Johann Wilhelm (11 March 1530 – 2 March 1573) was a duke of Saxe-Weimar who became heavily involved in Imperial politics after his brother Johann Friedrich II was imprisoned. Although expected to defend Protestant interests, he alienated both the Emperor and his subjects by serving as a general for the Catholic king Charles IX of France in campaigns against the Huguenots. His political missteps led to Imperial distrust and resulted in the Division of Erfurt (1572), which split the duchy into three parts between him and his brother's two sons. Johann Wilhelm retained Weimar and gained Altenburg, Gotha, and Meiningen, but lost other territories.
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Life
He was the second son of Johann Frederick I, Elector of Saxony, and Sibylle of Cleves.
At the time of his birth, his father still carried the title Elector of Saxony, but he lost it in 1547 after his defeat and capture by the Emperor Charles V due to his support of the Protestant Reformation. John Frederick was released and forced to adopt the lesser title of duke of Saxony in an area substantially smaller than his former lands in Thuringia. In 1554, after the death of his father, Johann Wilhelm inherited the duchy of Saxony with his older brother, Johann Friedrich II, and his younger brother, Johann Friedrich III.
The three brothers divided the duchy: Johann Friedrich II as head of the family took Eisenach and Coburg; Johann Wilhelm received Weimar; and Johann Friedrich III inherited Gotha. In 1565, however, when Johann Frederick III died without heirs, the two surviving brothers drew up a new treaty that divided his lands. The older brother retained his original lands and occupied Gotha, whereas Johann William retained his lands in Weimar. The partition plan also stipulated that the two brothers should exchange their regions among themselves every three years. This provision was never carried out, however.