John Frederick, Elector of Saxony, had been a crucial patron of the Lutheran Reformation, and it was in his capital city that Luther had nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the castle church as the initiating act of his protest. However, in the course of the Schmalkaldic War, John Frederick's relative Maurice of Saxony, signed an agreement with Charles V in which the Emperor promised to grant him the electorate. John Frederick was captured after the Battle of Muhlberg, and to save himself from execution, he agreed to sign the Capitulation of Wittenberg, whereby he gave up the Saxon electorate to Duke Maurice.
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Citation: Editors, Litencyc. "Saxon electorate is given to Duke Maurice". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 November 2010 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=14763, accessed 28 March 2024.]