.Frederick Augustus III was the last King of Saxony and a member of the House of Wettin.Born in Dresden, Frederick Augustus was the son of King George of Saxony... Friedrich August III	15 October 1904	13 November 1918	Son of George. Last king of Saxony. Lost his throne in the German revolutions German Revolution The German Revolution was the politically-driven civil conflict in Germany at the end of World War I, which resulted in the replacement of Germany's imperial government with a republic...  of 1918.

Heads of the Albertine Branch of the House of Wettin (since 1918)

Saxony became a republic with the demise of the German Empire

German Empire

The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...

 in 1918. For later rulers, see List of Ministers-President of Saxony.

• Frederick Augustus III of Saxony
  Frederick Augustus III of Saxony
  This article is about King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony. For the elector Frederick Augustus III, see Frederick Augustus I of Saxony.Frederick Augustus III was the last King of Saxony and a member of the House of Wettin.Born in Dresden, Frederick Augustus was the son of King George of Saxony...
  
  , 1918-1932.
• Frederick Christian, Margrave of Meissen, 1932-1968.
• Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen
  Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen
  Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen is the head of the Royal House of Saxony.Born in Schloss Prüfening, Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany as son of Hereditary Prince Frederick Christian of Saxony, Margrave of Meissen and Princess Elisabeth Helene of Thurn and Taxis.He and Princess Anastasia of Anhalt ...
  
  , since 1968.

External links

House Laws of the Kingdom of Saxony