List of Rulers of Saxony - Electors of Saxony

Electors of Saxony

The Golden Bull of 1356 confirmed the right to participate in the election of a Holy Roman Emperor 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	15 May 1388	9 June 1419	Son of Wenceslaus.
	Albert III Albrecht II	9 June 1419	12 November 1422	Brother of Rudolf III.
Wettin Dynasty
Image	Name	Began	Ended	Notes
	Frederick I 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 of Meissen and Landgrave of Thuringia, of the House of Wettin.
	Frederick II 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 Ernst	7 September 1464	26 August 1486	Son of Frederick II, divided Saxony with his brother Albert, taking Wittenberg, northern Meissen, and southern Thuringia. Inherited Thuringia in 1482 and ruled it jointly with Albert until 1485.
	Frederick III Friedrich III	26 August 1486	5 May 1525	Nicknamed "the Wise." Son of Ernest. Protector of Martin Luther, but a lifelong Catholic.
	John 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 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 for his role in the Schmalkaldic War. Died 1554.
Albertine Line
	Maurice Moritz	4 June 1547	11 July 1553	Second cousin of John Frederick, grandson of Albert. Though a Lutheran, allied with Emperor Charles V against the Schmalkaldic League. Gained the Electorate for the Albertine line in 1547 after Charles V's victory at the Battle of Mühlberg.
	Augustus I August I	11 July 1553	12 February 1586	Brother of Maurice. Recognized as Elector by the ousted John Frederick in 1554.
	Christian I	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 Johann Georg I	23 June 1611	8 October 1656	Brother of Christian II, ruled during the Thirty Years' War, during which he was at times allied with the Emperor and at times with the King of Sweden.
	John George II 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 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 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 in 1806, and he became King of Saxony. Called "the Just."