Saxony

Saxony (Latin, Saxonia; German, Sachsen). The kingdom of Saxony has an area of 5,789 square miles forming an irregular triangle with its base along the Erzgebirge range, which separates it from Bohemia, and its apex at Leipzig. Except in the south, where there are elevations of 4,000 feet, the surface is hilly, merging towards the north into the great central plateau of Europe. The soil is exceedingly fertile, yielding heavy crops of rye, oats, and other cereals, beetroot, potatoes, flax, and fruit. A small quantity of wine is produced. Coal is found in some abundance near Dresden and at Zwickau. Silver, silver-lead, tin, iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, and bismuth are profitably worked, and there is a good supply of building-stone, porcelain-clay, and brick-earth. Textile industries of cotton, wool, and flax flourish. Dresden and Meissen are the seats of large china and pottery works. The iron-smelting and machine-making at Freiberg and Chemnitz employ many hands, and Leipzig is the centre of the printing trade of Germany. Lace-making and straw-plaiting are carried on in the rural districts. The Elbe is the chief river and, with its affluents, drains the whole country, except the small portion which sends its waters through the Neisse into the Oder. Dresden is the capital. Saxony is represented in the Bundsrath by four members, and in the Reichstag by twenty-three. It was not till 1423 that Frederick, Margrave of Meissen and Landgrave of Thuringia, was recognised as Elector of Saxony, whose grandsons Ernest and Albert divided their territories, the former taking Thuringia as well as Wittenberg, whilst Meissen and East Saxony fell to Albert. The Albertine line ultimately secured most of the land and the Electoral dignity on the defeat of John Frederick, the last Ernestine Elector, at Muhlberg by Charles V. (1547). At the Peace of Westphalia (1648) the elector, John George, deserted his principles, and the prestige of the duchy declined, whilst portions. were alienated in favour of younger sons. Frederick Augustus 1. and his son added the kingdom of Poland to their ducal titles, but their reigns were disastrous to their subjects. Under Fredenck Augustus (1763-1827) the duchy became a kingdom, but in 1815 more than half the territory was handed over to Prussia. A long struggle for constitutional, liberty now ensued, marked by concessions in 1831 and reactionary measures after 1848. In 1866 Saxony aided Austria against Prussia, and was compelled to pay an indemnity, join the Northern Confederation, and abandon its independent political relations with other Powers. In 1870 Saxony fought on the side of Prussia against France under the leadersh1p of the present king, and is now regarded as a loyal member of the Empire. The name is applied also to the Saxon Province of Prussia (q.v.).