Ernest II of Saxony

Ernest II of Saxony (26 or 27 June 1464 – 3 August 1513 in Halle) held two episcopal titles: Archbishop of Magdeburg (from 1476 until his death); Administrator of the Diocese of Halberstadt (from 1480 until his death). Background Ernest was the third child of Ernest, Elector of Saxony of Saxony (1441–1486) and his wife Elisabeth of Bavaria. He was a member of the House of Wettin and was the younger brother of Elector Frederick III "the Wise" of Saxony (1486–1525). While his brother was destined to succeed his father, Ernest was m,arked out for a religious career. The appointment of family members as bishop was part of the Wettin's policy of expanding their influence. The family issued written negotiations about his appointment with the cathedral chapter in Magdeburg, even when the incumbent archbishop, John of Palatinate-Simmern, was still alive. Postulation as Archbishop of Magdeburg After the death of the archbishop of Magdeburg in 1475, intensive negotiations began on the postulation of Ernest. The proposal of the Wettin family, however, met with some resistance from the cathedral chapter, as Ernest was only 11 years old at this time. Nevertheless, the Wettin succeeded in January 1476 in obtaining the required two-thirds majority for Ernest's postulation. However, young Ernest satisfied none of the requirements for his appointment (minimum age of 30 years, ordination as priest, and a university education). It was, therefore, necessary to obtain a papal dispensation, which Pope Sixtus IV (1414–1484) provided in 1478, in exchange for a large sum of money. The dispensation confirmed Ernest's election and made him Prince-Archbishop of the Archbishopric of Magdeburg, which consisted of non-contiguous areas surrounding Magdeburg, Halle and Jüterbog. Relationship with Halle Halle was at the time in the grips of social and political conflict between the urban aristocrats and the owners of the salt factory on the one hand, and the guilds and the lower classes on the other hand. Ernest's advisors saw this as an opportunity to strengthen his influence in the city. Encouraged by Ernest's advisors, the guilds revolted against the aristocrats in 1478. They opened the city gate, allowing Ernest's army to occupy the city. Ernest's relatives and advisor's then used this opportunity to subject the city to the archbishop. This was made clear in decrees of 1479 and 1482, in which the rights of the city were curtailed.