Franz Josias (Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld)
Franz Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (born September 25, 1697 in Saalfeld , † September 16, 1764 in Rodach ) was Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld from 1729 to 1764 .
Life
Franz Josias was the younger son of Duke Johann Ernst von Sachsen-Saalfeld (1658–1729) from his second marriage to Charlotte Johanna (1664–1699), daughter of Count Josias von Waldeck-Wildungen . In his youth, Franz Josias had been in imperial military service since 1718, had fought in the Battle of Francavilla in 1719 and took part in the sieges of Palermo and Messina. In 1720 he returned to Coburg at his father's request.
According to his father's will, he ruled together with his older half-brother Christian Ernst from 1729 . Since he had not married appropriately, both father had determined the joint government of the sons in 1724. While Christian Ernst stayed in Saalfeld, Franz Josias resided in Coburg .
After the final defense of Meiningen's claims, he was able to take sole control of Coburg from 1745 and moved the seat of government there. The house of Sachsen-Saalfeld took on the name Sachsen-Coburg-Saalfeld. With the death of the half-brother in 1745 he became the sole ruler of Coburg and Saalfeld. As early as October 1, 1733, he introduced the primogeniture in the country, which the Emperor confirmed in 1747.
From 1750 to 1755 he led the regency in Saxony-Weimar-Eisenach for Hereditary Prince Ernst August Konstantin . Franz Josias has been described as a handsome man. He lost his left eye in the badminton game , which was very popular at the time . He died in the castle in Rodach, which Johann David Steingruber had built on his behalf from 1748 to 1749. He was buried in the Morizkirche in Coburg .
progeny
Franz Josias had been married to Anna Sophia (1700–1780), daughter of Prince Ludwig Friedrich I of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt , with whom he had the following children since 1723 :
- Ernst Friedrich (1724–1800), Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
- ⚭ 1749 Princess Sophie Antonia of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel (1724–1802)
- Johann Wilhelm (1726–1745)
- Christian Franz (1730–1797)
- Charlotte Sophie (1731-1810)
- ⚭ 1755 Hereditary Prince Ludwig of Mecklenburg (1725–1778)
- Friederike Caroline (1735–1791)
- ⚭ 1754 Margrave Karl Alexander of Brandenburg-Ansbach and Bayreuth (1736–1806)
- Friedrich Josias (1737-1815)
- ⚭ 1789 Therese Stroffek
literature
- August Beck: Franz Josias, Duke of Saxony-Koburg-Saalfeld . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 7, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1877, p. 296.
- The ducal house of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Its history and present position in Europe . C. Macklot, 1842, p. 234 ff. ( Digitized version )
Individual evidence
- ^ Charles Gray: The youth of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha . Perthes, Gotha 1868, p. 305.
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| Johann Ernst |
Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld 1729–1764 |
Ernst Friedrich |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Franz Josias |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Franz Josias von |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (1729–1764) |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 25, 1697 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Saalfeld |
| DATE OF DEATH | September 16, 1764 |
| Place of death | Rodach |