Christian I, Elector of Saxony

Christian I (b. Dresden, 29 October 1560 - d. Dresden, 25 September 1591) was Elector of Saxony from 1586 to 1591. He was the sixth but second surviving son of Elector Augustus of Saxony and Anna of Denmark. The death of his older brother, Alexander (8 October 1565), made him the new heir of the Electorate of Saxony. Christian succeeded his father when he died, in 1586. His chancellor was Nikolaus Krell. During his reign, the first measurement wa... more

Christian I (b. Dresden, 29 October 1560 - d. Dresden, 25 September 1591) was Elector of Saxony from 1586 to 1591. He was the sixth but second surviving son of Elector Augustus of Saxony and Anna of Denmark. The death of his older brother, Alexander (8 October 1565), made him the new heir of the Electorate of Saxony. Christian succeeded his father when he died, in 1586. His chancellor was Nikolaus Krell. During his reign, the first measurement was made of the Electorate of Saxony by Matthias Oeder. Later, the work of Oeder was continued by Balthasar Zimmermann until 1633 and completed as far as possible. In Dresden on 25 April 1582, Christian married Sophie, daughter of Johann Georg, Elector of Brandenburg. They had seven children: less