Maurice, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg

Maurice Moritz von Sachsen, Engern und Westfalen (de)
officially: Duke of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia colloquially: Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg (Joint rule with his brothers Magnus II (till 1588) and Francis II)
Joint reign	1581 – 1612
Predecessor	Francis I
Successor	Francis II
Saxon consort Mistress	Katharina von Spörck Gisela of Saxony
Detail Issue
Moritz Rautenstein (illegitimate) Julius Ernst Rautenstein (illegitimate)
House of	Ascania (by birth)
Father	Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg
Mother	Sybille of Saxe-Freiberg
Born	1551
Died	2 November 1612 Buxtehude
Religion	Lutheran

Maurice of Saxe-Lauenburg (1551 – 2 November 1612, Buxtehude) was the fourth son of Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg and Sybille of Saxe-Freiberg (Freiberg, *2 May 1515 – 18 July 1592*, Buxtehude), daughter of Duke Henry IV the Pious of Saxony. Maurice ruled Saxe-Lauenburg as duke between 1581 and 1612, together with his elder brothers Magnus II (until 1588) and Francis II, who survived him.

Life

When in 1571 their father Francis I resigned in favour of his then major sons Magnus II and Francis II, Magnus violently tried to repress his younger brother Francis II, however, failing in the end in 1574. Francis I then reascended the throne.

After their father's death in 1581 the then major Maurice and his elder brothers Magnus II and Francis II jointly ruled as dukes in Saxe-Lauenburg. However, in 1588 Francis II and Maurice imprisoned Magnus II in Ratzeburg's castle for his repeated atrocities and continued their joint rule without him.

In 1585 (or 1586) Maurice moved to Buxtehude, then a city in the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen ruled by his brother Prince-Archbishop Henry of Saxe-Lauenburg, and resided in the Abtshaus (Abbot's house) of the monastery of Altkloster (now a component of Buxtehude). In 1588 his mother played a prominent role in his affair with Gisela von Tschammer, against whom she initiated a trial witchcraft. As duke Maurice remained passive and lived in the abbot's house until his death. The abbot's house now serves as a gallery and café. His mother Sibylle died in Buxtehude in 1592.

Marriage and issue

In 1581 Maurice married Katharina von Spörck, who thus became one Saxon consort; however, they got a divorce already in the next year. They had no children.

With his mistress Gisela of Saxony (married with Adam von Tschammer) Duke Maurice had two illegitimate sons:

• Moritz Rautenstein (*? – 1617/39*)
• Julius Ernst Rautenstein (*ca. 1590 – ca. 1660*)

Ancestry

Succession box

Maurice, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg House of Ascania Born: 1551 Died: 2 November 1612 in Buxtehude
Regnal titles
Preceded by Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg	Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg 1581 – 1612 (joint rule with his brothers Magnus II (till 1588) and Francis II)	Succeeded by Francis II of Saxe-Lauenburg

Persondata
Name	Saxe-Lauenburg, Maurice of
Alternative names
Short description	Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg, 1581-1612
Date of birth	1551
Place of birth
Date of death	2 November 1612
Place of death	Buxtehude