Heinrich, Duke of Saxe-Römhild
Encyclopedia
Henry of Saxe-Römhild was a duke of Saxe-Römhild
.
, as the seventh but fourth surviving son of Ernest I the Pious of Saxe-Gotha and Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg. After the death of their father, in 1675, Henry and his brothers co-ruled the duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
. On 24 February 1680, after the treaty of division of the family lands with his brothers, he received Saxe-Römhild
, which consisted of the cities of Römhild
, Königsberg
(now in Bavaria), Themar
, Behrungen
and Milz
and the fiefdom of Echter.
In Darmstadt
on 1 March 1676, Henry married Marie Elisabeth of Hesse-Darmstadt
, daughter of Louis VI of Hesse-Darmstadt
. They had no children.
From 18 November 1680 Henry and his young wife Marielies lived in what they called Glücksburg castle in Römhild
. Duke Henry unfolded brisk construction activity. He had his castle remodeled and rebuilt according to his wishes. During his rule the castle church was built, and a customs house, and four houses for the court nobility, plus a riding school, a race track and the Orangerie. Among the more magnificent strutures were a cave house named Marie Elizabeth Delight, named after his wife, whom he loved very much, and a pleasure palace
in Mertzelbach, designed by the court sculptor Lux, who also created the high altar in the Abbey Church. Many of these buildings no longer exist, but Henry described them in detail in his book The Princely desire to build of Duke Henry of Saxe-Römhild, which he published himself. This book is considered one of the few remaining contemporary testimonies on ephemeral architecture. Henry also had lake Bürgersee drained and converted it into a pleasure garden. He equipped the city church with a Baroque high altar, an ornate royal box and a new organ.
Henry was knowledgeable in mechanics, architecture and mathematics. He maintained a princely library at Schloss Glücksburg, which he expanded steadily. After Henry's death, it was inherited by the Duke of Saxe-Gotha.
From 1691 to 1693 he had been regent for Duke Frederick II
of Saxe-Gotha, together with his brother Bernhard
. Henry entered into imperial military service when he was young and and became imperial Generalfeldzeugmeister
in 1697. In 1698, he received the Order of the Elephant
. In his last four years he was the senior member of the Ernestine house.
The luxurious life at court and the court of the duke's representative brought the small country town of Römhild to economic recovery and cultural prosperity. The expenditure exceeded the financial strength of the Duke by far. When the popular ruler died unexpectedly in 1710, he left behind significant debts. His inheritance was auctioned.
Henry died at Römhild
. After his death, his lands were disputed between his brothers. Eventually, Römhild was retained by his younger brother, John Ernest. Duke Henry was buried in the Altar Hall of Römhild church. Today, there is no inscription and no more grave marker.
His marriage was childless and Ernestine sideline of Römhild died out with his death. The Principality was divided in the Coburg-Eisenberg-Römhild inheritance dispute, which was settled in 1735.
Saxe-Römhild
The Duchy of Saxe-Römhild was one of the Saxon Duchies held by the Ernestine line of the Wettin Dynasty. Established in 1680 for Heinrich, fourth son of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha. The line became extinct after the childless death of the duke in 1710 and his lands were disputed between his brothers...
.
Life
He was born in GothaGotha (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...
, as the seventh but fourth surviving son of Ernest I the Pious of Saxe-Gotha and Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg. After the death of their father, in 1675, Henry and his brothers co-ruled the duchy 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...
. On 24 February 1680, after the treaty of division of the family lands with his brothers, he received Saxe-Römhild
Saxe-Römhild
The Duchy of Saxe-Römhild was one of the Saxon Duchies held by the Ernestine line of the Wettin Dynasty. Established in 1680 for Heinrich, fourth son of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha. The line became extinct after the childless death of the duke in 1710 and his lands were disputed between his brothers...
, which consisted of the cities of Römhild
Römhild
Römhild is a municipality in the district of Hildburghausen, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 14 km west of Hildburghausen, and 21 km southeast of Meiningen.In the Stadtkirche of Römhild is the tomb of Elisabeth and Hermann VIII of Henneberg...
, Königsberg
Königsberg, Bavaria
Königsberg in Bayern is a town in the Haßberge district, in Lower Franconia, Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 7 km northeast of Haßfurt, and 31 km northwest of Bamberg....
(now in Bavaria), Themar
Themar
Themar is a town in the district of Hildburghausen, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Werra, 11 km northwest of Hildburghausen, and 14 km southwest of Suhl.- Main sights :* St Bartholomew's Church* St. John's Church...
, Behrungen
Behrungen
Behrungen is a former municipality in the district Schmalkalden-Meiningen, in Thuringia, Germany. From December 1, 2007 it is part of Grabfeld....
and Milz
Milz
Milz is a municipality in the district of Hildburghausen, in Thuringia, Germany....
and the fiefdom of Echter.
In Darmstadt
Darmstadt
Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Rhine Main Area.The sandy soils in the Darmstadt area, ill-suited for agriculture in times before industrial fertilisation, prevented any larger settlement from developing, until the city became the seat...
on 1 March 1676, Henry married Marie Elisabeth of Hesse-Darmstadt
Marie Elisabeth of Hesse-Darmstadt
Marie Elisabeth of Hesse-Darmstadt was the only Duchess by marriage of Saxe-Römhild.- Life :...
, daughter of Louis VI of Hesse-Darmstadt
Louis 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 :...
. They had no children.
From 18 November 1680 Henry and his young wife Marielies lived in what they called Glücksburg castle in Römhild
Römhild
Römhild is a municipality in the district of Hildburghausen, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 14 km west of Hildburghausen, and 21 km southeast of Meiningen.In the Stadtkirche of Römhild is the tomb of Elisabeth and Hermann VIII of Henneberg...
. Duke Henry unfolded brisk construction activity. He had his castle remodeled and rebuilt according to his wishes. During his rule the castle church was built, and a customs house, and four houses for the court nobility, plus a riding school, a race track and the Orangerie. Among the more magnificent strutures were a cave house named Marie Elizabeth Delight, named after his wife, whom he loved very much, and a pleasure palace
Lustschloss
A Lustschloss is a small palace which served the private pleasure of its owner, usually the ruler of the area. It is located in, and was inhabited for court, ceremonial, and state duties.A Lustschloss is often coupled with a Jagdschloss...
in Mertzelbach, designed by the court sculptor Lux, who also created the high altar in the Abbey Church. Many of these buildings no longer exist, but Henry described them in detail in his book The Princely desire to build of Duke Henry of Saxe-Römhild, which he published himself. This book is considered one of the few remaining contemporary testimonies on ephemeral architecture. Henry also had lake Bürgersee drained and converted it into a pleasure garden. He equipped the city church with a Baroque high altar, an ornate royal box and a new organ.
Henry was knowledgeable in mechanics, architecture and mathematics. He maintained a princely library at Schloss Glücksburg, which he expanded steadily. After Henry's death, it was inherited by the Duke of Saxe-Gotha.
From 1691 to 1693 he had been regent for Duke Frederick II
Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg , was a duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.He was the fifth child and first son of Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Magdalene Sibylle of Saxe-Weissenfels....
of Saxe-Gotha, together with his brother Bernhard
Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen
Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen was a duke of Saxe-Meiningen.He was the sixth but third surviving son of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Altenburg and Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg....
. Henry entered into imperial military service when he was young and and became imperial Generalfeldzeugmeister
Feldzeugmeister
Feldzeugmeister was a military rank in various European armies , especially in the artillery. It was commonly used in the 16th or 17th century, but could even be found in the beginning of the 20th century in some European countries...
in 1697. In 1698, he received the Order of the Elephant
Order of the Elephant
The Order of the Elephant is the highest order of Denmark. It has origins in the 15th century, but has officially existed since 1693, and since the establishment of constitutional monarchy in 1849, is now almost exclusively bestowed on royalty and heads of state.- History :A Danish religious...
. In his last four years he was the senior member of the Ernestine house.
The luxurious life at court and the court of the duke's representative brought the small country town of Römhild to economic recovery and cultural prosperity. The expenditure exceeded the financial strength of the Duke by far. When the popular ruler died unexpectedly in 1710, he left behind significant debts. His inheritance was auctioned.
Henry died at Römhild
Römhild
Römhild is a municipality in the district of Hildburghausen, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 14 km west of Hildburghausen, and 21 km southeast of Meiningen.In the Stadtkirche of Römhild is the tomb of Elisabeth and Hermann VIII of Henneberg...
. After his death, his lands were disputed between his brothers. Eventually, Römhild was retained by his younger brother, John Ernest. Duke Henry was buried in the Altar Hall of Römhild church. Today, there is no inscription and no more grave marker.
His marriage was childless and Ernestine sideline of Römhild died out with his death. The Principality was divided in the Coburg-Eisenberg-Römhild inheritance dispute, which was settled in 1735.