Vue Perspective de la Ville de Dresde Capitale du Cercle de la haute Saxe.

Title

Vue Perspective de la Ville de Dresde Capitale du Cercle de la haute Saxe.

Description

Peep-box view of the city of Dresden on the Elbe. View from the new town with Augustus Bridge in the foreground as well as the castle, Hofkirche and Frauenkirche.

ca. 1730

Artist

Huquier

Historical Description

Saxony-Wittenberg, in modern Saxony-Anhalt, became subject to the margravate of Meissen, ruled by the Wettin dynasty in 1423. This established a new and powerful state, occupying large portions of the present Free State of Saxony, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt and Bavaria (Coburg and its environs). Although the centre of this state was far to the southeast of the former Saxony, it came to be referred to as Upper Saxony and then simply Saxony, while the former Saxon territories were now known as Lower Saxony. In 1485, Saxony was split. A collateral line of the Wettin princes received what later became Thuringia and founded several small states there (see Ernestine duchies). The remaining Saxon state became still more powerful and was known in the 18th century for its cultural achievements, although it was politically weaker than Prussia and Austria, states which oppressed Saxony from the north and south, respectively.