Thursday, July 9, 2026

It is the 9th of July 2026. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

 

Some people called him the space cowboy, some called him the gangster of love, some people called him… Maurice-

 

With a shout-out to the Steve Miller Band… let’s talk all about Maurice. The one-time Duke and Elector of Saxony- one of the most curious and controversial figures in the Reformation.

 

Alright- think of a map of Europe- think of Germany, Austria… the Holy Roman Empire as it’s called when we start our story in the 1400s. X The Saxon lands (where Wittenberg is and where the Reformation will take off) are ruled by the House of Wettin. They’ve got good land. It’s rich in silver. But with the death of Frederick the Meek, his two sons decide to formally divide the land and titles. So we’ve got the line of Albert and the line of Ernest.

 

Ernest’s line- they get places like Wittenberg and they hold the title of Elector (they are the few who get to elect the Emperor). Albert’s line got the title of Duke and the lands in Thuringia with a capital at Dresden.

 

When the Reformation kicks off in Wittenberg- with Elector Frederick the Wise protecting Luther- the Albertine line was firmly Catholic. Duke George the Bearded is Frederick the Wise’s Catholic counterpart.

 

Ok- so, Duke George the Bearded dies, and his Brother, Henry the Pious, takes over as elector. And Henry, married to a Protestant sympathizer, joins their cause. So, what about their kids? Well- their oldest son… our Maurice, was 16 and unsure if his future was with the Catholics or the Lutherans.

 

One more wrinkle- Maurice is going to marry Agnes of Hesse. Agnes was the daughter of Phillip of Hesse. Phillip of Hesse was one of the leaders of the Schmalkaldic League- an army developed to push back the Emperor Charles V and his Habsburg forces.

 

Phillip was also famously involved in the case of bigamy that Luther quietly permitted and was criticized for…

 

So- Maurice becomes Duke- his father-in-law is one of the heads of the Pro-Protestant Schmalkaldic League… but he had also worked with the Emperor Charles to fight foreign enemies (like the Turks and the French). In 1545 Charles told Maurice that if he joined him against the Lutherans, he would give him the title of Elector that the other line- the Ernestines- had taken from 1485. Maurice agreed; the Imperial Catholics defeated the Lutherans, and Maurice was persona non grata with the Reformers. The aftermath of these Schmalkaldic Wars was difficult for the Lutherans and caused the “capitulation of Wittenberg”- that is, their prince is no longer an elector- that went, as promised, to the Albertine line and Maurice.

 

This is the time of the various “interims” or agreements to try and figure out how the Reformation would work- this comes to a head with the Peace of Augsburg, which legalizes Lutheranism, but this comes in 1555, and it's a rocky road to get there.

 

But part of the tide turning was a double crossing- or double-double crossing by our boy, the now Elector Maurice. Charles asked Maurice to go to Magdeburg and suppress the Lutherans there- and Maurice agreed, but secretly went about setting up a league of other Protestants- German and otherwise… upset with the Emperor. This new league- lead by Maurice- would push the emperor back, implement the Peace of Torgau which was Protestant friendly- and then the Peace of Augsburg in 1555- the first round of the Reformation came to an end with a Protestant “W”. And in large part due to the man who has been called “cool and calculated” and “an opportunist”- Maurice would continue to lead the new league but wound’t see the Peace of 1555- as it was on this, the 9th of July in 1553 that Maurice, now Elector, was in battle with a former ally in nearby Sievershausen when he received a mortal wound and died. Maurice- Duke and Elector- the complicated character at the heart of so much of the Reformation struggle- was only 32 years old.

 

The Last word for today comes from the daily lectionary and from Psalm 119.

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,
 a light on my path.

106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
 that I will follow your righteous laws.

107 I have suffered much;
 preserve my life, Lord, according to your word.

108 Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,
 and teach me your laws.

109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
 I will not forget your law.

110 The wicked have set a snare for me,
 but I have not strayed from your precepts.

111 Your statutes are my heritage forever;
 they are the joy of my heart.

112 My heart is set on keeping your decrees
 to the very end.

 

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 9th of July 2026 brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man who wonders whatever happened to the name Maurice… Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man who can name Gibb, Sendak, Jones-Drew, and the Rocket Richard… I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.