Katana VentraIP

House of Wettin

The House of Wettin (German: Haus Wettin) was a dynasty of German kings, prince-electors, dukes, and counts that once ruled territories in the present-day German states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The dynasty is one of the oldest in Europe, and its origins can be traced back to the town of Wettin, Saxony-Anhalt. The Wettins gradually rose to power within the Holy Roman Empire. Members of the family became the rulers of several medieval states, starting with the Saxon Eastern March in 1030. Other states they gained were Meissen in 1089, Thuringia in 1263, and Saxony in 1423. These areas cover large parts of Central Germany as a cultural area of Germany.

The family divided into two ruling branches in 1485 by the Treaty of Leipzig: the Ernestine and Albertine branches. The older Ernestine branch played a key role during the Protestant Reformation. Many ruling monarchs outside Germany were later tied to its cadet branch, the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The Albertine branch, while less prominent, ruled most of Saxony and played a part in Polish history.


Agnates of the House of Wettin have, at various times, ascended the thrones of the United Kingdom, Portugal, Bulgaria, Poland, Saxony, Mexico and Belgium. Only the Belgian line retains their throne today.

Albert, Duke of Saxony (1443–1500)

Veste Coburg, ancestral seat of the House of Saxe-Coburg

Veste Coburg, ancestral seat of the House of Saxe-Coburg

Ehrenburg Palace, Coburg (summer residence)

Ehrenburg Palace, Coburg (summer residence)

Friedenstein Castle, Gotha (winter residence)

Friedenstein Castle, Gotha (winter residence)

Reinhardsbrunn Castle, Gotha

Reinhardsbrunn Castle, Gotha

Rosenau Castle, Coburg

Rosenau Castle, Coburg

Counts of

Wettin

Margraves of Landsberg

Margraves of

Meissen

Margraves of

Lusatia

Landgraves of Thuringia

Dukes of Saxony

and Arch-Marshals of the Holy Roman Empire

Electors of Saxony

Margraves of Meissen

Margraves of Meissen

Margraves of Meissen and Landgraves of Thuringia

Elector of Saxony and Arch-Marshal of the Holy Roman Empire

Elector of Saxony and Arch-Marshal of the Holy Roman Empire

King of Saxony (standard arms)

King of Saxony (standard arms)

King of Saxony (other arms)

King of Saxony (other arms)

For an extensive treatment of the coats of arms, see: Coat of arms of Saxony


or in French: Armorial de la maison de Wettin

List of members of the House of Wettin

a list containing many Wettins

Rulers of Saxony

the city from which the Wettin dynasty originated

Wettin, Saxony-Anhalt

Coinage of Saxony

monarchist political party

Free Saxony

regional type of architecture

Saxon Renaissance

House of Wettin – European Heraldry page

Timeline at the website of the State of Saxony

(in German)

Website of Rüdiger, Margrave of Meissen

(in German)

Website of Albert Prinz von Sachsen