Friedrich August IV, King of Saxony
From Kaiserreich
Friedrich August IV von Wettin (born Friedrich August Georg on January, 15 1893 in Dresden, Germany)is the eighth and current King of Saxony since February, 18 1932, succeeding to his father Friedrich August III. The head of one of the constituent kingdoms of the German Empire, he's also Generalfeldmarschall of the German Army, and known as a devout Christian.
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Biography
Early life
First son of King Friedrich August III of Saxony - then Crown Prince - and Queen Louise of Saxony, born Archduchess of Austria-Tuscany. After his divorce from his wife in 1902, the King took personal responsability for his children's education, with a particular emphasis on the teaching of the Christian faith and a Catholic-based lifestyle, the young Prince later receiving education from private teachers, most of them being Protestant. After his Abitur, in 1912, the Crown Prince joined the Royal Saxon Army, serving in the beginning of the Weltkrieg as a staff officer of the 17th Infantry Division. On November, 30 1917, he took command on the 5th Royal Saxon Infantry Regiment, serving in both Western as Eastern Front. Ending the war as general, despite the fact he only commanded a regiment (but this promotion was made in order to make him succeed to his father as Field Marshal of the German Army), the Crown Prince expressed during some times the will of becoming a Jesuit priest, even ready to renounce to his rights on the Saxon throne. Personal interventions from the Kaiser Wilhelm II himself, of his father Friedrich August III and of his brother Friedrich Christian were necesary to make him renounce to such a wish.
Rule
Crown Prince Georg succeeded at his father's death on February, 18 1932, taking the regnal name of Friedrich August IV. He also took the honorary distinction of Generalfeldmarschall of the German Army to follow his illustrious father. His first decisions as sovereign of the Kingdom of Saxony were to improve links between Saxony and the Italian Federation and to forbid National-Populist parties in Saxony, considering their valors as deeply anti-Christian and anti-Democratic. In Germany nowadays, the King of Saxony is known as one of the main supporters of the Roman Catholic cause and a strong anti-Pangermanist, attracting the hate of many nationalists.
Heir apparent
Maybe in order to respect his previous wills of becoming a Catholic priest, or to show his own disapproval towards the pressure he had to suffer in other times, the King always refused to marry. Except if he decides to change his behaviour, which seems very unlikely, the Crown will go to his young brother, Friedrich Christian, Margrave of Meissen, born on December, 31 1893, or his children. Prince Friedrich Christian already have almost five children (his wife being pregnant), two of which being boys.
