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Johann Adolf II, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels | |
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_-_John_Adolphus_II%2c_Duke_of_Saxe-Weissenfels_(1685-1746)_-_RCIN_405656_-_Royal_Collection.jpg) Portrait byAntoine Pesne,c. 1740–1746 | |
| Born | 19 August 1685 (1685-08-19) |
| Died | 14 May 1746(1746-05-14) (aged 60) |
Johann Adolf II (19 August 1685 – 14 May 1746) was the last duke ofSaxe-Weissenfels from 1736 to 1746.[1] Following his death without surviving male issue, the Duchy returned toElectoral Saxony.[1] Johann Adolf was also a commander in theSaxon Army.
Johann Adolf was born inWeissenfels on 19 August 1685, the third surviving son ofJohann Adolf I, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels and his first wife,Johanna Magdalena of Saxe-Altenburg. He inherited the Duchy of Saxe-Weissenfels in 1736, following the death of his older brother Christian, who had no children.[1][2]
In theWar of the Polish Succession, Johann Adolf led Saxon troops intoPoland (October 1733). For the next three years, the Saxon army remained mainly in southern Poland, until the coronation of the ElectorFrederick August II of Saxony as King of Poland after the defeat ofStanisław Leszczyński, the rival candidate for the Polish throne. That same year, Johann Adolf inherited Saxe-Weissenfels when his brother Christian died without children.
During theSecond Silesian War, Prussian troops crossed the Saxon border, andSaxony andAustria agreed to proceed together againstPrussia. Saxon troops planned to cut off the Prussians in northernSilesia, while Austrian troops would advance from the south. But in June 1745, they were defeated at theBattle of Hohenfriedberg. Johann Adolf planned a new offensive campaign in September 1745, but he changed his mind two weeks later. Because of this, he was replaced as commander-in-chief by CountFrederick August Rutowski, an illegitimate half-brother of the King-Elector.
After theBattle of Kesselsdorf, the Elector removed his half-brother Rutowski as commander-in-chief and reinstated Johann Adolf, who began his duties as commander on 1 December 1745. Additionally, he was appointed chief of the Saxon government during the absence of the Elector and the MinisterHeinrich of Brühl.
Johann Adolf retreated with the Saxon troops to Bohemia. Five months later, he suffered a heart attack and died at age sixty-one.
InEisenach on 9 May 1721, Johann Adolf married Johannette Antoinette Juliane of Saxe-Eisenach, daughter ofJohn William III. They had one son who died in early childhood:
InAltenburg on 27 November 1734, Johann Adolf married for a second time toFredericka of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. They had five children of which only one survived infancy but went on to die later in childhood:
He was the last member of the line of Saxe-Weissenfels. After his death without surviving male heirs, his lands passed to the Electorate of Saxony, from which they had been extracted in 1657 under the terms of the will ofJohn George I, Elector of Saxony.
Media related toJohann Adolf II, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels at Wikimedia CommonsJohann Adolf II, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels Born: 19 August 1685 Died: 14 May 1746 | ||
| Preceded by | Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels 1736–1746 | Territory returned to the Electorate of Saxony |
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