Johann Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Encyclopedia
John Ernest II was a duke of Saxe-Weimar
.
He was the second but eldest surviving son of William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, and Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau
.
After the death of his father on 1662, he became reigning duke. In 1672 John Ernest divided his possessions with his younger brothers. He retainded Weimar
, his brother John George I
received Eisenach
, and his other brother, Bernhard
, received Jena
. Eventually, the partitioned lands, Saxe-Weimar, Saxe-Eisenach (1741) and Saxe-Jena (1690) were re-combined.
Like his father, John Ernest was particularly interested in the arts (see Fruitbearing Society
). He was also an avid hunter. Given his overriding interest in these pursuits, John Ernest entrusted the reigns of government to his chancellor.
In Weimar
on 14 August 1656, John Ernest married Christine Elisabeth of Holstein-Sonderburg, (23 June 1638 – 7 June 1679), daughter of John Christian, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (26 April 1607 – 28 June 1653).
They had five children:
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:...
.
He was the second but eldest surviving son of William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, and Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau
Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau
Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau , was a princess of Anhalt-Dessau by birth and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Weimar.- Life :...
.
After the death of his father on 1662, he became reigning duke. In 1672 John Ernest divided his possessions with his younger brothers. He retainded 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...
, his brother John George I
John George I, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach
Johann Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach .He was the fifth but third surviving son of Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau....
received 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:...
, and his other brother, Bernhard
Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Jena
Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Jena , was duke of Saxe-Jena.He was the seventh child but fourth surviving son of Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau....
, received Jena
Jena
Jena is a university city in central Germany on the river Saale. It has a population of approx. 103,000 and is the second largest city in the federal state of Thuringia, after Erfurt.-History:Jena was first mentioned in an 1182 document...
. Eventually, the partitioned lands, Saxe-Weimar, Saxe-Eisenach (1741) and Saxe-Jena (1690) were re-combined.
Like his father, John Ernest was particularly interested in the arts (see Fruitbearing Society
Fruitbearing Society
The Fruitbearing Society was a German literary society founded in 1617 in Weimar by German scholars and nobility to emulate the idea of the Accademia della Crusca in Florence and similar groups already thriving in Italy, to be followed in later years also in France and Britain...
). He was also an avid hunter. Given his overriding interest in these pursuits, John Ernest entrusted the reigns of government to his chancellor.
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...
on 14 August 1656, John Ernest married Christine Elisabeth of Holstein-Sonderburg, (23 June 1638 – 7 June 1679), daughter of John Christian, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (26 April 1607 – 28 June 1653).
They had five children:
- Anna DorotheaAnna Dorothea, Abbess of QuedlinburgDuchess Anna Dorothea of Saxe-Weimar reigned as Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg from 1684 until her death.Born in Weimar, Duchess Anna Dorothea was the daughter of John Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, and Christine Elisabeth of Holstein-Sonderburg.Her father decided she should pursue an...
(b. Weimar, 12 November 1657 - d. Quedlinburg, 23 June 1704), Abbess of QuedlinburgQuedlinburgQuedlinburg is a town located north of the Harz mountains, in the district of Harz in the west of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. In 1994 the medieval court and the old town was set on the UNESCO world heritage list....
(1685–1704). - Wilhelmine Christine (b. Weimar, 26 January 1658 - d. Sondershausen, 30 June 1712), married on 25 September 1684 to Christian William of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen.
- Eleonore Sophie (b. Weimar, 22 March 1660 - d. Lauchstädt, 4 February 1687), married on 9 July 1684 to Philipp of Saxe-Merseburg-LauchstädtPhilipp, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg-LauchstädtPhilipp, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg-Lauchstädt , was a German prince. He was a member of the House of Wettin....
. - William Ernest, Duke of Saxe-WeimarWilliam Ernest, Duke of Saxe-WeimarWilhelm Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Weimar was a duke of Saxe-Weimar.He was born in Weimar, the eldest son of Johann Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Christine Elisabeth of Holstein-Sonderburg....
(b. Weimar, 19 October 1662 - d. Weimar, 26 August 1728). - John Ernest III, Duke of Saxe-Weimar (b. Weimar, 22 June 1664 - d. Weimar, 10 May 1707).