John (12 December 1801 – 29 October 1873) was King of Saxony from 9 August 1854 until his death in 1873. He was a member of the House of Wettin. During his reign, Saxony became a part of the German Empire.

Early life

John was born in Dresden, the third son of Maximilian, Hereditary Prince of Saxony—younger son of the Elector Frederick Christian of Saxony—by his first wife, Carolina of Bourbon, Princess of Parma. During most of his life, John stood little chance of inheriting the Saxon Crown: he was preceded by his father and two older brothers, Frederick Augustus and Clement. However, in 1822 Clement died unmarried in Italy, and John was now only preceded in the line of succession by his older brother Frederick Augustus. When his uncle Anton succeeded his older brother as king (1827), John became the third in line to the throne, and after his father Maximilian renounced his succession rights in 1830, John became in the second in line. John's older brother became King Frederick Augustus II in 1836; now he was the first in line of succession to the throne. The King, married twice, was childless. John remained as heir presumptive during all the reign of his brother.

King of Saxony

John became King of Saxony after the death of his brother Frederick Augustus II on 9 August 1854. The Judiciary Organization of 1855, the extension of the railroad network, the introduction of the freedom of trade are attributed mainly to his suggestion and promotion. Under his government, came the acceptance of the French Commercial Treaty (1862) and the acknowledgment of a contract with Italy. He exerted himself under influence of his minister Friedrich Ferdinand von Beust for the Great Germany Solution (de: Großdeutsche Lösung) of the imperial arrangement (under inclusion of Austria). In 1866 Saxony fought on the Austrian side in the Austro-Prussian War. Finally, after the defeat of the Battle of Königgrätz, Saxony joined the North German Confederation and in 1871 the German Empire under the hegemony of the Kingdom of Prussia. The King died two years later, aged seventy-one. Beyond his political work, Johann was busy with literature. Under the pseudonym Philalethes he translated to German Dante's Divine Comedy; some parts of this work were placed in the Schloss Weesenstein. The Dresden district of Johannstadt was named after him.

Marriage and issue

In Munich on 10 November 1822 (by proxy) and again in Dresden on 21 November 1822 (in person), Johann married with the Princess Amalia of Bavaria (Amalie Auguste), daughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria. They had nine children: King John of Saxony died at Pillnitz.

Honours

• Kingdom of Saxony: • * Knight of the Rue Crown, 1807 • * Grand Cross of the Civil Merit Order, 1815 • * Grand Cross of the Albert Order • Kingdom of Bavaria: Knight of St. Hubert, 1822 • 🇪🇸 Spain: Knight of the Golden Fleece, 18 March 1825 • Ernestine duchies: Grand Cross of the Saxe-Ernestine House Order, February 1838 • Russian Empire: Knight of St. Andrew, 5 April 1840 • Kingdom of Prussia: • * Knight of the Black Eagle, 3 September 1840 • * Pour le Mérite (civil), 21 January 1869 • Austrian Empire: Grand Cross of St. Stephen, 1841 • Kingdom of Sardinia: Knight of the Annunciation, 12 March 1850 • Ascanian duchies: Grand Cross of Albert the Bear, 28 April 1853 • 🇧🇪 Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold, 25 May 1853 • Baden: • * Knight of the House Order of Fidelity, 1853 • * Grand Cross of the Zähringer Lion, 1853 • Grand Duchy of Hesse: Grand Cross of the Ludwig Order, 10 August 1854 • Oldenburg: Grand Cross of the Order of Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig, with Golden Crown, 31 August 1854 • Württemberg: Grand Cross of the Württemberg Crown, 1854 • Nassau: Knight of the Gold Lion of Nassau, February 1860 • Kingdom of Hanover: • * Knight of St. George, 1860 • * Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order

Ancestry