Johann Georg I, Elector of Saxony

Johann Georg was born in Dresden in 1585, and developed a passion for hunting and drinking at an early age. He became Elector of Saxony in 1611 but had no interest in closer ties with the Protestant Union. Although a devout Lutheran, he had more time for the Protestant leaders than he had for the Catholic ones. In fact, Johann Georg had a reputation for being most disagreeable.

What he wanted was to remain neutral and left out of any upcoming trouble. He turned down the throne of Bohemia as he knew such a move would start unrest, and backed the Holy Roman Emperor against the Bohemian Revolt. Even rumours of Protestant purges in the German States failed to move him to action.

It was the action of Tilly’s Catholic League that finally forced his hand. Tilly marched into Saxony to prevent an alliance between Johann Georg and Gustav II of Sweden. The ransacking of Saxon towns by Catholic League soldiers actively drove Saxony into their Swedish alliance which defeated Tilly at Breitenfeld (although Johann Georg actually fled the field at one point). Johann then led the Saxon army to capture Prague, but the death of Gustav II at Lutzen gave him the excuse he needed to back out of the alliance and sue for peace with the Emperor.

A peace treaty was signed in 1635, when he promptly declared war on the Swedes, wanting them off his territory. He was to face them at Battle of Wittstock in 1636 but lost decisively. This action, coupled with Sweden’s withdrawal from the German States after Gustav’s death effectively ceased Saxony’s (and Johann’s) participation in the war. Johann Georg was to survive the Thirty Years War, spending the rest of his life rebuilding his broken country.

Command Rating: 8

Reluctant Ally: Johann Georg was not at all happy about being dragged into the war. Johann Georg’s Command Rating will be reduced by one every time he ‘Blunders’.

Lifeguard: One unit of cuirassiers can be upgraded to ‘Lifeguard’ gaining the Lance and Elite 4+ special rules @ +10 points.

Models supplied unassembled and unpainted