As the biographer Lytton Strachey put it: "The ducal court was not noted for the strictness of its morals; the Duke was a man of gallantry, and the Duchess followed her husband's example. On 29 January 1844, Ernest's father died in Gotha, one of the territories their family had recently acquired. When Grantville arrived in 1631, Ernst, along with his brothers, was one of the four dukes of Saxe-Weimar. [48] In 1863, he attended the liberal Frankfurt Conference, which was openly avoided by more conservative Prussia. The two brothers had always been close, whatever their disagreements, and Albert's death left Ernest "wretched", noted Victoria in a letter to her eldest daughter. Zeepvat, p. 2 and Coit Gilman et al, p. 841. [1] He was the elder son of Ernest III, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (later Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) and his first wife Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. It was overthrown in the Revolution of 1910, after which it became extinct in 1932 upon the death of Manuel II. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. [56] He put on weight and though on paper his wealth was large, he was still constantly in debt. . Princess Augusta was born in Gotha to Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1676-1732) and Magdalena Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst (1679-1740). In 1816, this estate received the name of Principality of Lichtenberg. Early life. In 1826, their father succeeded as Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha through an exchange of territories after the death of the duke's uncle, Frederick IV, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. Victoria: Who was the real Harriet Duchess of Sutherland--and did she fall in love with Prince Ernest? This occurred through Russian pressure, since his sister Juliane was married to the brother of the Russian Tsar. A set of school regulations entitled Schulmethodus (School Method; 1642; revised 1648, 1658, 1662, 1672), compiled under his direction, instituted such ideas as compulsory education, grading, and an enlarged curriculum to embrace sciences, civics, and other useful subjects. Although he had given a constitution to Coburg in 1821, he did not interfere in the system of government in Gotha. The electorate of Saxe-Thuringen was a descendant of the once-much larger electorate of Saxony which in 1356 had been rebuilt in the form of Saxe-Wittenberg. [3]:106, After the defeat of Napoleon in the Battle of Waterloo, the Congress of Vienna on 9 June 1815 gave Ernest an area of 450 square kilometres with 25,000 inhabitants around the town of St. Wendel. Though Albert and his older brother, Ernest, were close throughout their lives, their . [9], Each Duchy had its own Landtag, elected every four years by male taxpayers over 25 years of age. For much of Ernest's reign, the heir presumptive to Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was his only sibling Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria. [43] In the end, the British cabinet thought the proposed conditions unacceptable. Ernst and Elisabeth Sophie had eighteen children: Their eldest son Frederick was the first to inherit this title. Prince Alfred, who became the new reigning Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. [50] Many other petty German dukes, princes, and kings who had supported Austria suffered immensely at Hohenzollern hands. See List of members of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. [22], During the 1848 turmoil in Germany, Albert had been constructing his own liberal reform plan, under which a single monarch, chancellor, and parliament would unite the German states; in addition, each state would retain its own current ruling dynasty. The duchies were later merged into Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. But he has fine dark eyes and black hair, and light figure, and a great look of spirit and eagerness". He was the ninth but sixth surviving son of Johann II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, and Dorothea Maria of Anhalt. They had two children: The marriage was unhappy because both husband and wife were promiscuous. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. After the Staatsgrundgesetz (House laws) of 1852, the duchies were bound in a political and real union. [43] Though Ernest normally followed more liberal politics than many of his counterparts, he began switching his views to align more closely with Bismarck by the mid-1860s. 1901) Prinsesse Eleonore af Solms-Hohensolms-Lich ( m. 1905) Problem: Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Collection of Saxony letters, 1623-1785. Ernest supported the German Confederation in the Schleswig-Holstein Wars against Denmark, sending thousands of troops and becoming the commander of a German corps; he was instrumental in the 1849 victory at the battle of Eckernfrde against Danish forces. He is portrayed positively as a figure in the fictional 1632 series, also known as the 1632-verse or Ring of Fire series, an alternate history book series, created, primarily co-written, and coordinated by historian Eric Flint. Negotiations concerning this failed for various reasonsnot least of which was that he would not give up his beloved duchies in favor of the Greek throne. [22] Ernest also wanted Alfred to be educated in Coburg, but his brother refused. He was the fifth son of Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and his first wife, Marie Hedwig of Hesse-Darmstadt. The first duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was Ernest I, who reigned from 1826 until his death in 1844. Sophie Elisabeth (b. Gotha, 19 May 1663 d. Gotha, 23 May 1663). Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Februar 1680 erhielt er nach dem Teilungsvertrag mit seinen Brdern Saxe-Rmhild, bestehend aus den Stdten Rmhild, Knigsberg (heute in Bayern), Themar, Behrungen und Milz sowie dem Lehen Echter. Ernest's system has maintained itself surprisingly; it still exists legally though somewhat modified or disregarded. [16] Later that year, Albert counselled his brother against finding a wife until his 'condition' was fully recovered. [63] A lifelong sportsman, his last words were apparently "Let the drive commence! Home. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). August's youngest son became Ferdinand I of Bulgaria. [56] His great-niece Marie of Edinburgh would later describe Ernest as "an old beau, squeezed into a frock-coat too tight for his bulk and uncomfortably pinched in at the waist, sporting a top hat, lemon coloured gloves, and a rosebud in his lapel". He was the father of Albert, Prince Consort of Queen Victoria and is thus a patrilineal ancestor and great-great-great-grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II. Their relationship experienced phases of closeness as well as minor arguments as they grew older. In 1821 he had given a constitution to Coburg, but he did not change the traditional system of estates in Gotha. In addition to the residential castles, Friedenstein in Gotha and Ehrenburg in Coburg, the Ducal family also used the Schloss Reinhardsbrunn in Gotha as well as the Rosenau and Callenberg castles in Coburg and the hunting lodge Greinburg Castle, Grein, Austria (the latter two still today owned by the ducal branch of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha). His granddaughter from this son, Anna Sophie of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, was a direct matrilineal ancestor of Nicholas II of Russia. They were created Freiherren von Bruneck in 1856. He was the uncle of Queen Victoria and the father of her husband, Prince Albert. Ernest sent 8,000 men initially, adding to the army sent by the German Confederation. [54], An excellent musician[29] and amateur composer all his life, Ernest was a great patron of the arts and sciences in Coburg,[58] often giving awards and titles to members of the artistic and scientific world, such as Paul Kalisch[citation needed], a German opera singer and the English chemist William Ernest Bush. In 1917, the First World War caused the British king George V to officially change the name from "Saxe-Coburg and Gotha" to "Windsor" in the United Kingdom. [38] The death did not solve their argument however; seeing that his direct involvement had failed to persuade Victoria, Ernest tried a new tactic. [19] This connection would have many implications for Ernest in the future; for example, he was selected as godfather for Albert's second daughter Princess Alice, and would eventually come to give her away at her wedding, only months after Albert's death. In 1825, Frederick IV, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, who was the uncle of Ernest's first wife Louise, died without an heir. He was the ninth but sixth surviving son of Johann II, Duke of Sa [30], From 1848 to 1864, Denmark and the German Confederation fought over control of the two duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. At the Congress of Vienna he received the principality of Lichtenberg, which he sold to Prussia in 1834. Ernest was the eldest son of Duke Ernest I and his first wife, Louise of Saxe-Gotha. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. In 1736, it was proposed that she marry 29-year-old Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King . He was the . His mother was a granddaughter of Christoph, Duke of . He fought in the battles of Ltzen and Leipzig (1813) and drew in 1814 into the French fortress of Mainz. [23] He further warned that continued promiscuity could leave Ernest incapable of fathering children. He believed that such a match flew in the face of German interests. By then, the Principality of Lichtenberg, on the Nahe River, had already been a part of the Duchy of Coburg for ten years. Nevertheless, his regulations promoted agriculture, commerce, learning, and art. In real life, Ernest likely never met the Duchess; he was already married at the time, and the Duchess was twelve years older than him.[66]. Ernest sold it to Prussia in 1834. Coburg did not have its own university. Palace of Svt Anton in Slovakia, today a museum, Ebenthal, Lower Austria, today private property, Walterskirchen castle near Poysdorf, Lower Austria is still owned by the family, L'Huillier-Coburg Palace, acquired 1831, today owned by the Hungarian state. Duke Ernest of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha II Birth 21 Jun 1818. [56] Despite their disputes, Ernest still met with Victoria and her family occasionally. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Frederick IV, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, Alexander von Hanstein, Count of Plzig and Beiersdorf, Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, Harriet Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland, Grand Cross of the Saxe-Ernestine House Order, Royal Military Order of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Grand Cross of the Royal Hungarian Order of St. Stephen, Ernest Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Duchess Sophia Antonia of Brunswick-Wolfenbttel, Countess Karoline Ernestine of Erbach-Schnberg, Frederick Francis I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Duchess Louise Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, "House Laws of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha", https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-04-15/victoria-real-harriet-duchess-of-sutherland/, Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Knigreich Bayern, "Agraciamentos Portugueses Aos Prncipes da Casa Saxe-Coburgo-Gota", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ernest_II,_Duke_of_Saxe-Coburg_and_Gotha&oldid=1150694691, German: Ernst August Karl Johann Leopold Alexander Eduard, This page was last edited on 19 April 2023, at 16:23. Partner of Henriette Adelaide Pauline Panam On 10 May 1803, aged 19, Ernest was proclaimed an adult because his father had become gravely ill, and he was required to take part in the government of the duchy. Its area was somewhat augmented by the second Treaty of Paris. Clerk of the Privy Council. Two years later, he became Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha when his father died. [13] Both boys, especially Albert, were considered by their family to be a potential husband for the young princess, and they were both taught to speak competent English. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ernest-I-duke-of-Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Charles Edward's uncle Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and his male line had renounced their claim. "[3] In May 1820, his mother described Ernest as "very big for his age, as well as intelligent. In the early part of the 20th century, before the First World War, it was the family of the sovereigns of the United Kingdom, Belgium, Portugal, Bulgaria, and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. In him they lost a kind, dear master and a good friend, who was for ever willing to help where help was needed. Ernest i, duke of saxe-coburg and gotha gotha, almaniya digr shiflr keib-kemdiyini yrnin. Ernest I (German: Ernst Anton Karl Ludwig; 2 January 1784 29 January 1844) was the last sovereign duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (as Ernest III) and, from 1826, the first sovereign duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (as Ernest I). icka Auguste Herzogin von Sachsen-Coburg-Saalfeld von Sachsen-Coburg-Altenburg, Antoinette Marie Friederike Auguste Marie Anna von Wrtte mmanuel Prince Consort of the United Kingdom Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Ernst Ernest August Karl Johann Leopold Alexander Eduard Ernest II Duke o f Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Antoinette Ernestine Amalie Prinzessin von Sachsen-Coburg-Saalfeld von Sachsen-Coburg-Saalfeld, Ferdinand Georg A Jan 2 1784 - Coburg, Haute-Franconie, Bavire, Allemagne, Franz Friedrich Anton Prinz VON SACHSEN-COBURG-SAALFELD, Franz August Karl Albert Emanuel VON SACHSEN COBURG UND GOTHA, Francis Auguste Charles Albert Emmanuel VON SACHSEN-COBOURG, Augusta Carolina Countess VON REUSS-EBERSDOFF, Luise Pauline Charlotte Friedrike Auguste VON SACHSEN-GOTHA-ALTENBURG, Albrecht Franz August Prince Consort VON SACHSEN COBURG UND GOTHA, Ernst Ii August VON SACHSEN-COBURG AND GOTHA. The House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (/sks kobr, - t/ SAKS KOH-brg GOT(H)-;[1] German: Haus Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha) is a European royal house. [16] He had come to behave in such a fashion by the tutelage of his father, who took his sons to "sample the pleasures" of Paris and Berlin, to Albert's "horror and shame". He interceded with the emperor for his Austrian co-religionists, and wanted to establish them in Gotha. In Altenburg on 24 October 1636, Ernst married his cousin Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg. He fought in the battles of Ltzen and Leipzig (1813), and drew in 1814 into the French fortress of Mainz. [16] In April 1837, Ernest and Albert and their household moved to the University of Bonn. So Alfred became the next Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. But, in their management, a distinction was always made between the Crown revenue from the domains and the State revenue from taxes and duties. Zeepvat, p. 6 and Baillie-Grohman, p. 60. Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Ernst Albert and Robert Ferdinand, twins born in 1838 to Margaretha Braun. From the accession of Boris III in 1918 onward, this branch of the family belongs to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. He had previously been Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (as Ernest III) from 1806 until the duchy was reorganized in 1826. However, the "Saxe-Coburg" house name of the Belgian royal family was never officially abolished, and since relations between Belgium and Germany have been normalized for a long time, the use of this family name has been slowly reintroduced since the 2010s (especially since King Philippe of Belgium wants to limit the number of princes and princesses of Belgium, and thus the use of the designation "of Belgium", to only a select group of his family).[3]. WikiTree person ID. Vicky has racked her brains to help us to find someone, but in vainWe have no [other reasonable] choice". His brother Leopold (17901865) became king of the Belgians and his sister Victoria (17861861) was Queen Victorias mother. He was the second son born to Ernest III, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. For both duchies, however, there was a Ministry of State in Gotha but Coburg and Gotha had their own subordinate and almost independent ministries. In 1893, the reigning duke Ernest II died childless, whereupon the throne would have devolved, by male primogeniture, upon the descendants of his brother Prince Albert. One example of the many problems of his education concerned the language he would speak. RadioTimes. Ernest consequently succeeded to the duchies of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha as Ernest II. He did not rise far enough above his time to do away with torture, though he restricted it, and in the century of trials for witchcraft he yielded to the common delusion, though he was not otherwise inclined to superstition and was a foe of alchemy.
