Johann Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Encyclopedia
John Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
(22 August 1658, Gotha
– 17 February 1729, Saalfeld) was a duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
.
He was the tenth but seventh surviving son of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha
and Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg.
After the death of his father in 1675, John Ernest initially governed the duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
, jointly with his six older brothers, as set out in their father's will. However, in 1680 the brothers concluded a treaty dividing the paternal lands and John Ernest became duke of Saxe-Saalfeld, with the towns of Gräfenthal
, Probstzella
and Pössneck. As he was the youngest, he kept the smallest portion of the lands; John Ernest and his brother Ernest soon found themselves financially overstretched as a result of the partition (the income of their eldest brother, Frederick
, far exceeded the income of John Ernest), and they both made a protest. Over the following years, the controversy continued and increased, as their older brothers Albert of Saxe-Coburg, Henry of Saxe-Römhild and Christian of Saxe-Eisenberg
died without male heirs. During these years, John Ernest took possession of Coburg
(in 1699), Römhild
and 5/12 of Themar
(in 1714).
The "Coburg-Eisenberg-Römhilder Erbstreit" was finally resolved (after repeated intervention and arbitration by the emperor
) in 1735, six years after the death of John Ernest. His descendants retained Coburg
. The decision was generally accepted, most importantly by the descendants of his older brother Bernhard
, who also had a claim to Coburg.
on 18 February 1680, Johann Ernst married firstly Sophie Hedwig of Saxe-Merseburg
. They had five children:
In Maastricht
on 2 December 1690 Johann Ernst married secondly Charlotte Johanna of Waldeck-Pyrmont (b. Arolsen, 13 December 1664, d. Hildburghausen
, 1 February 1699). They had eight children:
Saxe-Coburg
Saxe-Coburg was a duchy held by the Ernestine branch of the Wettin dynasty in today's Bavaria, Germany.After the Division of Erfurt in 1572, Coburg was part of the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Eisenach, ruled by the Ernestine duke John Casimir jointly with his brother John Ernest. In 1596...
(22 August 1658, 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...
– 17 February 1729, Saalfeld) was a duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Saxe-Coburg
Saxe-Coburg was a duchy held by the Ernestine branch of the Wettin dynasty in today's Bavaria, Germany.After the Division of Erfurt in 1572, Coburg was part of the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Eisenach, ruled by the Ernestine duke John Casimir jointly with his brother John Ernest. In 1596...
.
He was the tenth but seventh surviving son 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:#...
and Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg.
After the death of his father in 1675, John Ernest initially governed 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...
, jointly with his six older brothers, as set out in their father's will. However, in 1680 the brothers concluded a treaty dividing the paternal lands and John Ernest became duke of Saxe-Saalfeld, with the towns of Gräfenthal
Gräfenthal
Gräfenthal is a town in the district of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt in Thuringia, Germany.- Geography :Gräfenthal is located in the southern Thüringer Schiefergebirge, a low mountain range south-eastern of the better known Thuringian Forest. Mountains in this region rise up to 800 meters above sea level...
, Probstzella
Probstzella
Probstzella is a municipality in the district Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, in Thuringia, Germany.-History:Between 1945 and 1990 Probstzella station served as East German inner German border crossing for rail transport...
and Pössneck. As he was the youngest, he kept the smallest portion of the lands; John Ernest and his brother Ernest soon found themselves financially overstretched as a result of the partition (the income of their eldest brother, 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...
, far exceeded the income of John Ernest), and they both made a protest. Over the following years, the controversy continued and increased, as their older brothers Albert of Saxe-Coburg, Henry of Saxe-Römhild and Christian of Saxe-Eisenberg
Christian, Duke of Saxe-Eisenberg
Christian of Saxe-Eisenberg was a duke of Saxe-Eisenberg.He was the eighth but fifth surviving son of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Altenburg and Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg....
died without male heirs. During these years, John Ernest took possession of Coburg
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...
(in 1699), 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...
and 5/12 of 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...
(in 1714).
The "Coburg-Eisenberg-Römhilder Erbstreit" was finally resolved (after repeated intervention and arbitration by the 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...
) in 1735, six years after the death of John Ernest. His descendants retained Coburg
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...
. The decision was generally accepted, most importantly by the descendants of his older 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....
, who also had a claim to Coburg.
Ancestors
| John Ernest IV, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld | Father: 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:#... |
Paternal Grandfather: John II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Johann Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar |
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Dorothea Susanne of Simmern Dorothea Susanne of Simmern Dorothea Susanne of Simmern was a princess of the Electoral Palatinate and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Weimar.- Life :... |
|||
| Paternal Grandmother: Dorothea Maria of Anhalt Dorothea Maria of Anhalt Dorothea Maria of Anhalt , was by birth a member of the House of Ascania and princess of Anhalt... |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Joachim Ernst of Anhalt |
||
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Eleonore of Württemberg |
|||
| Mother: Princess Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg Princess Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg , was a princess of Saxe-Altenburg and, by marriage, duchess of Saxe-Gotha.... |
Maternal Grandfather: Johann Philipp, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg |
Maternal Great-grandfather: Frederick Wilhelm I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar |
|
| Maternal Great-grandmother: Anna Maria of the Palatinate-Neuburg |
|||
| Maternal Grandmother: Elizabeth |
Maternal Great-grandfather: Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg Henry Julius was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and prince of Wolfenbüttel from 1589 until his death. In 1576 he had become the first rector of the Protestant University of Helmstedt.- Life :... |
||
| Maternal Great-grandmother: Elizabeth of Denmark |
Issue
In MerseburgMerseburg
Merseburg is a town in the south of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt on the river Saale, approx. 14 km south of Halle . It is the capital of the Saalekreis district. It had a diocese founded by Archbishop Adalbert of Magdeburg....
on 18 February 1680, Johann Ernst married firstly Sophie Hedwig of Saxe-Merseburg
Christian I, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg
Christian I of Saxe-Merseburg , was the first duke of Saxe-Merseburg and a member of the House of Wettin....
. They had five children:
- Christiane Sophie (b. Saalfeld, 14 June 1681 - d. Saalfeld, 3 June 1697).
- Stillborn daughter (Saalfeld, 6 May 1682).
- Christian Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (b. Saalfeld, 18 August 1683 - d. Saalfeld, 4 September 1745).
- Charlotte Wilhelmine (b. Saalfeld, 4 May 1685 - d. Hanau, 5 April 1767), married on 26 December 1705 to Philipp Reinhard of Hanau-Lichtenberg.
- Stillborn son (Saalfeld, 2 August 1686).
In Maastricht
Maastricht
Maastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border...
on 2 December 1690 Johann Ernst married secondly Charlotte Johanna of Waldeck-Pyrmont (b. Arolsen, 13 December 1664, d. 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....
, 1 February 1699). They had eight children:
- Wilhelm Frederick (b. Arolsen, 16 August 1691 - d. Saalfeld, 28 July 1720).
- Karl Ernst (b. Saalfeld, 12 September 1692 - d. Cremona, 30 December 1720).
- Sophie Wilhelmine (b. Saalfeld, 9 August 1693 - d. Rudolstadt, 4 December 1727), married on 8 February 1720 to Frederick Anton of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt.
- Henriette Albertine (b. Saalfeld, 8 July 1694 - d. Saalfeld, 1 April 1695).
- Louise Emilie (b. Saalfeld, 24 August 1695 - d. Coburg, 21 August 1713).
- Charlotte (b. Saalfeld, 30 October 1696 - d. Saalfeld, 2 November 1696).
- Franz Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-SaalfeldFranz Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-SaalfeldFranz Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld was a duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.He was the fourth living son of John Ernest IV, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, the third born by his father's second wife Charlotte Johanne of Waldeck-Pyrmont.During his youth, Francis Josias served in the Imperial...
(b. Saalfeld, 25 September 1697 - d. Rodach, 16 September 1764). - Henriette Albertine (b. Saalfeld, 20 November 1698 - d. Coburg, 5 February 1728).