George, Duke of Saxony
| George | |
|---|---|
Portrait by Lucas Cranach the Elder, c. 1534 | |
| Duke of Saxony Margrave of Meissen | |
| Reign | 12 September 1500 – 17 April 1539 |
| Predecessor | Albert III & IV |
| Successor | Henry IV |
| Born | 27 August 1471 Meissen |
| Died | 17 April 1539 (aged 67) Dresden |
| Spouse | |
| Issue Detail | |
| House | Wettin (Albertine line) |
| Father | Albert III, Duke of Saxony |
| Mother | Sidonie of Poděbrady |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
George the Bearded (German: Georg der Bärtige; 27 August 1471, Meissen – 17 April 1539, Dresden) was Duke of Saxony from 1500 to 1539 and was known for his strong opposition to the Reformation. While the Ernestine line accepted Lutheranism, the Albertines, led by George, resisted religious change. Although he tried to prevent a Lutheran succession, the Act of Settlement of 1499 ensured that, after his death in 1539, Henry IV—a Lutheran—became duke and introduced Lutheranism as the official state religion of the Albertine territories.
George was also a knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece.