Saxe-Altenburg: Map & History
Saxe-Altenburg was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine branch of the House of Wettin in present-day Thuringia.
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Saxe-Altenburg was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine branch of the House of Wettin in present-day Thuringia. It was one of the smallest of the German states with an area of 1323 square kilometers and a population of 207,000 (1905) of whom about one fifth resided in the capital, Altenburg. The territory of the duchy consisted of two non-contiguous territories separated by land belonging to the Principality of Reuss-Gera. Its economy was based on agriculture, forestry, and small industry. The state had a constitutional monarchical form of government with a parliament composed of thirty members chosen by male taxpayers over 25 years of age.
Modern Countries Once Part of Saxe-Altenburg
At its mapped extent, Saxe-Altenburg covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Saxe-Altenburg's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Saxe-Altenburg in Depth
History
The duchy had its origins in the medieval Burgraviate of Altenburg in the Imperial Pleissnerland (Terra Plisensis), a possession of the Wettin Margraves of Meissen since 1243. Following the partition of Leipzig in 1485, Altenburg fell to Ernst, Elector of Saxony, the progenitor of the Ernestine Wettins. After the Capitulation of Wittenberg in 1547, the area around Altenburg went to the Albertine branch, but it was transferred back to the Ernestine Duchy of Saxony by the Treaty of Naumburg in 1554, and then to the Duchy of Saxe-Weimar following the Partition of Erfurt in 1572.
When Johann Wilhelm's son and successor Friedrich Wilhelm I died in 1602, the Duchy of Saxe-Weimar passed to his younger brother Johann II.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Saxe-Altenburg (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Saxe-Altenburg: Key Facts
| Capital | Altenburg |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1603 |
| Dissolved | 1918 |
Preceded by
- Duchy of Saxe-Weimar
- Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Succeeded by
- Free State of Sachsen-Altenburg
- Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Facts from Wikidata Q158151 (CC0).
Saxe-Altenburg Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Saxe-Altenburg appears, with the other states of the time.
Saxe-Altenburg Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 3,192 km² in 1808 CE.
Saxe-Altenburg: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Saxe-Altenburg exist?
Saxe-Altenburg is dated to 1806 CE – 1870 CE, in the Industrial era.
What was the capital of Saxe-Altenburg?
The capital of Saxe-Altenburg was Altenburg.
How large was Saxe-Altenburg at its peak?
At its peak in 1808 Saxe-Altenburg covered about 3,192 km².
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