Alternative History
Wolfgang I
Portman
Elector of Saxe-Wittenberg
Reign 1595-1618
Coronation 7 November 1595
Predecessor Henry V
Successor Sibella
Maximillian
Born 13 July 1538
Wittenberg, Duchy of Saxony,
Holy Roman Empire
Died 6 June 1618
Freiberg, Meissen,
Holy Roman Empire
Spouse Ladia, Princess of Gottingen
Issue Sibella, Karoline, Matilda, Tosca, Millania, Jacinda, Diana, Ruth

Engelbert III (13 July 1538 - 6 June 1618) was the Duke of Saxe-Wittenberg and Elector of Saxony from his father's death in 1595 until his own death in 1621, known for his mediocre leadership during the Forty Years' War and his Grand Appanage, a major event in the history of the Duchy of Saxony.

Born the eldest son of Henry V, Duke of Saxony, Engelbert often clashed with his domineering father from an early age. He was considered a sensitive boy, and was often spoilt by his mother, Karoline Premyslid. In later years, Engelbert became more confident after being sent away to join the army, but his relationship with his father remained turbulent. He had a better relationship with his grandfather, Wolfgang I, Duke of Saxony. A conflict between Engelbert III and his father Henry V occurred in 1563 when the elderly Wolfgang I sent Engelbert III to represent him at the Imperial Election in which Charles, Duke of Livonia was elected Holy Roman Emperor. Henry V also arrived, claiming to represent his father Wolfgang. Both were eventually accepted as joint representatives by the Imperial Committee. Engelbert continued to resent his father. Catholics claimed this was because Henry had sexually abused Engelbert as a child, although Engelbert did not confirm nor deny this. During the early stages of the Forty Years' War, Engelbert convened with government ministers to prevent Henry V launching an all-out attack on the Catholic electors who supported Frederick V, Holy Roman Emperor. When Henry V died, Engelbert III succeeded the throne as Duke of Saxony. Declaring a state of emergency due to the ongoing war, Engelbert III seized full control of the rest of Saxony, leaving his fellow relatives as Dukes of other parts of Saxony in name only, and deposing several officials who had been appointed by the Supreme Ratia. This led to the opposite of his desired aim, with increased instability within Saxony and a growing threat of rebellion from his siblings and cousins. After three years under pressure he ended this state of emergency, and organized a new partitioning of Saxony into further small states within the Duchy and Province, divided between his siblings. Having formerly served in the military, Engelbert decided to take full command of Saxony's army with the permission of the other co-Dukes. This period of his command resulted in a series of defeats for the Ratian Union and, at the behest of his family, the Ratian government, and other members of the nobility, he discreetly agreed to leave the position and allow someone more competent to take over. He died about halfway through the war, and his successors were generally more effective.

Although his leadership skills during the war have traditionally been deemed lacking by historians, he is generally highly ranked by them for his devotion to the arts, music and science. He wrote several books of poetry, which are still well-known and have been translated into over a fifty languages. He attempted to replace "Grand Saxony" with a song of his own as the national anthem, and also petitioned the Ergecratic President of the Ratian Union to allow him to rework the Ratian Union's national anthem. He also hired Johannes Bach as a music teacher for his children, beginning the rise to prominence of the musical and political Bach family in Saxony and Thuringia in the Ratian Union. His support for archaeological excavations in Saxony resulted in the largest collection of skeletons of primordial creatures in the world. Although Engelbert himself theorized that they had died out in the Great Flood, his writings on the issue would later influence his great-nephew Johann de Lamarck (1731-1805)'s theory of Lamarckism.

Engelbert married Ladia, Princess of Gottingen and had eight daughters but no sons. Engelbert was determined to split his possessions amongst his daughters rather than adhering to Salic Law that had become popular in other parts of Saxony and other German states and countries. He married each one of his daughters (in some of their cases, more than once) to various prominent German noblemen, or members of other Royal families. He favoured his eldest daughter Sibella, as well as his second and third daughters, Karoline and Matilda. However, his relationship with younger daughters was often fraught, as he became increasingly desparate for a male heir and heard rumours that his wife was suspected of having an affair with other men, such as his brothers, leaving the paternity of his younger daughters in dispute.

Engelbert's sexuality, like his father's, was a cause for debate amongst historians. Some consider him bisexual. From his wife's diaries, it can be asserted that Engelbert III enjoyed being "dominated" by physically larger women in bed (such as his wife, who was afflicted by mild giantism) but was also interested in incorporating Engelberts (the dog species) into sex. The sexual position "the Engelbert" is thus named after him.

Ancestry[]


This article is part of Merveilles des Morte.