| Hugh the Heir | |
|---|---|
| |
| Duke of Thuringia | |
| Reign | 1522-1534 |
| Coronation | 19 April 1522 in Coburg |
| Predecessor | Thin White Duke |
| Successor | Gedeon I |
| Duke of Bamberg | |
| Reign | 1524-1534 |
| Coronation | 1 December 1524 in Bamberg |
| Predecessor | Title Created |
| Successor | Elon I |
| President of the Magi | |
| Reign | 9 August 1523 - 1533 |
| Predecessor | Sebastian Gauck |
| Successor | Martin Breuer |
| Alderman of Nuremberg | |
| Reign | 1520-1534 |
| Born | 1 July 1477 Erfurt, Thuringia, Holy Roman Empire |
| Died | 9 March 1534 Bayreuth, Duchy of Bayreuth |
| Issue | See below |
| House | House of Jenagotha |
| Father | Thin White Duke |
| Mother | Johanna |
| Religion | Jungism (after 1506) |
Hugh the Heir (1 July 1477 - 9 March 1534) was Duke (1522-1524) and later Elector of Thuringia from 1524, as well as Duke of Bamberg from 1524, Alderman of Nuremberg from 1520, and President of the Magi in the Rätian Union from 1523 to 1533. He styled himself "the Heir" to emphasis his status as the true successor to the Thin White Duke of Thuringia. He would be one of the most influential leaders during the Reformation, becoming an early adopter of the faith and a chief leader in its defense following the death of his father in 1522. Renown for his cunning and ruthlessness, Hugh would likewise acquire numerous other titles across Germany, often through clever manipulation of alliances and disputes.
As a young man Hugh became regent of the Burgraviate of Nuremberg on behalf of his mother-in-law, later coming to rule this land directly. During the numerous wars between the Catholic Emperor Ottokar I and the early Jungist states, Hugh distinguished himself as a prominent military leader, and helped orchestrate the liberation of the city of Nuremberg, a city he would later seize control over in 1520 through careful intrigue within the city's elections. He would develop a rivalry with the Holy Roman Emperors and the region of Bayreuth, particularly with its Count Robert I. Hugh would ultimately best Robert, who died in 1523, and the following year Hugh managed to secure rule over neighboring Bamberg. Later defeated by Jaromir, Holy Roman Emperor, the Jenagothas would withdraw from Bayreuth for the next decade.
After the death or disappearance of the Thin White Duke in 1522, Hugh developed a feud with his nephew Henry IX, as both men competed to become the late Duke's successor. Although their brief civil war ended with Hugh becoming Duke of Thuringia, Henry successfully became Apostolic President, and their feud continued for the rest of Hugh's life. In 1534 Hugh was assassinated by one of his sons, launching Thuringia into disarray. Under Henry's leadership the Rätian Union would be established, and most of Hugh's former territories were organized into the Province of Franconia. Hugh was succeeded by his son Gedeon I in Thuringia, while his son Elon I succeeded him in Bamberg.
Family[]
Hugh the Heir, much like his father the Thin White Duke, had numerous polygamous marriages and many children, including illegitimate children via several different women. His descendants are commonly called the Hugh the Heir Branch to differentiate from the numerous other branches of the House of Jenagotha.
His first wife was Mary von Wittelsbach (1480), who he married in 1500. They had the following children:
- Gedeon I (1500-1569) - Duke of Thuringia
- Eva (1502)
- Elon I (1505) - Duke of Bamberg
- Elisabeth von Jenagotha (1507)
- Tabitha von Jenagotha (1510), married Ismael von Jenagotha of the Franconian branch
- Martha von Jenagotha (1512)
- André I (1513-1555) - Prince of Ansbach
- Ismael (1516)
- Azaria (1518)
- Micaela (1519-1530)
- Jeremiah (1523)
- Aurora (1526), married Henry II, Apostolic President
- Lilo (1529)
- William (1531-1532)
His second wife was Margaret of Ansbach (1485), who he married in 1502. They had the following children:
- Jair I (1503) - President of Franconia
- Jennifer (1504-1508)
- Ruth (1509)
- Ismael (1512)
- Theresa von Jenagotha (1514)
- Hester von Jenagotha (1517)
- Rhoda von Jenagotha (1520), married Peter Burkart, Grand Syndic of the Hanseatic League
- Maximilian von Jenagotha (1523)
- Elisa von Jenagotha (1524)
His third wife was Sabina Waldstromer (1490), who he married in 1508. They had the following children:
- Jephthah (1509) - Count of Coburg
- Isaac (1510)
- Pascal (1513)
- Elijah (1517)
- Linda (1519)
- Sofia (1522)
- Emilia (1525)
- Philippina (1527)
His fourth wife was Sabrina von Hersbruck (1502), who he married in 1520. They had the following children:
- Iepthae (1522)
- Konrad (1524)
- Regina (1526)
- Augusta (1528)
His fifth wife was Catherine of the Palatinate (1499-1533), who he married in 1533. They had no issue.
The following people were acknowledged as illegitimate children of Hugh:
- Silvia (1500), married William von Halle
- Sir Isaias Buch (1501) - Lord of Colmberg (1520)
- Theodoar (1504)
- Charles (1506)
- Jasmin (1506)
- Simon (1506-1510)
- Sir Zion Voit (1506-1523)
- Theresa (1509)
- Cora (1510)
- Lemuel (1511)
- Ursula (1515)
- Ingolf (1517)
- Gedeon (1519)
- Landolf (1519)
- Karola (1520)
- Matthias (1520)
- Victoria (1520)
- Ernst (1521)
- William (1522)
- Otto (1522)
- Rebecca (1523)
- Seffora (1523)
- Alda (1523)
- Sievert (1525)
- Yvonne (1526)
Footnotes[]
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