Maurice, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Introduction '''Maurice of Saxe-Lauenburg''' (1551 – 2 November 1612, Buxtehude) was the fourth son of Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg and Sybille of Saxe-Freiberg (Freiberg, *2 May 1515 – 18 July 1592*, Buxtehude), daughter of Duke Henry IV ''the Pious'' of Saxony. Maurice ruled Saxe-Lauenburg as duke between 1581 and 1612, together with his elder brothers Magnus II (until 1588) and Francis II, who survived him.
Life When in 1571 their father Francis I resigned in favour of his then major sons Magnus II and Francis II, Magnus violently tried to repress his younger brother Francis II, however, failing in the end in 1574.Francis I then reascended the throne. After their father's death in 1581 the then major Maurice and his elder brothers Magnus II and Francis II jointly ruled as dukes in Saxe-Lauenburg. However, in 1588 Francis II and Maurice imprisoned Magnus II in Ratzeburg's castle for his repeated atrocities and continued their joint rule without him.In 1585 (or 1586) Maurice moved to Buxtehude, then a city in the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen ruled by his brother Prince-Archbishop Henry of Saxe-Lauenburg, and resided in Buxtehude in the ''Abtshaus'' (Abbot's house) of the nunnery of  (now a component of Buxtehude). In 1588 his mother played a prominent role in his affair with Gisela von Tschammer, against whom she initiated a trial witchcraft. As duke Maurice remained passive and lived in the abbot's house until his death. The abbot's house now serves as a gallery and café. His mother Sibylle died in Buxtehude in 1592.
Marriage and issue In 1581 Maurice married Katharina von Spörck; however, they divorced the following year. They had no children. With his mistress Gisela of Saxony (married with Adam von Tschammer) Duke Maurice had two illegitimate sons: * Moritz Rautenstein (*? – 1617/39*)* Julius Ernst Rautenstein (*ca. 1590 – ca. 1660*)
Ancestry
References
Succession box