Ernest Augustus I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
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Ernest Augustus I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar (German
Ernst August I) (Weimar
, 19 April 1688 – Eisenach
, 19 January 1748), was a duke
of Saxe-Weimar
and, from 1741, of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
.
He was the second but eldest surviving son of Johann Ernst III, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
and his first wife Sophie Auguste of Anhalt-Zerbst.
When his father died in 1707, Ernst August became co-ruler (Mitherr) of Saxe-Weimar, along with his uncle Wilhelm Ernst, but his title was only nominal, since Wilhelm Ernst was the actual ruler of the duchy. Only when Wilhelm Ernst died in 1728 did Ernst August begin to exercise true authority over Saxe-Weimar.
in Vienna
or in the Imperial Chamber Court of Appeal
in Wetzlar
. Ernst August lost all the legal proceedings mounted against him. The process lasted for many years and eventually led to the duchy's bankruptcy.
The duke maintained a standing army that was disproportionately large for the duchy's population financial resources. Some of the soldiers were rented to the Electorate of Saxony
or to the Holy Roman Emperor
. Ernst August's mania for building led to the construction of the Kleinode, the small Schloss Belvedere
and the Rococo
Schloss
of Dornburg
, a lavish residence for the duke. His passion for the hunt was likewise extravagant; when he died, Ernst August left 1,100 dogs and 373 horses. The duke maintained a standing "harem," in which two noble "Ladies of Honor" (Ehrenfräulein) and three "Chamber Women" (Kammerfrauen) of low birth attended to his desires.
on 24 January 1716, Ernst August married Eleonore Wilhelmine of Anhalt-Köthen, daughter of Emmanuel Lebrecht, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
. They had eight children:
After the death of his first wife in 1726, the duke decided to not marry again, choosing to live quietly with his Ladies of Honor and Chamber Women. But in 1732 the situation changed unexpectedly: his only surviving son, the hereditary prince (Erbprinz) Johann Wilhelm, died. This made it necessary for him to find a new wife and sire sons in order to perpetuate the dynasty.
In Bayreuth on 7 April 1734, Ernst August married his second wife, Sophie Charlotte of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, daughter of George Frederick Charles, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
. They had four children:
The duke also had an illegitimate son with Friederike von Marschall:
. As the only surviving kinsman of the late duke, Ernst August inherited his estates; the union between Saxe-Weimar and Saxe-Eisenach-Jena now became permanent. One of the duke's few wise decisions was the institution of the Primogenitur in Saxe-Weimar (confirmed in 1724 by the Emperor Karl VI); this stopped further land divisions in the future. From 1741 his new duchy took the name of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
(Jena was merged by Eisenach), but the union was by this time only personal. The new state consisted of two larger areas around the two official residences in Weimar and Eisenach, which were not connected, and a patch of smaller areas and towns between them.
The annexation of Saxe-Eisenach was favorable to the hunt-loving duke; he possessed a large swath of woods in the Eisenach region, which seemed suitable to him for hunting. He left the Hereditary Prince in Weimar
in the Schloss Belvedere, under the guardianship of his Field Marshal, and moved permanently to Eisenach
. After this, the duke rarely asked for his son, and send the most unreasonable written instructions from Eisenach to Weimar in order to supervise his son's education. The Hereditary Prince saw his father for the last time in 1743.
Ernst August tried to implement Absolutism
in Saxe-Weimar on the French model. The secret Ratskollegium--a consultative organ national formed by nobles—was dissolved. In 1746 the citizens of Eisenach presented the duke a memorandum detailing national prerogatives, in which he was denounced for constant offences against traditional rights. The gesture demonstrated that the citizens of the duchy were resisting the introduction of absolutism, thus certain policies that Ernst August had planned could not be completely carried out. The duke's death prevented a terrible controversy between the national nobles and the citizens of Eisenach.
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
Ernst August I) (Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
, 19 April 1688 – Eisenach
Eisenach
Eisenach is a city in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated between the northern foothills of the Thuringian Forest and the Hainich National Park. Its population in 2006 was 43,626.-History:...
, 19 January 1748), was a duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
of Saxe-Weimar
Saxe-Weimar
Saxe-Weimar was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine branch of the Wettin dynasty in present-day Thuringia. The chief town and capital was Weimar.-Division of Leipzig:...
and, from 1741, of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
The Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach was created in 1809 by the merger of the Ernestine duchies of Saxe-Weimar and Saxe-Eisenach. It was raised to a Grand duchy in 1815 by resolution of the Vienna Congress. In 1877, it officially changed its name to the Grand Duchy of Saxony , but this name was...
.
He was the second but eldest surviving son of Johann Ernst III, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Johann Ernst III, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Johann Ernst III, Duke of Saxe-Weimar , was a duke of Saxe-Weimar.He was the second son of Johann Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, and Christine Elisabeth of Holstein-Sonderburg....
and his first wife Sophie Auguste of Anhalt-Zerbst.
When his father died in 1707, Ernst August became co-ruler (Mitherr) of Saxe-Weimar, along with his uncle Wilhelm Ernst, but his title was only nominal, since Wilhelm Ernst was the actual ruler of the duchy. Only when Wilhelm Ernst died in 1728 did Ernst August begin to exercise true authority over Saxe-Weimar.
Excesses
Ernst August was a splendor-loving ruler, and his extravagances contributed to the eventual financial ruin of his duchy. Desperately in need of funds, he resorted to the practic of arresting wealthy subjects without cause, and set them free only after they had renounced their fortunes to the duke or had paid exhorbitant ransoms. Some of the victims who considered this behavior illegal made claims against the duke at the Imperial CourtAulic Council
The Aulic Council was originally an executive-judicial council for the Holy Roman Empire....
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
or in the Imperial Chamber Court of Appeal
Reichskammergericht
The Reichskammergericht or Imperial Chamber Court was one of two highest judicial institutions in the Holy Roman Empire, the other one being the Aulic Council in Vienna. It was founded in 1495 by the Imperial Diet in Worms...
in Wetzlar
Wetzlar
Wetzlar is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany. Located at 8° 30′ E, 50° 34′ N, Wetzlar straddles the river Lahn and is on the German Timber-Framework Road which passes mile upon mile of half-timbered houses. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Lahn-Dill-Kreis on the north edge of...
. Ernst August lost all the legal proceedings mounted against him. The process lasted for many years and eventually led to the duchy's bankruptcy.
The duke maintained a standing army that was disproportionately large for the duchy's population financial resources. Some of the soldiers were rented to the Electorate of Saxony
Electorate of Saxony
The Electorate of Saxony , sometimes referred to as Upper Saxony, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire. It was established when Emperor Charles IV raised the Ascanian duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg to the status of an Electorate by the Golden Bull of 1356...
or to the Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
. Ernst August's mania for building led to the construction of the Kleinode, the small Schloss Belvedere
Schloss Belvedere, Weimar
The Baroque Schloss Belvedere, Weimar on the outskirts of Weimar, is a pleasure-house built for house-parties, built in 1724-1732 to designs of Johann August Richter and Gottfried Heinrich Krohne for Ernst August, Duke of Saxe-Weimar. The corps de logis is flanked by symmetrical pavilions...
and the Rococo
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
Schloss
Schloss
Schloss is a German word for a building similar to a château, palace or manor house; or what in the British Isles would be known as a stately home...
of Dornburg
Dornburg
Dornburg is a town in the Saale-Holzland district, in Thuringia, Germany. It sits atop a small hill of 400 ft above the Saale. Since 1 December 2008, it is part of the town Dornburg-Camburg.-Main sights:...
, a lavish residence for the duke. His passion for the hunt was likewise extravagant; when he died, Ernst August left 1,100 dogs and 373 horses. The duke maintained a standing "harem," in which two noble "Ladies of Honor" (Ehrenfräulein) and three "Chamber Women" (Kammerfrauen) of low birth attended to his desires.
Marriages and children
In NienburgNienburg
There are two towns named Nienburg in Germany.*Nienburg, Lower Saxony*Nienburg, Saxony-AnhaltThe Name Nienburg means "Neue Burg" ....
on 24 January 1716, Ernst August married Eleonore Wilhelmine of Anhalt-Köthen, daughter of Emmanuel Lebrecht, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Emmanuel Lebrecht, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Emmanuel Lebrecht of Anhalt-Köthen , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen....
. They had eight children:
- Wilhelm Ernst (b. Weimar, 4 July 1717 - d. Halle, 8 June 1719), Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Weimar.
- Wilhelmine Auguste (b. Weimar, 4 July 1717 - d. Weimar, 9 December 1752), twin of Wilhelm Ernst.
- Johann Wilhelm (b. Weimar, 10 January 1719 - d. Weimar, 6 December 1732), Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Weimar.
- Charlotte Agnes Leopoldina (b. Weimar, 4 December 1720 - d. Weimar, 15 October 1724).
- Johanna Eleonore Henriette (b. Weimar, 2 December 1721 - d. Weimar, 17 June 1722).
- Ernestine Albertine (b. Weimar, 28 December 1722 - d. Alverdissen, 25 November 1769), married on 6 May 1756 to Philipp II, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe.
- Bernhardine Christiane Sophie (b. Weimar, 5 May 1724 - d. Rudolstadt, 5 June 1757), married on 19 November 1744 to Johann Friedrich I, Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt.
- Emmanuel Frederick Wilhelm Bernhard (b. Weimar, 19 December 1725 - d. Weimar, 11 June 1729).
After the death of his first wife in 1726, the duke decided to not marry again, choosing to live quietly with his Ladies of Honor and Chamber Women. But in 1732 the situation changed unexpectedly: his only surviving son, the hereditary prince (Erbprinz) Johann Wilhelm, died. This made it necessary for him to find a new wife and sire sons in order to perpetuate the dynasty.
In Bayreuth on 7 April 1734, Ernst August married his second wife, Sophie Charlotte of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, daughter of George Frederick Charles, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
George Frederick Charles, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
George Frederick Charles , Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth , was a German prince, member of the House of Hohenzollern, nominal Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth-Kulmbach and Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth .-Family:He was the eldest of the fourteen children born...
. They had four children:
- Karl August Eugen (b. Weimar, 1 January 1735 - d. Weimar, 13 September 1736), Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Weimar.
- Ernst August II Konstantin, Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (b. Weimar, 2 June 1737 - d. Weimar, 28 May 1758).
- Ernestine Auguste Sophie (b. Weimar, 4 January 1740 - d. Hildburghausen, 10 June 1786), married on 1 July 1758 to Ernst Frederick III Karl, Duke of Saxe-HildburghausenErnst Frederick III Karl, Duke of Saxe-HildburghausenErnst Frederick III Karl, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen , was a duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen....
. - Ernst Adolf Felix (b. and d. Weimar, 23 January 1741 / b. Weimar, 1742 - d. Weimar, 1743) [?].
The duke also had an illegitimate son with Friederike von Marschall:
- Ernst Frederick (b. 1731 - d. 1810), created Freiherr von Brenn; married to Beate Helene Bormann, his line died out in the male line in 1849.
Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and absolutism
In 1741 the branch of Saxe-Eisenach-Jena became extinct with the death of Wilhelm Heinrich, Duke of Saxe-EisenachWilhelm Heinrich, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach
Wilhelm Heinrich, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach , was a duke of Saxe-Eisenach.He was the eldest and only surviving son of Johann Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach and his first wife Amalie of Nassau-Dietz....
. As the only surviving kinsman of the late duke, Ernst August inherited his estates; the union between Saxe-Weimar and Saxe-Eisenach-Jena now became permanent. One of the duke's few wise decisions was the institution of the Primogenitur in Saxe-Weimar (confirmed in 1724 by the Emperor Karl VI); this stopped further land divisions in the future. From 1741 his new duchy took the name of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
The Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach was created in 1809 by the merger of the Ernestine duchies of Saxe-Weimar and Saxe-Eisenach. It was raised to a Grand duchy in 1815 by resolution of the Vienna Congress. In 1877, it officially changed its name to the Grand Duchy of Saxony , but this name was...
(Jena was merged by Eisenach), but the union was by this time only personal. The new state consisted of two larger areas around the two official residences in Weimar and Eisenach, which were not connected, and a patch of smaller areas and towns between them.
The annexation of Saxe-Eisenach was favorable to the hunt-loving duke; he possessed a large swath of woods in the Eisenach region, which seemed suitable to him for hunting. He left the Hereditary Prince in Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
in the Schloss Belvedere, under the guardianship of his Field Marshal, and moved permanently to Eisenach
Eisenach
Eisenach is a city in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated between the northern foothills of the Thuringian Forest and the Hainich National Park. Its population in 2006 was 43,626.-History:...
. After this, the duke rarely asked for his son, and send the most unreasonable written instructions from Eisenach to Weimar in order to supervise his son's education. The Hereditary Prince saw his father for the last time in 1743.
Ernst August tried to implement Absolutism
Absolutism (European history)
Absolutism or The Age of Absolutism is a historiographical term used to describe a form of monarchical power that is unrestrained by all other institutions, such as churches, legislatures, or social elites...
in Saxe-Weimar on the French model. The secret Ratskollegium--a consultative organ national formed by nobles—was dissolved. In 1746 the citizens of Eisenach presented the duke a memorandum detailing national prerogatives, in which he was denounced for constant offences against traditional rights. The gesture demonstrated that the citizens of the duchy were resisting the introduction of absolutism, thus certain policies that Ernst August had planned could not be completely carried out. The duke's death prevented a terrible controversy between the national nobles and the citizens of Eisenach.