Frederick III, Landgrave of Thuringia

Frederick III the Strict (German: Friedrich III. der Strenge; 14 December 1332 – 21 May 1381) was Landgrave of Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen. A member of the House of Wettin, he strengthened the dynastic territories in central Germany during the mid-fourteenth century.^[1]

Born in Dresden, he assumed leadership in 1349 following the death of his father, Frederick II, Margrave of Meissen. He initially governed on behalf of his brothers, William, Balthasar, and Louis (Bishop of Bamberg). In 1350, the emperor confirmed the Margraviate of Meissen as a joint possession of the four brothers. From 1368 onward, they ruled collectively, with the exercise of authority rotating every two years. Their lands were permanently divided in 1379.

After Frederick's death in Altenburg in 1381, Meissen was partitioned among his three sons, while Thuringia passed to his brothers. It later went to his nephew Frederick IV, Landgrave of Thuringia, son of Balthasar, and was eventually inherited by Frederick's grandson, Frederick II, Elector of Saxony.

Frederick married Catherine of Henneberg, heiress of the Henneberg estates of Coburg, Neustadt, Sonneberg, Neuhaus, Rodach and other territories. She was the daughter of Count Heinrich IV of Henneberg and died in Coburg on 15 July 1397. They had four sons:

1. Frederick (died 1350).
2. Frederick I, Elector of Saxony (11 April 1370 – 4 January 1428).
3. William II, Margrave of Meissen (23 April 1371 – 30 March 1425).
4. George, Margrave of Meissen (1380 – 9 December 1401).

• List of margraves of Meissen
• Wettin (dynasty)