Johann Ernst (Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld)

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Duke Johann Ernst of Saxony-Saalfeld

Johann Ernst von Sachsen-Saalfeld (born August 22, 1658 in Gotha ; † December 17, 1729 in Saalfeld ) was Duke of Sachsen-Saalfeld and founder of the House of Sachsen- (Coburg-) Saalfeld from 1680 to 1729 .

Life

Johann Ernst was the youngest son of Duke Ernst I of Saxe-Gotha (1601–1675) and his wife Elisabeth Sophia (1619–1680), daughter of Duke Johann Philipp of Saxe-Altenburg . As the youngest son, it was not possible for him to be sent on a gentleman's journey. Like all his brothers, he was brought up as future ruler by his father, who disliked primogeniture . In 1677 he took part in a campaign against France in the Netherlands.

After the death of his father in 1675, Johann Ernst ruled the state of Saxony-Gotha-Altenburg together with his six older brothers , as stipulated in his will . In 1676 they left Gotha, where they had run the household together, to the places from which they received their income. Only Johann Ernst stayed with his eldest brother Friedrich in Gotha, who was his guardian.

In 1680 the country was divided among the brothers. Johann Ernst received the town and office of Saalfeld, the towns of Graefenthal , Probstzella and Lehesten , and later Pößneck , and he was entitled to an annual pension to be paid by Friedrich. He resided in Saalfeld as Duke of Saxony-Saalfeld . As the youngest son, he had received the smallest share of land and people. Since he and his brother Ernst saw themselves at a considerable disadvantage in this division (the income of the eldest brother Friedrich exceeded that of Johann Ernst by seven times), both protested. The fraternal dispute lasted for years and intensified when the brothers Albrecht von Sachsen-Coburg , Heinrich von Sachsen-Römhild and Christian von Sachsen-Eisenberg died without sons or heirs. The "Coburg-Eisenberg-Römhilder inheritance dispute" could not be finally ended until 1735 after multiple mediations and interventions by the emperor and the Reichshofrat; six years after the death of Johann Ernst. Above all, he had to assert himself against his older brother Bernhard , who also laid claim to Saxe-Coburg .

From 1680 Johann Ernst had the residential palace built by his brother Albrecht in Saalfeld further expanded and moved into it in 1691. The duke was considered far less lavish than his brothers; he promoted mining and founded a mint.

In 1719 Augustus the Strong offered him during his and his son's absence to become administrator of Electoral Saxony, but he refused. Johann Ernst died as a senior in the Ernestine house.

Marriage and offspring

Johann Ernst was married twice. His first marriage was on February 18, 1680 in Merseburg with Sophie Hedwig (1666–1686), daughter of Duke Christian I of Saxony-Merseburg , with whom he had the following children:

  • Christiane Sophie (1681–1697)
  • Christian Ernst (1683–1745), Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
⚭ 1724 Christiane Friederike von Koss (1686–1743)
⚭ 1705 Count Philipp Reinhard von Hanau (1664–1712)

His second marriage was on December 2, 1690 in Maastricht, Charlotte Johanna (1664–1699), daughter of Count Josias von Waldeck-Wildungen . She bore him the following children:

⚭ 1720 Prince Friedrich Anton von Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (1692–1744)
  • Henriette Albertine (1694–1695)
  • Luise Emilie (1695-1713)
  • Franz Josias (1697–1764), Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
⚭ 1723 Anna Sophie von Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (1700–1780)
  • Henriette Albertine (1698–1728)

literature

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predecessor Office successor
--- Duke of Saxony-Saalfeld
1680–1729 		Christian Ernst , Franz Josias
personal data
SURNAME Johann Ernst
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Saxony-Saalfeld, Johann Ernst von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Duke of Saxony-Saalfeld
DATE OF BIRTH August 22, 1658
PLACE OF BIRTH Gotha
DATE OF DEATH December 17, 1729
Place of death Saalfeld