Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Encyclopedia
Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (Coburg
, 8 January 1640 – Butzbach
, 24 August 1709), was a German princess member of the House of Wettin in the Ernestine
branch of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
, by marriage Landgravine of Hesse-Darmstadt
and Landgravine-Regent during 1678–1688.
She was the second child and eldest daughter of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha
by his wife Elisabeth Sophie
, the only daughter of John Philip, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg
.
Born Princess Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha, after her mother's cousin death in 1672 Duke Ernest I inherited the Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg and assumed his arms and titles; since them, she was named Princess Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg although at that time, she was already married.
in the Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha
. The groom was a close friend of her brother Prince Frederick
and a widower father of six children.
During her marriage, Elisabeth Dorothea bore her husband eight children, two daughters and six sons, of whom one died in infancy and another was killed in battle ten months before her own death.
Landgrave Louis VI died on 24 April 1678 and was succeeded by his eldest son from his first marriage Louis VII
, who reigned only 18 weeks and 4 days until his own death on 31 August victim of dysentery
in Gotha.
Like his father, Louis VII designated his stepmother as regent of Hesse-Darmstadt in his will if was needed. The Imperial Court (Reichskammergericht) demanded that she should reign jointly with a group of Councillors led by Weiprecht of Gemmingen; however, the politically wise and energetic Dowager Landgravine prevented that they could take their oath and in consequence remained as subordinate advisors to her, leading the Council meetings in person. Despite the fact that during the ten years of her regency, Elisabeth Dorothea only called the Hessian estates (Landtag), under her rule Darmstadt flourished, consolidating the economic and industrial situation of the Landgraviate.
After the death of William Christoph, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
in 1681, Elisabeth Dorothea began a dispute with the Homburg branch over his inheritance, the land of Bingenheim: the Landgravine-Regent claimed that this land rightfully belonged to the Darmstadt branch because was given to Princess Sophia Eleonora of Hesse-Darmstadt as a dowry when she married with Landgrave William Christoph. At the end, Bingenheim returned to Darmstadt.
During her regency was also completed the built of an orphanage in the Darmstadt suburbs. After her son attained his majority in 1688, she retired to her dower lands in Butzbach
, but offered her help in the government to her son, who refused.
Elisabeth Dorothea kept a diary, which includes 52 pages until 1667, when was completely stopped. It is therefore one of the largest projects of a personal journal, who revealed the political and court life of her time.
Coburg
Coburg is a town located on the Itz River in Bavaria, Germany. Its 2005 population was 42,015. Long one of the Thuringian states of the Wettin line, it joined with Bavaria by popular vote in 1920...
, 8 January 1640 – Butzbach
Butzbach
Butzbach is a town in the Wetteraukreis district in Hesse, Germany. It is located approx. 16 km south of Gießen and 35 km north of Frankfurt am Main....
, 24 August 1709), was a German princess member of the House of Wettin in the Ernestine
Ernestine duchies
The Ernestine duchies, also called the Saxon duchies , were a changing number of small states largely located in the present German state of Thuringia, governed by dukes of the Ernestine line of the House of Wettin.-Overview:The...
branch of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg was a duchy ruled by the Ernestine branch of the House of Wettin in today's Thuringia, Germany.It was nominally created in 1672 when Frederick William III, the last duke of Saxe-Altenburg, died and Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha , inherited the major part of his possessions...
, by marriage Landgravine of Hesse-Darmstadt
Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt
The Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt was a member state of the Holy Roman Empire. It was formed in 1567 following the division of the Landgraviate of Hesse between the four sons of Philip I, the last Landgrave of Hesse....
and Landgravine-Regent during 1678–1688.
She was the second child and eldest daughter of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha
Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha
-Family and children:In Altenburg on 24 October 1636, Ernst married his cousin Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg. As a result of this marriage Saxe-Gotha and Saxe-Altenburg were unified, when the last duke of the line died childless in 1672. Ernst and Elisabeth Sophie had eighteen children:#...
by his wife Elisabeth Sophie
Princess Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg
Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg , was a princess of Saxe-Altenburg and, by marriage, duchess of Saxe-Gotha....
, the only daughter of John Philip, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg
John Philip, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg
John Philip, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg , was a duke of Saxe-Altenburg.He was the eldest surviving son of Frederick William I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Anna Maria of the Palatinate-Neuburg, his second wife.-Childhood:When his father died , John Philip and his younger brothers Frederick, John...
.
Born Princess Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha, after her mother's cousin death in 1672 Duke Ernest I inherited the Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg and assumed his arms and titles; since them, she was named Princess Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg although at that time, she was already married.
Life
From her parents' eighteen children, only nine survive infancy, of whom Elisabeth Dorothea was the eldest. On 5 December 1666, Elisabeth Dorothea married with Louis VI, Landgrave of Hesse-DarmstadtLouis VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
Louis VI of Hesse-Darmstadt was Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1661 to 1678.He was the eldest of three sons of the Landgrave George II of Hesse-Darmstadt and Sophia Eleonore of Saxony.- Marriage and children :...
in the Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha
Gotha (town)
Gotha is a town in Thuringia, within the central core of Germany. It is the capital of the district of Gotha.- History :The town has existed at least since the 8th century, when it was mentioned in a document signed by Charlemagne as Villa Gotaha . Its importance derives from having been chosen in...
. The groom was a close friend of her brother Prince Frederick
Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg , was a duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. He was the fourth but eldest surviving son of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Altenburg and Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg.When Ernst inherited the duchy of Saxe-Altenburg , he made Frederick the regent of that duchy...
and a widower father of six children.
During her marriage, Elisabeth Dorothea bore her husband eight children, two daughters and six sons, of whom one died in infancy and another was killed in battle ten months before her own death.
Landgrave Louis VI died on 24 April 1678 and was succeeded by his eldest son from his first marriage Louis VII
Louis VII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
Ludwig VII, Landgrave of Hessen-Darmstadt was a Hessian regent.Louis VII was the son of Landgrave Louis VI of Hesse-Darmstadt and his wife Maria Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf. Following the death of his father, he began to reign as landgrave On 24 April 1678...
, who reigned only 18 weeks and 4 days until his own death on 31 August victim of dysentery
Dysentery
Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...
in Gotha.
Like his father, Louis VII designated his stepmother as regent of Hesse-Darmstadt in his will if was needed. The Imperial Court (Reichskammergericht) demanded that she should reign jointly with a group of Councillors led by Weiprecht of Gemmingen; however, the politically wise and energetic Dowager Landgravine prevented that they could take their oath and in consequence remained as subordinate advisors to her, leading the Council meetings in person. Despite the fact that during the ten years of her regency, Elisabeth Dorothea only called the Hessian estates (Landtag), under her rule Darmstadt flourished, consolidating the economic and industrial situation of the Landgraviate.
After the death of William Christoph, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
William Christoph, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
William Christoph of Hesse-Homburg was the second Landgraf of Hesse-Homburg...
in 1681, Elisabeth Dorothea began a dispute with the Homburg branch over his inheritance, the land of Bingenheim: the Landgravine-Regent claimed that this land rightfully belonged to the Darmstadt branch because was given to Princess Sophia Eleonora of Hesse-Darmstadt as a dowry when she married with Landgrave William Christoph. At the end, Bingenheim returned to Darmstadt.
During her regency was also completed the built of an orphanage in the Darmstadt suburbs. After her son attained his majority in 1688, she retired to her dower lands in Butzbach
Butzbach
Butzbach is a town in the Wetteraukreis district in Hesse, Germany. It is located approx. 16 km south of Gießen and 35 km north of Frankfurt am Main....
, but offered her help in the government to her son, who refused.
Elisabeth Dorothea kept a diary, which includes 52 pages until 1667, when was completely stopped. It is therefore one of the largest projects of a personal journal, who revealed the political and court life of her time.