Duke of Saxony; born Dresden, Germany, 1411; died there, 1539. He was trained for the Church, but after the death of his elder brother he succeeded to the title, 1500. Recognizing the abuses in the Church he labored to correct them, and at the Reformation held firmly to the faith, for which he was reviled by Luther. In 1525 he helped to suppress the peasant's revolt, and formed the League of Dessau to protect Catholic interests.