Saxony, Albertine line
Johann Georg II and August of Naumberg (1611-1615), Thaler, 1612, Dresden mint
Obverse: Armored bust of Johann Georg holding sword
IOHAN GEORG D G S RO IMP ARCHIM ELE
Reverse: August right, in circle of eighteen shields
E AVGVST F E D S I C E M
Weight 29.16 g
John George I succeeded his brother Christian II in 1611, but with the title of august. He was at first allied with Emperor Ferdinand II, and he married the Protestant party in 1631 to return May 30, 1635, after the Peace of Prague, in the imperial party. This period of the Thirty Years' War was one of the most troubled of Saxony, which was devastated by the Imperialists and Swedes. In 1648, peace was signed, Saxony Lusatia obtained. The Duchy, considerably weakened, however, lost its dominance on the German Protestant powers in favor of Brandenburg. The will of John george I of Saxony cut out the duchies of Saxe-Weissenfels, Saxony and Saxony-Merseburg, Zeitz. These duchies were not united again to Saxony in 1718 and 1746.
