He was the sixth but second surviving son of Augustus, Elector of Saxony and Anna of Denmark.

The death of his older brother, Alexander (8 October 1565), made him the new heir apparent to the Electorate of Saxony.

During his reign, the first measurement was made of the Electorate of Saxony by Matthias Oeder.

In 1591 his wife organised a set of 12 suits of armour that she planned to give him as a Christmas present.

[1] In Dresden on 25 April 1582, Christian married Sophie, daughter of John George, Elector of Brandenburg.