Caroline of Erbach-Fürstenau
Encyclopedia
Countess Caroline Amalie of Erbach-Fürstenau (born: 29 September 1700 at Fürstenau Castle, Michelstadt
; died: 7 May 1758 in Hildburghausen
), was a countess of Erbach-Furstenau and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Hildburghausen
. From 1745 to 1748, she was also Regent of Saxe-Hildburghausen.
(1677–1736), who was also Lord of Breuberg
, and his first wife Countess Charlotte Amalie of Kunowitz (1677–1722).
She married on 19 June 1726 at Fürstenau Castle Duke Ernest Frederick II of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The couple lived first in Königsberg in Bayern where the Hereditary Prince Charles Frederick Ernest was born. In 1730 Ernest Frederick built a pleasure palace for his wife, which he called Caroline Castle. In 1744 he also expanded Eisfeld
castle, which had been reserved as a Wittum
for Caroline.
After the death of her husband in 1745 she ruled as regent for her minor son Charles Frederick Ernest. In a decree of 1746, she took measures against the "wandering gypsies and begging people", in which even the death penalty was possible. She restructured the Code of Criminal Procedure and banned the sale of a fief, allodial title
or real estate
without authorization by the sovereign. In a case before the High Court in which the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen
demanded the district of Sonnenfeld
, which lasted from 1743 to 1752, she was represented by the secret Privy Councillor Johann Sebastian Kobe von Koppenfels, who helped her win the case.
Michelstadt
Michelstadt in the Odenwald is a town in the Odenwaldkreis in southern Hesse, Germany between Darmstadt and Heidelberg.- Location :Michelstadt is the biggest town in the Odenwaldkreis and borders on the district seat of Erbach....
; died: 7 May 1758 in Hildburghausen
Hildburghausen
Hildburghausen is a town in Thuringia in central Germany, capital of the district Hildburghausen. It is situated on the river Werra, 20 km south of Suhl, and 25 km northwest of Coburg....
), was a countess of Erbach-Furstenau and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Hildburghausen
Saxe-Hildburghausen
Saxe-Hildburghausen was an Ernestine duchy in what is now southern Thuringia, Germany. Its territory was similar to that of the modern Hildburghausen district.-History:...
. From 1745 to 1748, she was also Regent of Saxe-Hildburghausen.
Life
Caroline was a daughter of Count Philip Charles of Erbach-Fürstenau and MichelstadtMichelstadt
Michelstadt in the Odenwald is a town in the Odenwaldkreis in southern Hesse, Germany between Darmstadt and Heidelberg.- Location :Michelstadt is the biggest town in the Odenwaldkreis and borders on the district seat of Erbach....
(1677–1736), who was also Lord of Breuberg
Breuberg
Breuberg is a town in the Odenwaldkreis in Hesse, Germany, 28 km east of Darmstadt, and 20 km southwest of Aschaffenburg.- Neighbouring communities :...
, and his first wife Countess Charlotte Amalie of Kunowitz (1677–1722).
She married on 19 June 1726 at Fürstenau Castle Duke Ernest Frederick II of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The couple lived first in Königsberg in Bayern where the Hereditary Prince Charles Frederick Ernest was born. In 1730 Ernest Frederick built a pleasure palace for his wife, which he called Caroline Castle. In 1744 he also expanded Eisfeld
Eisfeld
Eisfeld is a municipality in the district of Hildburghausen, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Werra, 12 km east of Hildburghausen, and 19 km north of Coburg....
castle, which had been reserved as a Wittum
Wittum
Wittum , Widum or Witthum is a medieval Latin legal term, known in marital and ecclesiastical law.- Provide for a widow at the wedding :...
for Caroline.
After the death of her husband in 1745 she ruled as regent for her minor son Charles Frederick Ernest. In a decree of 1746, she took measures against the "wandering gypsies and begging people", in which even the death penalty was possible. She restructured the Code of Criminal Procedure and banned the sale of a fief, allodial title
Allodial title
Allodial title constitutes ownership of real property that is independent of any superior landlord, but it should not be confused with anarchy as the owner of allodial land is not independent of his sovereign...
or real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
without authorization by the sovereign. In a case before the High Court in which the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen
Saxe-Meiningen
The Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine line of the Wettin dynasty, located in the southwest of the present-day German state of Thuringia....
demanded the district of Sonnenfeld
Sonnenfeld
Sonnenfeld as a surname may refer to:* Barry Sonnenfeld, American film maker.* Chloe Sonnenfeld, an American actress and daughter of Barry Sonnenfeld....
, which lasted from 1743 to 1752, she was represented by the secret Privy Councillor Johann Sebastian Kobe von Koppenfels, who helped her win the case.
Offspring
- Ernest Frederick III Charles (1727–1780), Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen
- Albert Frederick August (1728–1735)
- Frederick William Eugene (1730–1795)
- married in 1778 Caroline of Saxe-Hildburghausen (1761-1790)
- Sophie Amalie CarolineAmalie of Saxe-HildburghausenSophie Amelia Caroline of Saxe-Hildburghausen was a princess of Saxe-Hildburghausen and by marriage Duchess of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein-Oehringen.- Life :...
(1732–1799)
- Sophie Amalie Caroline
- married in 1749 Prince Louis of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein zu Öhringen (1723-1805)