Maurice, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg

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.

Maurice
Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Reign	1581 – 1612
Predecessor	Francis I
Successor	Francis II
Co-rulers	Magnus II Francis II)
Born	1551
Died	2 November 1612 Buxtehude
Consort	Catherine of Spörck
Issue more...	Moritz Rautenstein (illegitimate) Julius Ernst Rautenstein (illegitimate)
House	Ascania
Father	Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg
Mother	Sybille of Saxe-Freiberg
Religion	Lutheran

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 Buxtehude in the Abtshaus (Abbot's house) of the nunnery 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; however, they divorced the following 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

Ancestors of Maurice, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg

16. Bernard II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg 8. John V, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg 17. Adelheid of Pomerania-Stolp 4. Magnus I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg 18. Frederick II Irontooth, Elector of Brandenburg 9. Dorothea of Brandenburg 19. Catherine of Saxony 2. Francis I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg 20. William IV, Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg (Wolfenbüttel) 10. Henry IV, Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg (Wolfenbüttel) 21. Elisabeth of Stolberg-Wernigerode 5. Catherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 22. Eric II, Duke of Pomerania-Wolgast (=#30) 11. Catherine of Pomerania-Wolgast 23. Sophia of Pomerania-Stolp (=#31) 1. Maurice, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg 24. Frederick II the Gentle, Elector of Saxony 12. Albert, Duke of Saxony 25. Margarete of Austria 6. Henry IV the Pious, Duke of Saxony 26. George of Poděbrady 13. Sidonie Podiebrad 27. Kunigunde of Sternberg 3. Sybille of Saxe-Freiberg 28. Henry IV the Fat, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 14. Magnus II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 29. Dorothea of Brandenburg 7. Catherine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 30. Eric II, Duke of Pomerania-Wolgast (=#22) 15. Sophia of Pomerania-Wolgast 31. Sophia of Pomerania-Stolp (=#23)