Issachar I, Duke of Thuringia (Merveilles des Morte)

Issachar I
Portrait of Issachar, 1560
Duke of Thuringia
Reign	1569-1572
Coronation	24 March 1569 in Erfurt
Predecessor	Gedeon I
Successor	Gedeon II
Duke of Saxe-Jessen
Reign	1539-1572
Predecessor	Agnes Edmundina
Successor	Barnabas I
Born	8 August 1520 Erfurt, Thuringia, Rätian Union, Holy Roman Empire
Died	16 July 1572 Erfurt, Thuringia, Rätian Union, Holy Roman Empire
House	House of Jenagotha
Father	Gedeon I
Mother	Philippina of Meissen
Religion	Jungism

Issachar I (8 August 1520 - 16 July 1572) was a Duke of Thuringia from 1569 until his death, and also Duke of Saxe-Jessen from 1539. He first succeeded to the Duchy of Saxe-Jessen via his marriage to duchess Agnes Edmundina from the House of La Marck, a daughter of the controversial Catholic Edmund I, son of Edmund Alwin of Saxony. In 1569 he succeeded his father Gedeon I in Thuringia, and elected to split Thuringia and Saxe-Jessen upon his death among his sons.

Prior to ascending to the throne of Thuringia Issachar was a diplomat to the court of Saxony and its many dependencies, earning the trust of Wolfgang I. He volunteered to fight briefly in the Kerpen War in the late 1540s, and was present at the election of Edmund I as Pope of the Northern Catholic Church. Later he supported Jungist intervention in the War of the Three Henrys, although he did not take up a leadership position during it personally.

Issachar's reign in Thuringia was short lived, as upon his ascension as duke at the age of 49 he appeared to be suffering from epilepsy and some form of cardiovascular disease. He advocated for Thuringia to get involved in the Trier War and organized aid to Jungist powers involved, but was unable to organize a proper invasion. He died of poor health in 1572 and was succeeded by his son Gedeon II in Thuringia, while in Saxe-Jessen he was succeeded by Barnabas I.