Johann Georg II and the Problem of Catholicism

Abstract

Abstract In the complex religious history of Germany, Saxony stands as the “urevangelisches Land” and the birthplace of the Reformation. From the time of his protection of the Reformer himself following the 1521 Diet of Worms, the Elector of Saxony had played a pivotal role in the development of the new church; Ernestinian Saxony became Lutheran in 1525, and Albertinian Saxony followed suit in 1539–40. But after over 120 years of nearly unflagging stewardship of the new church by the incumbents of the office of Saxon elector, strong suspicions began to arise concerning Prince Johann Georg's fidelity to the “true religion,” and it was widely rumored that he would convert to Catholicism. Given the conflicts between contemporary reports and Johann Georg's statements on the subject, as well as his actions, it remains difficult to characterize the exact nature of the elector's own religious beliefs and confessional attitudes.