The Dukes of Saxe-Weissenfels were a branch of the House of Wettin, a prominent German noble family. Established in the early 17th century, the duchy was created in 1657 when Saxe-Weimar was divided. The dukes ruled over the region of Weissenfels in present-day Germany until the late 18th century. The last duke, Johann Adolf II, died in 1746, leading to the dissolution of the duchy. Following this, the territory was absorbed into the larger Duchy of Saxe-Zeitz and later became part of the Kingdom of Saxony. The legacy of the dukes remains in the cultural and historical heritage of the region.