SaxeAltenburg

Saxe-Altenburg was a duchy in the northern part of modern-day Thuringia, Germany. It was one of the Ernestine duchies, meaning it was a successor state to the Electorate of Saxony, which was ruled by the Albertine line of the House of Wettin. The territory of Saxe-Altenburg was somewhat fragmented, with its land divided into two principal parts.

The history of Saxe-Altenburg is tied to the complex inheritance and division of Wettin territories. It was established as a separate duchy multiple times, most notably in 1603, 1672, and finally in 1826, when it was reconstituted from parts of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Saxe-Hildburghausen. The capital of the duchy was the town of Altenburg, known for its castle and historical significance.

The rulers of Saxe-Altenburg were members of the Ernestine line of the House of Wettin. The duchy had a relatively small population and limited economic resources compared to larger German states. It participated in the German Confederation and later the North German Confederation. In 1918, following the end of World War I and the German Revolution, the duchy was abolished and became part of the newly formed Free State of Thuringia. Today, the territory of the former duchy is an integral part of the modern German state of Thuringia, and the name "Altenburger Land" is still used to refer to the region.