


den developed as a German trading settlement on the south bank of the Elbe, established by the Margrave of Meissen Dietrich. The first documentary evidence of Dresden as a town dates to 1206. Dietrich chose Dresden as his interim residence in 1206, as documented in a record calling the place "Civitas Dresdene". In 1220, a stone bridge was constructed over the Elbe at the same location as today’s Augustus Bridge. The bridge connected the town with a Sorbian settlement called Drezdany on the northern bank. It was known as Antiqua Dresdin by 1350, and later as Altendresden, both literally "old Dresden". Dresden was given to Friedrich Clem after the death of Henry the Illustrious in 1288. It was taken by the Margraviate of Brandenburg in 1316 and was restored to the Wettin dynasty after the death of Valdemar the Great in 1319. In 1485, the Saxon Wettin brothers divided their lands under the Treaty of Leipzig, with Ernest retaining the Elector title and the western and northern territories, while Albert received the Meissen area and established Dresden as the capital of the Duchy of Saxony [nl; fr; es]. Following the Schmalkaldic War, in 1547 Duke Moritz was granted the title of Elector and Dresden became the capital of the Electorate of Saxony. Early modern age Dresden in 1521 The Elector and ruler of Saxony Frederick Augustus I became King Augustus II the Strong of Poland in 1697. He gathered many of the best musicians, architects and painters from all over Europe to Dresden. His reign marked the beginning of Dresden's emergence as a leading Euro
