Christian I, Elector of Saxony

Christian I
Elector of Saxony
Reign11 February 1586 – 25 September 1591
PredecessorAugustus I
SuccessorChristian II
Born29 October 1560
Dresden, Electorate of Saxony, Holy Roman Empire
Died25 September 1591(1591-09-25) (aged 30)
Dresden, Electorate of Saxony, Holy Roman Empire
Burial
SpouseSophie of Brandenburg
Issue
Detail
Christian II, Elector of Saxony
John George I, Elector of Saxony
Sophie, Duchess of Pomerania
Prince Augustus
Dorothea, Abbess of Quedlinburg
HouseHouse of Wettin
FatherAugustus I, Elector of Saxony
MotherAnna of Denmark
ReligionLutheran
Christian I of Saxony by Carlo di Cesare del Palagio c.1610, Museom of Old Masters, Dresden
Christian of Saxony as a prince, medal, 1574

Christian I of Saxony (29 October 1560 – 25 September 1591) was Elector of Saxony from 1586 to 1591. He belonged to the Albertine branch of the House of Wettin.

He was the sixth but second surviving son of Augustus, Elector of Saxony and Anna of Denmark. The death of his older brother, Alexander (8 October 1565), made him the new heir apparent to the Electorate of Saxony.

Christian succeeded his father when he died, in 1586. His chancellor was Nikolaus Krell. During his reign, the first measurement was made of the Electorate of Saxony by Matthias Oeder. Later, the work of Oeder was continued by Balthasar Zimmermann until 1633 and completed as far as possible.

In 1591 his wife organised a set of 12 suits of armour that she planned to give him as a Christmas present.[1] A number of the suits survive.[1]

  1. ^ a b Impey, Edward, ed. (2022). Treasures of the Royal Armouries A Panoply of Arms. Royal Armouries Museum. p. 146. ISBN 9781913013400.