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John Frederick I of Saxony

Johann Frederick I
Lucas Cranach d. Ä. 044.jpg
Portrait by Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1531.
Elector of Saxony
Reign 16 August 1532 – 24 April 1547
Predecessor John
Successor Maurice
Duke of Saxony
Reign 24 April 1547 – 3 March 1554
Predecessor Maurice
Successor John Frederick II
Landgrave of Thuringia
Reign 16 August 1532 – 24 April 1547
Predecessor Johann
Successor John Ernest
Born (1503-06-30)30 June 1503
Torgau, Electorate of Saxony, Holy Roman Empire
Died 3 March 1554(1554-03-03) (aged 50)
Weimar, Electorate of Saxony, Holy Roman Empire
Burial St. Peter und Paul, Weimar
Spouse Sybille of Cleves
Issue John Frederick II, Duke of Saxony
Johann Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
John Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Gotha
House Wettin (Ernestine Line)
Father Johann, Elector of Saxony
Mother Sophie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Religion Lutheranism

Johann Frederick I (German: Johann Friedrich I; 30 June 1503 in Torgau – 3 March 1554 in Weimar), called Johann the Magnanimous, or St. Johann the Steadfast (by Lutherans), was Elector of Saxony and Head of the Protestant Confederation of Germany (the Schmalkaldic League), "Champion of the Reformation".

Johann Frederick was the eldest son of Elector Johann by his first wife, Sophie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. His mother died fourteen days after his birth, on 12 July 1503.

He received his education from George Spalatin, whom he highly esteemed during his whole life. Spalatin was Martin Luther's friend and advisor and thus, through Spalatin's schooling, Johann developed a devotion to the teachings of Martin Luther. His knowledge of history was comprehensive, and his library, which extended over all sciences, was one of the largest in Germany.

He cultivated a personal relationship with Martin Luther, beginning to correspond with him in the days when the bull of excommunication was first issued against the Reformer, and showing himself a convinced adherent of Luther. He carefully observed the development of the reformatory movement. He read Luther's writings, urged the printing of the first complete (Wittenberg) edition of his works, and in the latter years of his life promoted the compilation of the Jena edition. At the Elector castle at Torgau, he constructed a chapel specifically designed to be a Lutheran place of worship and invited Martin Luther to deliver the inaugural sermon. The influence of Lutheranism at Johann Frederick's court is visible also in the translation by Veit Warbeck of the French romance the Magelone, made in preparation of Johann Frederick's marriage in 1527; Catholic elements are suppressed.

His father introduced him into the political and diplomatic affairs of the time, and he conducted the first negotiations of a treaty with Hesse in Kreuzburg and Friedewald. He took an active part in the disturbances caused by the Pack affair (see John the Steadfast), and Luther was grateful to him for his exertions, in spite of his youth, for the maintenance of peace.


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