| Sebastian the Sparrow | |
|---|---|
| |
| Portrait of Sebastian, 1618 | |
| Duke of Saxe-Gommern | |
| Reign | 1618- |
| Predecessor | Title Created |
| Count of Werdenfels | |
| Reign | 1603- |
| Born | 4 November 1579 Garmisch, Werdenfels, Holy Roman Empire |
| Died | 1 October 1634 Munich, Bavaria, Holy Roman Empire |
| Spouse | Diana of Saxony |
| House | House of Sperling |
| Religion | Jungism |
Sebastian (4 November 1579 - 1 October 1634), known by his nickname The Sparrow, was a Duke of Saxe-Gommern from 1618, and Count of Werdenfels from 1603 until his death. He served as an important statesmen and commander during the Forty Years' War, and was also a capable administrator who transformed Werdenfels. Through the Grand Appanage he gained the Duchy of Saxe-Gommern through his wife, Diana de la Marck, following the death of her father Engelbert III, Elector of Saxony. He spent little time in Gommern personally, but nonetheless helped to defend the small territory from invasion. Despite being the smallest and least valuable territory created in the Grand Appanage, it proved to be the longest lasting.
Biography[]
Sebastian was born to a moderately wealthy merchant family in Garmisch, Werdenfels in 1579. At this time Werdenfels was a semi-autonomous county, but was also a part of the Prince-Bishopric of Freising. After the Protestant Reformation and the Bavarian War of Succession, most of the region had converted to the Jungist faith, and later Kafkanism also became popular. Freising secularized into a Jungist nation ruled by an administrator, and narrowly avoided annexation by Bavaria. Over the next century the country was slowly eroded by the Bavarians, who desired Freising's lucrative mines and trade routes.
In 1598 a minor skirmish broke out along the border near Wallgau, and peace was hastily negotiated by Jungist representatives, fearful of division during the ongoing Frankfurt War. Despite being only a young man, the charismatic Sebastian was selected as an envoy during this process, receiving much popularity and acclaim upon his success. Sebastian became one of the wealthiest citizens of Werdenfels after the untimely death of his father the following year. In 1600 a major witch hunt broke out in the region, and Sebastian was one of the few rich inhabitants who avoided suspicion, mostly by joining the hysteria. He successfully disenfranchised several of his rivals, and was later elected leader of the county by its inhabitants.
In 1602, chaffing at the high taxation imposed upon the county by the new administrator of Freising, Sebastian led a popular revolt against the bishopric. The following year Sebastian was recognized as hereditary Count of Werdenfels, ending the brief struggle. As count Sebastian would transform his minor holding into an extremely rich principality. He initially remained neutral during the ongoing Forty Years' War, and the trade route he possessed through Werdenfels became one of the most valuable routes into Italy by passing armies. Goods passing from Italy to Bavaria and vis versa were stored and heavily taxed in Werdenfels, while the county's rich silver deposits also became invaluable.
During the Grand Appanage in the Electorate of Saxony Sebastian sought to marry one of the daughters of Engelbert III. He was initially not considered due to his upstart birth, young age, and small territory, but after Saxony became involved in the Forty Years' War this was reconsidered. Sebastian's skill as an administrator had made Werdenfels rich and a strategic fortress on the Bavarian-Austrian border. In 1605 Engelbert relented and allowed Sebastian to marry one of his youngest daughters, Diana. Despite being a strategic marriage, the pair appeared to be truly in love and Sebastian was a kind and generous husband. He later honored his agreement and declared war on Austria.
As a general in the Forty Years' War Sebastian proved highly capable, successfully tying down Austrian forces for years At his numerous fortresses. He helped to streamline the economy of his small polity and improve its production, later in life attracting famous violinmaker Michael Klotz to establish his shop in the town of Mittenwald. Later when Saxony was repeatedly sacked by invading forces Sebastian attempted to coordinate a counterattack, but was constantly sidelined by more prestigious nobles. He appeared to get along well with Maximillian Achilles, and supported his bid for Elector of Saxony after the death of Engelbert III in 1618.
Sebastian increasingly micromanaged his estates later in life, causing him to be forced to travel all across the region repeatedly. He remained diligent until his death, his attention split in several directions. In 1630 he was elected Administrator of Freising, granting him rule over his former overlord. In 1634 Sebastian died at the age of 55 from disease, and he was succeeded by his son.
Family[]
In 1605 Sebastian married Diana de la Marck, Duchess of Saxe-Gommern. They had the following children:
- Attalia (1607)
- Engelbert (1608-1610)
- Christina (1611)
- Jael (1613)
- Leuther (1615)
- Iunia (1620)
- Henry (1621-1633)
Footnotes[]
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