Albert the Degenerate

Albert, surnamed "The Degenerate" (c. 1240- 13 November 1314), was a German, landgrave of Thuringia and the eldest son of Henry III the Illustrious , margrave of Meissen.

He married Margaret, daughter of the emperor Frederick II, in 1254, and in 1265 received from his father Thuringia and the Saxon palatinate .

His infatuation for Kunigunde of Eisenberg caused his wife to leave him, and after her death in 1270 he married Kunigunde, who had already borne him a son, Apitz or Albert.

He wished to make Apitz his successor in Thuringia, a plan which was resisted by his two elder sons, and a war broke out which lasted until 1307, when he abandoned Thuringia, in return for a yearly payment, but retained the title of landgrave.

Albert married Elizabeth, daughter of Hermann III, count of Orlamunde, after the death of his second wife in 1286.