John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony

John Frederick I
Portrait by Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1531
Elector of Saxony
Reign16 August 1532 – 24 April 1547
PredecessorJohn
SuccessorMaurice
Duke of Saxony
Reign24 April 1547 – 3 March 1554
PredecessorMaurice
SuccessorJohn Frederick II
Landgrave of Thuringia
Reign16 August 1532 – 24 April 1547
PredecessorJohn
SuccessorJohn Ernest
Born(1503-06-30)30 June 1503
Torgau, Electorate of Saxony, Holy Roman Empire
Died3 March 1554(1554-03-03) (aged 50)
Weimar, Electorate of Saxony, Holy Roman Empire
Burial
SpouseSybille of Cleves
IssueJohn Frederick II, Duke of Saxony
John William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
John Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Gotha
HouseWettin (Ernestine line)
FatherJohn, Elector of Saxony
MotherSophie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
ReligionRoman Catholic (1503–1521)
Lutheran (1521–1554)
Signature

John Frederick I (German: Johann Friedrich I. von Sachsen; called the Magnanimous der Großmütige; 30 June 1503 – 3 March 1554) was the Prince-Elector and Arch-Marshal of the Holy Roman Empire (1532–1547) from the Ernestine branch of the Saxon ruling House of Wettin, who initially governed over the Ernestine Electorate of Saxony, centred on Saxe-Wittenberg, until he was deprived of his electoral titles and most domains by the Capitulation of Wittenberg (1547). He was left with the Saxon ducal title, and Ernestine possessions in Thuringia. Previously, he was leading the Schmalkaldic League, a military alliance of Lutheran principalities.