House of Wettin

The House of Wettin is a dynasty of German counts, dukes, prince-electors and kings that once ruled territories of present-day German states of Saxony and Thuringia for 953 years. The royal house is one of the oldest of Europe. Its origins can be traced back to the town of Wettin, Saxony-Anhalt. The Wettins gradually rose to power within the Holy Roman Empire. Members of the royal family became the monarchs of several medieval states, starting with Saxon Eastern March in 1030. Other states they gained were Meissen in 1089, Thuringia in 1263 and Saxony in 1423.

The family divided into two ruling branches in 1485 by Treaty of Leipzig: the Ernestine and Albertine branches. The treaty finally ruined a chance for an emergence of a great power in Central Germany, thus helping Brandenburg-Prussia gain influence within the Empire. The older Ernestine branch played a predominant role during the Protestant Reformation. Many ruling monarchs outside Germany were tied to its cadet branch Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The Albertine branch, while less prominent, ruled the most of Saxony and played a part in Polish history.