George, Duke of Saxony

George the Bearded was Duke of Saxony from 1500 to 1539 known for his opposition to the Reformation. While the Ernestine line embraced Lutheranism, the Albertines were reluctant to do so. Despite George's efforts to avoid a succession by a Lutheran upon his death in 1539, he could not prevent it from happening. Under the Act of Settlement of 1499, Lutheran Henry IV became the new duke. Upon his accession, Henry introduced Lutheranism as a state religion in the Albertine lands of Saxony.

27 August 1471

Born on the same birth day (27 August): Adam Oates • Ann Murray • Charles Fleischer • Danny Coyne • Denis G. Lillie • Edward Patten • James Henry Breasted • Jelle Zijlstra • John Hay Whitney • John Hervey, 1st Earl of Bristol • Juan Fernando Cobo • Koxinga • Mark Curry (British TV presenter) • Nikica Jelavić • Nikola Pilić • Norman Ramsey Jr. • Saiichi Maruya • Tom Berryhill • William Least Heat-Moon