Home > Frederick III, Elector of Saxony

Frederick was the son of Ernest, Elector of Saxony and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Albert, Duke of Bavaria. He succeeded his father as Elector in 1486; in 1502, he founded the University of Wittenberg, where Martin Luther and Melanchthon taught.

Frederick was Pope Leo X's candidate for Holy Roman Emperor in 1519, but helped secure the election of Charles V. Frederick secured an exemption from the Edict of WormsThe Edict of Worms was issued by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor on May 25, 1521 at Worms, at the end of the Diet of Worms. It contained a condemnation of Martin Luther and declared him to be an outlaw and a heretic for his opposition to the doctrines of th for Saxony, and ensured Luther would be heard before the Diet of WormsThe Diet of Worms (in German: Reichstag zu Worms was, like any Reichstag in the Holy Roman Empire, an official governmental and religious council session. Headed by Emperor Charles V, it took place in Worms, Germany, a small town on the Rhine river, from in 1521Events January 3 Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther. January 28 Diet of Worms begins, lasting until May 25. March 6 Ferdinand Magellan discovers Guam. March 16 Ferdinand Magellan reaches the Philippines. April 7 Ferdinand Magellan arrives at Cebu..

He protected Luther from the Emperor and PopeThis article is about the Catholic pope. See Pope (disambiguation) for other meanings of the word pope. The Pope is the Catholic bishop and patriarch of Rome, and ex officio supreme spiritual leader of what might be called the Catholic Communion (that is, by taking him into custody at Wartburg CastleWartburg Castle is situated on a 1230-foot (410 m) precipitous hill to the southwest of and overlooking the town of Eisenach in Thuringia. The castle was founded in 1067 by the landgrave Ludwig the Springer. In 1999, Wartburg Castle was selected to the Wo after the Diet of Worms. Frederick himself had little personal contact with Luther and remained a Roman CatholicThe Roman Catholic Church (often called simply the Catholic Church, but see Catholicism for other meanings of the term "Catholic Church") is a worldwide body of Christians in full communion with the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, and subscribing to the beliefs.