Ernest II of Saxony

Ernest II of Saxony
Tomb of Ernest II in the Cathedral of Magdeburg, by Peter Vischer the Elder
Noble family	House of Wettin
Father	Ernest, Elector of Saxony
Mother	Elisabeth of Bavaria
Born	26 or 27 June 1464
Died	3 August 1513(1513-08-03) (aged 49) Halle
Buried	Cathedral of Magdeburg

Ernest II of Saxony (26 or 27 June 1464 – 3 August 1513 in Halle) was Archbishop of Magdeburg from 1476 until his death, and from 1480 until his death also Administrator of Halberstadt.

Ernest was the third child of Elector Ernest of Saxony (1441–1486) and his wife Elisabeth of Bavaria. He was a member of the House of Wettin and was the younger brother of Elector Frederick III "the Wise" of Saxony (1486–1525). While his brother was destined to succeed his father, Ernest was destined for a religious career. As the appointment of family members as bishop was part of the Wettin's policy of expanding their influence, written negotiations about his appointment with the cathedral chapter in Magdeburg were initiated, even when the previous Archbishop, John of Palatinate-Simmern, was still alive.

After the death of the archbishop of Magdeburg in 1475, intensive negotiations began on the postulation of Ernest. The proposal of the Wettin family, however, met with some resistance from the cathedral chapter, as Ernest was only 11 years old at this time. Nevertheless, the Wettin succeeded in January 1476 in obtaining required two-thirds majority for Ernest's postulation. However, young Ernest satisfied none of the requirements for his appointment (minimum age of 30 years, oridnation as priest, and a university education). It was therefore necessary to obtain a papal dispensation, which Pope Sixtus IV (1414–1484) provided in 1478, in exchange for a large sum of money. The dispensation confirmed Ernest's election and made him Prince-Archbishop of the Archbishopric of Magdeburg, which consisted of non-contiguous areas surrounding Magdeburg, Halle and Jüterbog.