Joseph Bernhard of Saxe-Meiningen

Joseph Bernhard von Sachsen-Meiningen (born May 27, 1706 in Meiningen ; † March 22, 1724 in Rome ) from the Ernestine line of the Wettins was the Hereditary Prince of Sachsen-Meiningen .

Life

Joseph Bernhard was the eldest son of Duke Ernst Ludwig I of Saxe-Meiningen (1672–1724) from his marriage to Dorothea Marie (1674–1713), daughter of Duke Friedrich I of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg . The prince, who was described as extremely gifted and inquisitive, had received a very extensive training; in addition to the standard subjects also in heraldry , poetry and fireworks technology.

From 1721 Joseph Bernhard attended the Academy in Strasbourg under the incognito of a "Count von Bildstein" and was a witness to the coronation of Louis XV the following year . of France in Reims . From 1723 he undertook together with his younger brother Ernst Ludwig his Grand Tour , where he died at age 17 in Rome on a high fever, which was accompanied by pleurisy.

When Joseph Bernhard was born, his father had vowed to dine, clothe and give presents to as many boys on his birthday as Joseph Bernhard achieved in years. This tradition was maintained until Joseph Bernhard's death. The boys who received the presents were called "Brothers Joseph" after the prince.

literature

• Johann Samuelansch (Ed.): General Encyclopedia of Sciences and Arts , 2nd section, 23rd part, Leipzig, 1844, p. 147 ( digitized version )
• Ludwig Bechstein: Communications from the life of the Dukes of Saxony Meiningen , p. 42 ( digitized version )