Duke John George IV, Elector of Saxony,  is chiefly celebrated for his passion for Magdalene Sibylle von Neidschütz, created in 1693 countess of Rochlitz, whom on his accession he had publicly established as his mistress.

John George had been installed at twenty-three in 1691, and his chief adviser, Hans Adam von Schöning, had counseled a union between Saxony and Brandenburg and a more independent attitude toward the emperor Leopold I.

In accordance with this advice, certain proposals were put before Leopold to which he refused to agree; consequently the Saxon troops withdrew from the imperial army, a proceeding that led the chagrined emperor in July 1692 to seize and imprison Schöning.

John George is unable to procure his minister's release, but Leopold manages to allay the elector's anger, and early in 1693 the Saxon soldiers rejoin the imperialists.