Kingdom of Saxony

Quick Facts: Who was Kingdom of Saxony?

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Kingdom of Saxony

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A German monarchy in Central Europe, existing from 1806 until its transformation into a Free State.

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Origins & Early Life

The Kingdom of Saxony (German: Königreich Sachsen) was a German monarchy in Central Europe between 1806 and 1918, the successor of the Electorate of Saxony. It joined the Confederation of the Rhine after the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, later joining the German Confederation after Napoleon was defeated in 1815. Beginning in 1871, it was part of the German Empire. It became a free state of the Weimar Republic in 1918 after the end of World War I and the abdication of King Frederick Augustus III. Its capital was Dresden, and its modern successor is the Free State of Saxony.

Career & Major Achievements

The third largest of the German kingdoms before integrating into the modern nation state of Germany, the kingdom of Saxony had a larger population in 1910 than Australia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland or Denmark. Before 1806, Saxony was part of the Holy Roman Empire, a thousand-year-old entity that had become highly decentralised over the centuries. The rulers of the Electorate of Saxony of the House of Wettin had held the title of elector for several centuries. The Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in August 1806 following the defeat of Emperor Francis II by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz, thereby rendering Saxony an independent state. Following the defeat of Saxony's ally Prussia at the Battle of Jena in October 1806, Saxony joined the Confederation of the Rhine, subordinating itself to the First French Empire, then the dominant power in Central Europe.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

On 20 December 1806 Frederick Augustus III, the last elector of Saxony, became King Frederick Augustus I. In 1807 the Treaties of Tilsit ceded the Lordship of Cottbus, formerly a collection of Prussian enclaves within Saxon Lower Lusatia, to Saxony. The treaties also established the Polish Duchy of Warsaw, which was placed in a personal union with Saxony under Frederick Augustus I. Saxony remained within the Confederation until its dissolution in 1813 with Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Leipzig. Following the battle, in which Saxony – virtually alone of all the German states – had fought alongside the French, King Frederick Augustus I was deserted by his troops, taken prisoner by the Prussians, and considered to have forfeited his throne by the allies, who put Saxony under Prussian occupation and administration. This was probably more due to the Prussian desire to annex Saxony than to any crime on Frederick Augustus's part, and the fate of Saxony would prove to be one of the main issues at the Congress of Vienna. In the end, 60% of the kingdom, including the historically significant Wittenberg – home of the Protestant Reformation and historic core of the Electorate – as well as Lower Lusatia, most of Upper Lusatia, the Thuringian Circle and the Neustadt Circle, among other territories, was annexed by Prussia; most of the Neustadt Circle was re-ceded to Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach by Prussia.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1806: 1806 Milestone — The Kingdom of Saxony (German: Königreich Sachsen) was a German monarchy in Central Europe between 1806 and 1918, the successor of the Electorate of Saxony.
2. 1807: 1807 Milestone — In 1807 the Treaties of Tilsit ceded the Lordship of Cottbus, formerly a collection of Prussian enclaves within Saxon Lower Lusatia, to Saxony.
3. 1813: 1813 Milestone — Saxony remained within the Confederation until its dissolution in 1813 with Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Leipzig.
4. 1815: 1815 Milestone — It joined the Confederation of the Rhine after the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, later joining the German Confederation after Napoleon was defeated in 1815.
5. 1871: 1871 Milestone — Beginning in 1871, it was part of the German Empire.
6. 1910: 1910 Milestone — The third largest of the German kingdoms before integrating into the modern nation state of Germany, the kingdom of Saxony had a larger population in 1910 than Australia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland or Denmark.
7. 1918: 1918 Milestone — It became a free state of the Weimar Republic in 1918 after the end of World War I and the abdication of King Frederick Augustus III.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Kingdom of Saxony

True or False: “Did the Kingdom of Saxony maintain control over all its original territories after being annexed by Prussia following the Napoleonic Wars?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): No, approximately 60% of the kingdom's land and 40% of its population were lost to Prussian annexation after the defeat at Leipzig.

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