Saxony 28395 221485247 2008-06-24T18:33:41Z TXiKiBoT 3171782 robot Modifying: [[ga:An tSacsain]] {{FixHTML|beg}} {{Infobox German Bundesland |Name = Free State of Saxony |German_name = Freistaat Sachsen'' <small>([[German language|de]])</small><br>''Swobodny stat Sakska'' <small>([[Sorbian languages|wen]])</small>''&nbsp; |state_coa = Coat of arms of Saxony.svg |map = Deutschland Lage von Sachsen.svg |flag = Flag of Saxony.svg |flag2 = Flag of Saxony (state).svg |capital = Dresden |largest_city = Leipzig |area = 18415.66 |area_source = |population = 4226000 |pop_ref = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistik-portal.de/Statistik-Portal/de_zs01_sax.asp |title= State population |work= Portal of the Federal Statistics Office Germany |accessdate=2007-04-25}}</ref> |pop_date = 2007-09-30 |GDP = 86 |GDP_year = 2005 |GDP_percent = 3.8 |Website = [http://www.sachsen.de/ sachsen.de] |leader_title = |leader = Stanislaw Tillich |leader_party = CDU |ruling_party1 = CDU |ruling_party2 = SPD |votes = 4 |NUTS = DED }} {{FixHTML|end}} {{otheruses4|the modern federal state of '''Saxony''' in eastern present-day [[Germany]]|the many other former historical states and places with the same name|Saxony (disambiguation)}} The '''Free State of Saxony''' ({{lang-de|Freistaat Sachsen}} {{IPA|[ˈfʁaɪʃtaːt ˈzaksən]}}; {{lang-hsb|Swobodny Stat Sakska}}) is the easternmost [[States of Germany|federal state]] of [[Germany]]. Located in the country's southeast, it is the tenth-largest in area and sixth-largest in population among Germany's sixteen states, and has a land area of 18,413 km² and a population of 4.3 million. Saxony has a long history as a [[duchy]], an [[Prince elector|electorate]] of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] (the [[Electorate of Saxony]]), and eventually as a [[monarchy|kingdom]] (the [[Kingdom of Saxony]]). Its monarchy was overthrown in 1918 and a republican form of government was established under its current name subsequent to Germany's defeat in [[World War I]]. Abolished during communist rule, it was re-established at [[3 October]] [[1990]] during the re-unification of [[German Democratic Republic|East]] and [[West Germany]]. During the early [[Middle Ages]] the term ''Saxony'' referred to the region occupied by today's states of [[Lower Saxony]] and northern [[North Rhine-Westphalia]]. The [[Saxons]] had migrated there from the area of present-day [[Schleswig-Holstein]] between 250 and 500; ''see [[#History|History]] below''. The term ''Saxon'' does not always correlate with Saxony; a Saxon is not necessarily an inhabitant of Saxony (e.g. [[Saxon people]], [[Anglo-Saxons]] or [[Transylvanian Saxons]]); ''see [[Saxon (disambiguation)]]''. == Geography == [[Image:UA--KDG--EU-BRD-Sn--Dresden(Klotzsche)--2006AD--en01.gif|thumb|300px|The climate of [[Dresden]], the capital of Saxony and situated on the [[Elbe]] in eastern middle Germany, as measured and recorded in Klotzsche (altitude 227&nbsp;m).]] ===Administration=== Saxony is divided into 3 [[Regierungsbezirk]]e — [[Chemnitz (region)|Chemnitz]], [[Dresden (region)|Dresden]], [[Leipzig (region)|Leipzig]] — which are subdivided into 22 districts: [[Image:Landkreise_Sachsen.png]] <table> <tr><td width="34%" valign="top"> # [[Annaberg]] (ANA) # [[Aue-Schwarzenberg]] (ASZ) # [[Bautzen (district)|Bautzen]] (BZ) # [[Chemnitzer Land]] (GC) # [[Delitzsch (district)|Delitzsch]] (DZ) # [[Döbeln (district)|Döbeln]] (DL) # [[Freiberg (district)|Freiberg]] (FG) # [[Kamenz (district)|Kamenz]] (KM) </td><td width="33%" valign="top"> <ol start=9> <li> [[Leipziger Land]] (L) <li> [[Löbau-Zittau]] (ZI) <li> [[Meißen (district)|Meißen]] (MEI) <li> [[Mittlerer Erzgebirgskreis]] (MEK) <li> [[Mittweida (district)|Mittweida]] (MW) <li> [[Muldentalkreis]] (MTL) <li> [[Niederschlesischer Oberlausitzkreis]] (NOL) </ol> </td><td width="33%" valign="top"> <ol start=16> <li> [[Riesa-Großenhain]] (RG) <li> [[Sächsische Schweiz]] (PIR) <li> [[Stollberg (district)|Stollberg]] (STL) <li> [[Torgau-Oschatz]] (TO) <li> [[Vogtlandkreis]] (V) <li> [[Weißeritzkreis]] (DW) <li> [[Zwickauer Land]] (Z) </ol></td></tr> </table> Furthermore there are seven [[Urban districts of Germany|independent cities]] ({{lang-de|Kreisfreie Städte / Stadtkreise}}), which don't belong to any district: # [[Chemnitz]] (C) # [[Dresden]] (DD) # [[Görlitz]] (GR) # [[Hoyerswerda]] (HY) # [[Leipzig]] (L) # [[Plauen]] (PL) # [[Zwickau]] (Z) == Economy == Saxony has the most vibrant economy among the former [[GDR]] states. Its economy grew by 4.0% in 2006, making it the fastest growing region in Germany, which is among other things due to the establishment of a chip producing economy near Dresden. As a result of this the region was given the nickname "Silicon Saxony". Nonetheless, unemployment remains high and investment is scarce. Because of these factors, Saxony, along with the rest of the east (excluding [[Berlin]]) qualifies as an "Objective 1" development region within the [[European Union]], and thus can receive investment subsidies of up to 30% until 2013. In the interests of encouraging growth, the state government has attempted to develop tourism in the region, notably in the lake district of Lausitz<ref>''[[The Economist]]'', [[August 27]], [[2005]]</ref>. The publishing industry and porcelain factories are well known but in total not so important contributors to Saxony's economy. ==History == {{main|History of Saxony}} Prehistoric Saxony was the site of some of the largest of the ancient Central European [[monumental temples in prehistoric Central Europe|monumental temples]], dating from the 5th millennium BC. Notable archaeological sites have been discovered in [[Dresden]] and the villages of [[Eythra]] and [[Zwenkau]] near [[Leipzig]]. ''For the origins of the Saxon tribes see [[Saxons]]''. === Foundation of the first Saxon state === [[Image:Heinrich der Löwe und Mathilde von England.jpg|thumb|230px|[[Henry the Lion]] (with his wife [[Matilda of England]]) is crowned as [[Duke of Saxony]]]] The first mediæval '''Duchy of Saxony''' was a late [[Early Middle Ages]] "Carolingian [[stem duchy]]" and emerged about AD 700 covering the greater part of Northern [[Germany]]. It covered the area of the modern German states of [[Lower Saxony]], [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], [[Schleswig-Holstein]], [[Saxony-Anhalt]]. In the 10th century the dukes of Saxony were at the same time kings (or emperors) of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] ([[Ottonian]] or Saxon Dynasty). At that time, a [[Saxons|Saxon]] noble family of [[Billung]]s received extensive fiefs in Saxony, and the Emperor eventually gave them the title of [[Duke of Saxony]]. After the extinction of the male line of Billungs, the duchy was given to [[Lothar of Supplinburg]], who then also became Emperor for a short time. In 1137 Saxony was passed to the [[Welfen]] dynasty, who were descendants (1) of Wulfhild Billung, eldest daughter of the last Billung duke, and (2) of the daughter of Lothar of Supplinburg. It reached its peak under Duke [[Henry the Lion]], and after his death it began to decline (Henry had declined to participate in the later Italian wars of his liege lord, Emperor [[Frederick Barbarossa]], and those expeditions to Italy ended in disasters. The furious emperor retaliated and sent his troops to end Duke Henry's dominion). In 1180 large portions west of the Weser were ceded to the [[Electorate of Cologne|Bishops of Cologne]], while some central parts between the Weser and the Elbe remained to the Welfs, later forming the Duchy of [[Brunswick-Lüneburg]]). The remaining Eastern lands, together with the title of Duke of Saxony, were passed to an [[Ascanian]] dynasty (who descended from Eilika Billung, Wulfhild's younger sister) and divided in 1260 into the two small states of [[Saxe-Lauenburg]] and [[Saxe-Wittenberg]]. Saxony-Lauenburg was later renamed [[Lauenburg (district)|Lauenburg]] and was no longer part of Saxony or its history. Saxe-Wittenberg was confirmed to have inherited the "main" ducal title of the Saxons and as such was recognized as an [[Prince-Elector|Elector of the Empire]] in 14th century. === Foundation of the second Saxon state === [[Image:Dresden Fuerstenzug 2.jpg|thumb|230px|Between the years 1697 and 1763, the [[Elector of Saxony|Electors of Saxony]] also were elected [[King of Poland|Kings of Poland]] in [[personal union]]]] [[Image:Moritzburg1.jpg|thumb|230px|Saxony is home to numerous castles, like the [[Schloss Moritzburg]] north of [[Dresden]]]] Saxony-Wittenberg, in present [[Saxony-Anhalt]], became subject to the [[margravate]] of [[Meißen]] and ruled by the [[Wettin (dynasty)|Wettin]] dynasty in 1423. A new powerful state was established, occupying large portions of present Saxony, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. Although the center of this state was far 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 as 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 even more powerful, becoming known in the 18th century for its cultural achievements, although it was politically inferior to [[Prussia]] and [[Austria]], which pressed Saxony from either side. === Saxony in the 19th and 20th centuries === {{main|Kingdom of Saxony}} Following the abolition of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] in [[1806]], the [[Electorate of Saxony]] became a kingdom by decree of the [[France|French]] Emperor [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]], and [[Prince-elector|Elector]] Frederick Augustus III became King [[Frederick Augustus I of Saxony|Frederick Augustus I]]. Frederick Augustus made the mistake of remaining loyal for too long to Napoleon, and he was taken prisoner and his territories declared forfeit by the allies in 1813, with the intention of their being annexed by [[Prussia]]. Ultimately, the opposition of [[Austria]], [[France]], and the [[United Kingdom]] resulted in Frederick Augustus being restored to his throne at the [[Congress of Vienna]], but Saxony was forced to cede the northern part of the kingdom to Prussia. These lands became the Prussian [[province of Saxony]], which is today incorporated in Saxony-Anhalt. What was left of the [[Kingdom of Saxony]] was roughly identical with the present federal state. During the [[The Revolutions of 1848 in the German states|1848–49 constitutionalist revolutions in Germany]], Saxony became a hotbed for revolutionaries, with anarchists such as [[Mikhail Bakunin]] and democrats including [[Richard Wagner]] and [[Gottfried Semper]] taking part in the [[May Uprising in Dresden]] in 1849. After the [[Austro-Prussian war]] Saxony joined the [[North German Federation]] in 1867. In 1871 it became part of the [[German Empire]]. After 1918 Saxony was a state in the [[Weimar Republic]] and was the scene of [[Gustav Stresemann]]'s overthrow of the KPD/SPD led government in 1923. The state was abandoned in all but name during the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi era]], then reconstituted under [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] occupation. It was officially dissolved in [[1952]], and divided into three smaller ''Bezirke'' based on [[Leipzig]], [[Dresden]] and [[Chemnitz|Karl-Marx-Stadt]], but reestablished within slightly altered borders in [[1990]] upon [[German reunification]]. Saxony also includes a small part of previous [[Silesia]] west of the town of [[Görlitz]] which remained German after the war and which for obvious reasons of unviability as a separate state was incorporated into Saxony. This part has been part of Silesia only after 1815 and belonged as part of Upper Lusatia to [[Bohemia]] before 1623 and thereafter to Saxony between 1623 and 1815. The current territory of Saxony includes the part of the former [[Free State of Prussia|Prussian]] [[province of Lower Silesia]] that were located at the west of the [[Potsdam Agreement|1945]] [[Oder-Neisse line]] but excludes all territory part of Saxony east of the same line , incorporated like most of the former Silesia into Poland. == Culture == ===Languages=== [[Image:Bautzen Ortschild.jpg|thumb|Boundary sign of [[Bautzen]] / Budyšin in [[German language|German]] and [[Upper Sorbian language|Upper Sorbian]]; many place names in Saxony are derived from Sorbian]] The most important patoises that are spoken in Saxony are combined in the group of "[[Thuringian]] and Upper Saxon dialects". Due to the incorrect name of "Saxon dialects" in colloquial language the Upper Saxon attribute has been added to distinguish from [[Old Saxon]] and [[Low Saxon]]. Other German dialects spoken in Saxony are the dialects in the [[Ore Mountains (Germany)|Ore Mountains]] which has been affected by Upper Saxon dialects and the dialects of the Vogtland which is more affected by the east [[Frankish language]]s. [[Upper Sorbian language|Upper Sorbian]] (a [[Slavic languages|Slavic language]]) is still actively spoken in the parts of [[Upper Lusatia]] that are occupied by the [[Sorbian]] minority. The Germans in Upper Lusatia speak also distinct dialects of their own (Lusatian dialects). ==Tourism== Apart from [[Dresden]] and perhaps [[Leipzig]] international tourism is not well developed in Saxony, but some regions and cities are national, and potentially international touristic targets. Some attractive regions are the ones shared with [[Czech Republic]], including the [[Lusatian Mountains]], [[Ore Mountains (Germany)|Ore Mountains]], [[Saxon Switzerland]], and [[Vogtland]]. In Germany Saxony offers an above-average number of very well preserved historic little towns, for example [[Meißen]], [[Freiberg, Saxony|Freiberg]], [[Pirna]], [[Bautzen]], [[Görlitz]] and others; thus tourism from within Germany is important for Saxony. == Politics == A [[Minister-President]] heads the government of Saxony; ''see [[List of Ministers-President of Saxony]] for a full list''. === [[September 19]], [[2004]] state election === {{seealso|Saxony state election, 2004}} [[Georg Milbradt]] (CDU), losing his absolute majority, had to form a [[grand coalition]] with the SPD to remain in office as Minister-President. {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="2" scope="col" | Party ! colspan="2" scope="col" | Party List votes ! colspan="2" scope="col" | Total seats |- | style="background: #ff9a00; width: 1em;" | &nbsp; ! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU) | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 855,203 | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 41.1% | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 55 | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 44.4% |- | style="background: #df0404; width: 1em;" | &nbsp; ! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[The Left (Germany)|Party of Democratic Socialism]] (PDS) | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 490,488 | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 23.6% | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 31 | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 25.0% |- | style="background: #d70029; width: 1em;" | &nbsp; ! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] (SPD) | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 204,438 | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 9.8% | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 13 | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 10.5% |- | style="background: #000; width: 1em;" | &nbsp; ! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[National Democratic Party of Germany|National Democratic Party]] (NPD) | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 190,909 | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 9.2% | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 12 | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 9.7% |- | style="background: #ffed00; width: 1em;" | &nbsp; ! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP) | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 122,605 | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 5.9% | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 7 | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 5.6% |- | style="background: #77b139; width: 1em;" | &nbsp; ! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[Alliance '90/The Greens]] | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 106,771 | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 5.1% | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 6 | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 4.8% |- | style="background: #393; width: 1em;" | &nbsp; ! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | ''[[Mensch Umwelt Tierschutz]]''<br>(Humans, the Environment, Animal Protection) | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 34,068 | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 1.6% | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 0 | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 0.0% |- ! colspan="2" scope="row" style="text-align: left; padding-left: 1.5em;" | All others | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 75,653 | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 3.7% | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 0 | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em;" | 0.0% |- |- style="background: #efefef;" ! colspan="2" scope="row" style="text-align: left; padding-left: 1.5em;" | Totals | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em; font-weight: bold;" | 2,080,135 | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em; font-weight: bold;" | 100.0% | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em; font-weight: bold;" | 124 | style="text-align: right; padding-right: 0.5em; font-weight: bold;" | 100.0% |} Notably, the far-right NPD received two more votes in the ballot for Minister-President than it had members. It is presumed that two CDU Landtag members must have backed the NPD leadership. By November 2006, the NPD only holds 8 seats after 4 MPs have left the party or were expelled. {{-}} ==See also== *[[Sächsische Weinstraße]] ==References== {{reflist}} * "Still Troubled", ''[[The Economist]]'', [[August 27]] – [[September 2]], [[2005]]. ==External links== * [http://www.sachsen.de/ Official governmental portal] * [http://www.weihnachtsfreu.de Christmas time in Saxony] * [http://www.die-sachsen-kommen.de/en/indexen.htm some facts about Saxony] * [http://www.anton-launer.de some stories about Dresden Neustadt - The Capital of Saxony] {{States of the Weimar Republic}} {{Germany states}} [[Category:Saxony| ]] [[Category:States of Germany]] [[Category:States of the Weimar Republic]] [[Category:NUTS 1 statistical regions of the European Union]] [[af:Sakse]] [[als:Freistaat Sachsen]] [[ar:ساكسونيا]] [[an:Sacsonia]] [[ast:Saxonia]] [[zh-min-nan:Sachsen]] [[bs:Saksonija]] [[bg:Саксония]] [[ca:Saxònia]] [[cs:Sasko]] [[da:Sachsen]] [[de:Sachsen]] [[dsb:Sakska]] [[et:Saksimaa]] [[el:Σαξωνία]] [[es:Sajonia]] [[eo:Saksio]] [[eu:Saxonia]] [[fa:زاکسن]] [[fr:Saxe (Land)]] [[fy:Saksen (dielsteat)]] [[ga:An tSacsain]] [[gl:Saxonia - Sachsen]] [[ko:작센 주]] [[hy:Սաքսոնիա]] [[hsb:Sakska]] [[hr:Saska]] [[io:Saxonia]] [[id:Sachsen]] [[ie:Saxonia]] [[it:Sassonia]] [[he:סקסוניה]] [[jv:Sachsen]] [[ka:საქსონია]] [[ku:Sachsen]] [[la:Saxonia]] [[lv:Saksija]] [[lt:Saksonija]] [[hu:Szászország]] [[mk:Саксонија]] [[nl:Saksen (deelstaat)]] [[nds-nl:Saksen (dailstoat)]] [[ja:ザクセン州]] [[nap:Sassonia]] [[no:Sachsen]] [[nn:Sachsen]] [[oc:Saxònia (land)]] [[pms:Sassònia]] [[nds:Sassen (Bundsland)]] [[pl:Saksonia]] [[pt:Saxônia]] [[ro:Saxonia]] [[rm:Saxonia]] [[qu:Sachsen]] [[ru:Саксония (федеральная земля)]] [[sq:Sachsen]] [[simple:Saxony]] [[sk:Sasko]] [[sr:Саксонија]] [[sh:Saksonija]] [[fi:Saksi (osavaltio)]] [[sv:Sachsen]] [[th:แซกโซนี]] [[vi:Sachsen]] [[tr:Saksonya eyaleti]] [[uk:Саксонія]] [[vo:Saxän]] [[zh:萨克森]]