Friedrich was born in Hartenfels Castle, Torgau in 1463, the first son of the Elector Ernst of the House of Wettin. In 1486 he succeeded his father, together with his younger brother John, as rulers of Ernestine Sachsen which had been formed after the Leipziger partition of the estate in 1485. Friedrich had little success with his dynastic plans throughout the course of his life. He was a man of peaceful conciliation and kept his territory out of all warfare during his reign. Friedrich did, however, attain historical significance primarily as a promoter of knowledge and art. He transformed Wittenberg into his representative residence through the new construction of the Castle and the Castle Church as well as the university, founded in 1502. During Luther's lifetime it was the home and intellectual center of the Reformation Movement of which the ruler was a reliable protector, although only active in the background. Friedrich was nevertheless still deeply imbued with late medieval devoutness, yet had recognized the necessity of a reformation of the erstwhile Papal church. Friedrich's greatest historical merit was his protection of Martin Luther from the Court of Inquisition. His repertoire of diplomatic stalling tactics diverted their relentless persuit of the controversial reformer. Friedrich, as was his habit,formed his own opinion after exact consideration of the state of affairs by his advisers and listening to the opinion of a recognized expert, in Luther
s case Erasmus von Rotterdam. Friedrich died in his hunting seat in the Lochau in 1525.
Prince Friedrich III of Sachsen |