Section 1246

general and champion of the Protestant cause, was the eldest son of duke Henry of the Albertuie line and nephew of duke George the Bearded, the most bitter opponent of the Reformation. Maurice was born at Freiburg March 21, 1521 ; he espoused in 15-il Agnes, daughter of the landgrave Philip of Hesse ; and later in the same year succeeded his father in the duchy of Sax- ony and its dependencies. He was hardly well estab- lished in his dominions when a dispute arose between him and his cousin, the elector of Saxony, John Fred- erick, regarding their respective rights over the bish- opric of Meissen, which was the common property of the Ernestine and Albertine lines ; but by the influence of Luther and of the landgrave Philip a temporary recon- ciliation was effected. In the war with the Turks he distinguished himself as a soldier, and became the fa- vorite of Charles V. Whether, however, Maurice was at this time the sincere friend of the emperor is a question that has never yet been determined. This much is certain that Maurice was selfish by nature, and sought rather the furtherance of his own inter- ests than the welfare of his associates and those who befriended him. A professed Protestant, he took part in the deliberations at Smalcald (q. v. ; see also Holy League), but refused to become a member of the league for fear of displeasing the emperor, with whom he co- quetted at that time to secure the protectorate of the bishoprics of Magdeburg and Halberstadt. No sooner had the emperor bestowed upon him this much-coveted favor, and honored him with the title of elector (Jmie 19, 154G), than Maurice deserted the Protestant camp, and played the part of a most devoted adherent of the emperor's cause. In consequence of this unexpected hostility to the Protestants the imperial army gained a decisive victory at IMiihlberg in April, 15-i7, wellnigh proving the death-stroke of the Protestant cause. By this defeat of the Protestants, and the imprisonment of his rival, John Frederick, Maurice, according to a pre- vious understanding with the emperor, became himself the ruler of all Saxony. Thus gratified in all the am- bitious desires in which he could expect aid from Charles V, Maurice became quite uneasy in his present relation, and hesitated not to embrace the very first opportunity to seek anew the favor of the leaders he had so basely deserted. It is true as late as lo-t? Maurice was still found on the side of the imperialists, for he this year supported the Interim (q. v.) of Augsburg; but gradually he less- ened the hold of the Romanists upon him, and by 1551 we find him a party to a secret treaty of the Protestants with Henry II of France, at the very time that he was professing to besiege the rebellious city of Magdeburg. As treacherously and unhesitatingly as he had aban- doned the cause of the Reformers he now forsook the imperial side. Poor Charles was at Innsbruck, employ- ing himself in building up vast schemes of ambition, little dreaming of the mine which the man whom he most of all confided in was preparing to spring under his feet. When suddenly the word came to him that he must release prince Philip of Hesse, whom he had im- prisoned for his opposition to the imperial cause, even before he had time to decide the case, news came to him that Maurice of Saxony was marching against him. Without money, without troops, without allies, Charles was compelled to yield to the demands of the man whom he had himself matle powerfid. On April 18, by the mediation of Ferdinand, king of the Romans, a treaty was concluded at Linz granting the demands of the Protestants ; but as it was not to take effect till Maj' 20, Maurice employed himself in attacking (i\Iay 18) the camp of Reitti, in which soldiers were assem- bling for the emperor, defeated and wholly dispersed the imperialists, and advanced on Innsbruck with the view of taking Charles captive. Had it not been that a mutiny stopped his progress, the emperor ;vould have been rudely handled, as Maurice knew his antagonist, and feared the consequences of his treacliery. But Maurice also was feared. His advance on Innsbruck so