William Ernest, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Ernst Karl Alexander Friedrich Heinrich Bernhard Albert Georg Hermann (William Ernest Charles Alexander Frederick Henry Bernard Albert George Herman) (10 June 1876 – 24 April 1923) was the last Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
.
, the eldest son of Karl August of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, heir to the Grand Duke, and his wife Princess Pauline of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
.
He succeeded his grandfather Karl Alexander
as Grand Duke on 5 January 1901, as his father had predeceased him.
His heir was a distant cousin, Prince Hermann of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
, until his disinheritance in 1909. Hermann's younger brother subsequently served as heir presumptive to the duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach until the birth of William Ernest's eldest son.
Wilhelm Ernst created the new Weimar city center under the direction of Hans Olde, Henry van de Velde
, and Adolf Brütt. Also, he also had the University of Jena rebuilt by Theodor Fischer
, and also reconstructed Weimar's famous theatres. The improvements to the city included a marble statue of his predecessor Charles Alexander, which was completed in 1911. It was placed in a setting designed by Brütt. The placement of the setting was designed to distinguish the "Old Town" from the newly built area. A preservation law for the "Old Town" barred it to the "art nouveau
" style which was used in the new area.
) after Queen Wilhelmina
. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Dutch feared the possibility of German influence or even annexation of the Netherlands. In order to prevent this, some lawyers tried to change the constitution to exclude Wilhelm Ernst from the succession. Another way, however, was this: he or his offspring - if Wilhelmina would die childless - would have to choose between the Dutch and the Weimar throne. The birth of Wilhelmina's daughter Juliana
in 1909 lessened the chance for any member of the house of Wettin (Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach branch) to inherit the Dutch throne. With the amendment to the constitution of 1922, which restricted the right of succession to the offspring of Wilhelmina, the possibility disappeared entirely.
monarchs following the defeat of Germany in World War I
- was forced to abdicate. His throne and all his lands were relinquished and he fled with his family to the family estate in Silesia
, where he died four years later.
Despite all his work for Weimar during his government, Wilhelm Ernst was a hated ruler. This was for his private life, where he was known to be a sadist; the day of his abdication, he was called the "most unpopular prince in all Germany".
He died in Heinrichau in Silesia
.
on 30 April 1903 Wilhelm Ernst married firstly with Princess Caroline Reuss of Greiz
, a daughter of Prince Heinrich XXII Reuss of Greiz. This marriage was childless and ended in 1905 with the death of Caroline under mysterious circumstances. The official cause of death was pneumonia following influenza; other sources have suggested suicide.
In Meiningen
on 21 January 1910, Wilhelm Ernst married secondly with Princess Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen
, daughter of Prince Friedrich Johann of Saxe-Meinigen.
They had four children:
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...
.
Biography
He was born in WeimarWeimar
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...
, the eldest son of Karl August of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, heir to the Grand Duke, and his wife Princess Pauline of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
Princess Pauline of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
Princess Pauline of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach was the wife of Charles Augustus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach....
.
He succeeded his grandfather Karl Alexander
Charles Alexander, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
Karl Alexander August Johann, Grand Duke of Saxony; 24 June 1818 – 5 January 1901) was the ruler of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach from 1853 until his death.-Biography:...
as Grand Duke on 5 January 1901, as his father had predeceased him.
His heir was a distant cousin, Prince Hermann of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
Prince Hermann of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
Prince Hermann of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach was a member of the House of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. After his disinheritance occurred in 1909, Hermann was commonly referred to with the style, Count Ostheim.-Early life:...
, until his disinheritance in 1909. Hermann's younger brother subsequently served as heir presumptive to the duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach until the birth of William Ernest's eldest son.
Wilhelm Ernst created the new Weimar city center under the direction of Hans Olde, Henry van de Velde
Henry van de Velde
Henry Clemens Van de Velde was a Belgian Flemish painter, architect and interior designer. Together with Victor Horta and Paul Hankar he could be considered one of the main founders and representatives of Art Nouveau in Belgium...
, and Adolf Brütt. Also, he also had the University of Jena rebuilt by Theodor Fischer
Theodor Fischer
Theodor Fischer was a German architect and teacher.Fischer planned public housing projects for the city of Munich beginning in 1893. He was the joint founder and first chairman of the Deutscher Werkbund , as well as member of the German version of the Garden city movement...
, and also reconstructed Weimar's famous theatres. The improvements to the city included a marble statue of his predecessor Charles Alexander, which was completed in 1911. It was placed in a setting designed by Brütt. The placement of the setting was designed to distinguish the "Old Town" from the newly built area. A preservation law for the "Old Town" barred it to the "art nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
" style which was used in the new area.
The Dutch throne
According to the Dutch constitution, Wilhelm Ernst was in the line for the throne of the Netherlands (as the grandson of Princess Sophie of the NetherlandsPrincess Sophie of the Netherlands
Princess Sophie of the Netherlands was the only daughter of King William II of the Netherlands and of his wife Grand Duchess Anna Pavlovna of Russia...
) after Queen Wilhelmina
Wilhelmina of the Netherlands
Wilhelmina was Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948. She ruled the Netherlands for fifty-eight years, longer than any other Dutch monarch. Her reign saw World War I and World War II, the economic crisis of 1933, and the decline of the Netherlands as a major colonial...
. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Dutch feared the possibility of German influence or even annexation of the Netherlands. In order to prevent this, some lawyers tried to change the constitution to exclude Wilhelm Ernst from the succession. Another way, however, was this: he or his offspring - if Wilhelmina would die childless - would have to choose between the Dutch and the Weimar throne. The birth of Wilhelmina's daughter Juliana
Juliana of the Netherlands
Juliana was the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands between 1948 and 1980. She was the only child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry...
in 1909 lessened the chance for any member of the house of Wettin (Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach branch) to inherit the Dutch throne. With the amendment to the constitution of 1922, which restricted the right of succession to the offspring of Wilhelmina, the possibility disappeared entirely.
Abdication
On 9 November 1918 Wilhelm Ernst - along with the rest of the GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
monarchs following the defeat of Germany in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
- was forced to abdicate. His throne and all his lands were relinquished and he fled with his family to the family estate in Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
, where he died four years later.
Despite all his work for Weimar during his government, Wilhelm Ernst was a hated ruler. This was for his private life, where he was known to be a sadist; the day of his abdication, he was called the "most unpopular prince in all Germany".
He died in Heinrichau in Silesia
Henryków, Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Henryków is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ziębice, within Ząbkowice Śląskie County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany....
.
Family and children
In BückeburgBückeburg
Bückeburg is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, on the border with North Rhine Westphalia. It was once the capital of the tiny principality of Schaumburg-Lippe and is today located in the district of Schaumburg close to the northern slopes of the Weserbergland ridge...
on 30 April 1903 Wilhelm Ernst married firstly with Princess Caroline Reuss of Greiz
Princess Caroline Reuss of Greiz
Princess Caroline Reuss of Greiz was the first wife of Wilhelm Ernst, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.-Early life:...
, a daughter of Prince Heinrich XXII Reuss of Greiz. This marriage was childless and ended in 1905 with the death of Caroline under mysterious circumstances. The official cause of death was pneumonia following influenza; other sources have suggested suicide.
In Meiningen
Meiningen
Meiningen is a town in Germany - located in the southern part of the state of Thuringia and is the district seat of Schmalkalden-Meiningen. It is situated on the river Werra....
on 21 January 1910, Wilhelm Ernst married secondly with Princess Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen
Princess Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen (1890-1972)
Princess Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen was the eldest child of Prince Friedrich Johann of Saxe-Meiningen, a younger son of Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, and Countess Adelaide of Lippe-Biesterfeld, a daughter of Ernst, Count of Lippe-Biesterfeld...
, daughter of Prince Friedrich Johann of Saxe-Meinigen.
They had four children:
| Name | |Death | Princess Sophie Luise Adelheid Marie Olga Carola Princess Sophie of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1911-1988) Princess Sophie Louise of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach was a princess of the House of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.She was born in Weimar, the eldest child and only daughter of William Ernest, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach by his second wife Princess Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen.As a relative of Wilhelmina of... | 20 March 1911 | 21 November 1988 | married Friedrich Günther, Prince of Schwarzburg Friedrich Günther, Prince of Schwarzburg Friedrich Günther, Prince of Schwarzburg was the final head of the House of Schwarzburg and heir to the principalities of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and Schwarzburg-Sondershausen.-Early life:... ; the marriage ended in divorce less than a year later. There were no children. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karl August Wilhelm Ernst Friedrich Georg Johann Albrecht, Hereditary Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Charles Augustus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Charles Augustus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach was a German prince and head of the Grand Ducal house of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.... |
28 July 1912 | 14 October 1988 | married Baroness Elisabeth of Wangenheim-Winterstein Baroness Elisabeth of Wangenheim-Winterstein Baroness Elisabeth of Wangenheim-Winterstein was the wife of Charles Augustus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach... ; had issue |
||
| Prince Bernhard Friedrich Viktor | 3 March 1917 | 23 March 1986 | |||
| Prince Georg Wilhelm Albert Bernhard | 24 November 1921 | 11 March 2011 | changed name for Jörg Brena in 1953 and renounced his succession rights | ||