Frederick the Wise was a German prince and elector of Saxony from 1486 until his death in 1525. He is best known for his support of Martin Luther during the early stages of the Protestant Reformation. Frederick protected Luther from persecution and provided him with a safe haven at Wartburg Castle. Frederick was also a significant figure in the development of Saxony as a center of education and culture. He founded the University of Wittenberg in 1502, which became a leading institution for the study of theology and the arts, further promoting the ideas of the Reformation.