Background
Born in Dresden, he was the youngest surviving son of John George I, Elector of Saxony, and his second wife Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia.
dramatist Elector of Saxony Duke of Saxe
Born in Dresden, he was the youngest surviving son of John George I, Elector of Saxony, and his second wife Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia.
Together with his brothers, Maurice was educated at the court of the Elector of Saxony in Dresden. As Hofprediger he chose the dramatist Johann Sebastian Mitternacht.
Among his teachers, Field Marshal Kurt of Einsiedel took an outstanding role. He selected as his chancellor and president to his consistory the noted state scientist and theologian Veit Ludwig von Seckendorff. The Elector Johann Georg I, in his will 20 July 1652, ordered a division of the Albertine territories that was carried out on 22 April 1657 in Dresden.
Maurice inherited the town of Zeitz and became its first duke.
In order to have an appropriate official residence, Maurice decided to renove the old bishop"s castle and build a splendid new residence in baroque style that was called Schloss Moritzburg. The construction began in 1657 and was finished in 1678.
The duke died there.
Fruitbearing Society]
In 1645, shortly after his return home, Maurice was selected by Prince Ludwig I of Anhalt-Köthen to be a member of the Fruitbearing Society.