Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg
| Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg | ||||||||||
| Herzogtum Sachsen-Wittenberg | ||||||||||
| State of the Holy Roman Empire | ||||||||||
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 Duchy of Saxony-Wittenberg (dark green)
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| Capital | Wittenberg | |||||||||
| Government | Principality | |||||||||
| Dukes | ||||||||||
| • | 1296–1298 | Albert II of Ascania[a] | ||||||||
| • | 1298–1356 | Rudolf I of Ascania | ||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | |||||||||
| • | Definite partition from Saxony | 1296 | ||||||||
| • | Electorate | 1356 | ||||||||
| • | To Wettin margraves of Meissen | 1423 | ||||||||
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| a: Albert II was co-ruler of undivided Saxony, with John I, from 1260 | ||||||||||
The Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg (German: Herzogtum Sachsen-Wittenberg) was a medieval duchy of the Holy Roman Empire centered at Wittenberg, which emerged after the dissolution of the stem duchy of Saxony. The Ascanian dukes prevailed in obtaining the Saxon electoral dignity until their duchy was finally elevated to the Electorate of Saxony by the Golden Bull of 1356.
The Eastphalian count Otto of Ballenstedt (d. 1123), ancestor of the House of Ascania, had married Eilika, a daughter of Duke Magnus of Saxony from the House of Billung. As the Billung male line became extinct upon Magnus's death in 1106, Otto hoped to succeed him, however King Henry V of Germany enfeoffed Count Lothair of Supplinburg. During the following long-term dispute between Henry and Lothair, Otto was able to gain the title of a Saxon (anti-)duke, though only for a short time in 1122.
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