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Elisabeth Eleonore of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2018

Elisabeth Eleonore of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Elisabeth Eleonore of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was the second wife of Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. She was born in Wolfenbüttel, Duchy of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, now in Lower Saxony, Germany, on September 30, 1658, to Anton Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and Juliane of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Norburg. She had 12 siblings:

On February 2, 1675, in Wolfenbüttel, Elisabeth Eleonore married Johann Georg, Duke of Mecklenburg-Mirow, the son of Adolf Friedrich I, Duke of Mecklenburg and Anna Maria of Ostfriesland. However, the marriage was short-lived as Johann Georg died just five months later, on July 9, 1675.

Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

On January 25, 1681, in Schöningen, Duchy of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, now in Lower Saxony, Germany, Elisabeth Eleonore married Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, who had been widowed the previous year. Elisabeth Eleonore and Bernhard had five children:

The family lived at the castle in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in the German state of Thuringia, while a new, much grander palace was being built. The Elisabethenburg Palace in Meiningen was completed in 1692 and named for Elisabeth Eleonore who lived there with her husband, and their children for the duration of Bernhard’s reign.

Following her husband’s death in 1706, Elisabeth Eleonore was drawn into the family battles over who would reign over the duchy. Like his father before him, Bernhard was not a proponent of primogeniture and stated in his will that his sons should rule jointly. Just as Bernhard had been against that idea when his own father died, so were his sons. Elisabeth Eleonore sided with her stepson Ernst Ludwig, who believed he was the rightful heir and should reign solely. In doing so, she sided against her own son Anton Ulrich. He had married morganatically, and Elisabeth Eleonore never accepted her daughter-in-law, or her son’s decision to marry. Ernst Ludwig won his quest to rule independently, and with Elisabeth Eleonore’s support, he developed Meiningen into a center of musical culture.

The in-fighting within the family took its toll on Elisabeth Eleonore and she retired from public life. The Dowager Duchess died in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen now in Thuringia, Germany on March 15, 1729, at the age of 70. She is buried in the castle church at Elisabethenburg Palace in Meiningen.

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Saxe-Meiningen Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Maria Hedwig of Hesse-Darmstadt, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Maria Hedwig of Hesse-Darmstadt, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Maria Hedwig of Hesse-Darmstadt was the first wife of Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, and therefore the first Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen. She was born in Giessen on November 26, 1647, the youngest child of Georg II, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt and Princess Sophie Eleonore of Saxony.

Marie Hedwig had 13 siblings:

Bernhard of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Marie Hedwig married Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen at Schloss Friedenstein in Gotha, Duchy of Saxe-Gotha, now in the German state of Thuringia, on November 20, 1671. The couple had seven children:

Coat of Arms of the Principality of Henneberg; Credit: Wikipedia by Kooij – Own work,

Several years after their marriage, the couple took up residence in Ichtershausen, at a castle Bernhard had built and named Marienburg in honor of his wife. When Bernhard and his brothers formally divided their territories, he became Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and made plans to move the family to the city of Meiningen. The new duchy also included the former principality of Henneberg, which caused stress to Marie Hedwig. The coat of arms featured a black hen, which was seen at the time as a symbol of magic and witchcraft. Marie Hedwig said she would not move to the “land of the black hen”.

On April 19, 1680, Marie Hedwig died in Ichtershausen, Duchy of Anhalt, now in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. She had given birth to her youngest child just a few weeks earlier. Marie Hedwig was first buried in the crypt of the city church in Meiningen, Duchy of Anhalt, now in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, before being moved to the castle church at Elisabethenburg Palace in Meiningen.

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Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen: On March 26, 1675, Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg died. Initially, his seven sons collectively governed the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, as set out in their father’s will. On February 24, 1680, the seven brothers concluded a treaty of separation, with each brother getting a portion of the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha Altenburg and becoming a Duke. One of the seven new duchies was the Duchy of Saxe-Meinigen and Bernhard, one of the seven sons of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg became the first Duke of Saxe-Meinigen.

On November 9, 1918, Wilhelm II abdicated as German Emperor and King of Prussia in the wake of the November Revolution. Bernhard III, the last Duke of Saxe-Meiningen abdicated the next day due to pressure from the Meininger Workers and Soldiers Council. His half-brother Ernst waived his succession rights on November 12, 1918, officially ending the monarchy of the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen. Today the territory that encompassed the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen is in the German state of Thuringia.

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Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Bernhard I was the first Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, reigning from 1675 until his death in 1706. He was born in Gotha, Duchy of Saxe-Gotha, now in Thuringia, Germany, on September 10, 1649, the sixth son of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg. Bernhard had 17 siblings:

Maria Hedwig of Hesse-Darmstadt; Credit – Wikipedia

On November 20, 1671, at Schloss Friedenstein in Gotha, Duchy of Saxe-Gotha, now in Thuringia, Germany, Bernhard married Marie Hedwig of Hesse-Darmstadt. She was the daughter of Georg II, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt and Sophie Eleonore of Saxony. They had seven children:

Several years after their marriage, Bernhard and Marie Hedwig took up residence in Ichtershausen, Duchy of Saxe-Meinigen, now in the German state of Thuringia, where Bernhard had a castle built. Schloss Marienburg was named in Marie Hedwig’s honor. Just three weeks after giving birth to their youngest child, and only nine weeks before their planned move to Meiningen, Marie Hedwig died in Ichtershausen on April 19, 1680.

Elisabeth Eleonore of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel; Credit – Wikipedia

On January 25, 1681, Bernhard married for a second time in Schöningen, Duchy of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, now in the German state of Lower Saxony. His new bride was Elisabeth Eleonore of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, the daughter of Anton Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and Juliane of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Norburg. The couple had five children:

When Bernhard’s father died in 1675, instead of passing everything to his eldest son, he instead chose to divide his territory amongst his living sons. Each received part of the duchy and was expected to rule jointly – but under the authority – of the eldest one. Bernhard received Meiningen and the surrounding area, including the former principality of Henneberg. By 1680, the brothers had formally divided their lands, each becoming the ruler of the newly established duchies. Bernhard became the first reigning Duke of Saxe-Meiningen.

Elisabethenburg Palace; Credit – Wikipedia

Having moved to Meiningen and taking up residence at the Meiningen Castle, Bernhard soon made plans to build a new official residence in the city. The Elisabethenburg Palace was built between 1682-1692 and was named for his second wife. In addition to the new palace, Bernhard also established a court orchestra in 1690, and the Schlosspark in 1692.

Castle Church at Elisabethenburg Palace; Credit – Wikipedia

Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen died in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, on April 27, 1706. He is buried in the Castle Church at Elisabethenburg Palace in Meiningen.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

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Adelheid of Schaumburg-Lippe, Duchess of Saxe-Altenburg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Adelheid of Schaumburg-Lippe, Duchess of Saxe-Altenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Adelheid of Schaumburg-Lippe was the wife of Ernst II, the last reigning Duke of Saxe-Altenburg. She was born Princess Friederike Adelheid Marie Luise Hilda Eugenie on September 22, 1875, at Ratibořice Castle in Bohemia, the daughter of Prince Wilhelm of Schaumburg-Lippe and Princess Bathildis of Anhalt-Dessau. Adelheid had seven siblings:

Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

On February 17, 1898, at Bückeburg, Adelheid married Prince Ernst of Saxe-Altenburg. He was the son of Prince Moritz of Saxe-Altenburg and Princess Auguste of Saxe-Meiningen. Together they had four children:

Adelheid, the last Duchess of Saxe-Altenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

In February 1908, Adelheid became the last Duchess of Saxe-Altenburg when her husband succeeded his father as Duke. Their reign, however, would be relatively short-lived. Her husband was forced to abdicate on November 13, 1918, when the German Empire was abolished. Following the abdication, Adelheid felt that she no longer had to endure her husband’s affairs and the shame it brought to her marriage. The couple separated and was divorced on January 17, 1920.

Mausoleum in the park of Schloss Bückeburg. photo: Von Corradox – Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7328133

After remaining mostly out of the public eye for the rest of her life, Adelheid died in Ballenstedt, East Germany, on January 27, 1971, at the age of 95. She is buried in the Mausoleum Garden at Schloss Bückeburg, the traditional burial site of the Princely Family of Schaumburg-Lippe, in Bückeburg, Lower Saxony, Germany.

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Saxe-Altenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg: The Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg was created in 1826 when Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen became Duke of Saxe-Altenburg. After Friedrich IV, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg died in 1825 without heirs, the Ernestine duchies were reorganized. Gotha passed to the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld becoming the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Altenburg passed to Friedrich. In exchange, the two Dukes ceded Saalfeld and Hildburghausen, respectively, to the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen.

As World War I ended, the last Duke of Saxe-Altenburg, Ernst II, was one of the first German sovereigns to realize that major changes were coming and quickly arrived at an amicable settlement with his subjects. He abdicated on November 13, 1918. Today the territory that encompassed the Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg is located in the German state of Thuringia.

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Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg; source  Wikipedia

Ernst II was the last reigning Duke of Saxe-Altenburg, succeeding his uncle, Ernst I, in 1908. Prince Ernst Bernhard Georg Johann Karl Friedrich Peter Albert was born in Altenburg, Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg, now in Thuringia, Germany, on August 31, 1871, the only son of Prince Moritz of Saxe-Altenburg and Princess Auguste of Saxe-Meiningen. Ernst had four sisters:

Raised at the Prince’s Palace in Altenburg, Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg, now in Thuringia, Germany, Ernst was very close to his sisters. After receiving his initial education at home, he attended the Vitzthumsche Gymnasium in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in the German state of Saxony,  from 1884-1886, and then the Christians-Gymnasium in Eisenberg, Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg, now in the German state of Thuringia,  from 1886-1889. Over the next three years, he studied at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, the University of Jena, in the Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, now in Thuringia, Germany, and the University of Heidelberg, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, now in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Ernst then attended the War School in Kassel, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Hesse, Germany, and received his officer’s commission in 1894. That year, he joined the 1st Foot Guards Regiment of the Prussian Army as a Lieutenant.

Adelheid of Schaumburg-Lippe. source: Wikipedia

Ernst married Princess Adelheid of Schaumburg-Lippe on February 27, 1898, in Bückeburg, Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe, now in Lower Saxony, Germany. She was the daughter of Prince Wilhelm of Schaumburg-Lippe and Princess Bathildis of Anhalt-Dessau. Ernst and Adelheid had four children:

Ernst II with his wife and children, c1906. source: Wikipedia

Ernst became Duke following his uncle’s death on February 7, 1908. He was a popular ruler who made efforts to be close to his subjects. He would hold audiences for anyone who wanted to meet with him. He also pursued his interests in science and technology, opening an airfield in 1911, and owning one of the first cars in the duchy. During most of his reign, he continued with his military career. At the outbreak of World War I, he commanded a regiment that was part of the IV Army Corps on the Western Front. He was appointed General of the Infantry in 1914 and Commander of the 8th Division in 1915. He retired fully from military service in August 1916.

Ernst II abdicated on November 13, 1918, as the German Empire ended. Taking an apartment in Berlin, he studied at the University of Berlin, hearing lectures in physics, oceanography, and philosophy. Ernst and his wife separated, and their marriage formally ended in divorce on January 17, 1920. Later that year, he announced his engagement to an opera singer, Helena Thomas, but the marriage never took place.

Schloss Fröhliche Wiederkunft. photo: By Fovea112 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14542089

Although Ernst retained ownership of Altenburg Castle, he left the castle in 1922 and moved to Schloss Fröhliche Wiederkunft in Wolfersdorf, Germany one of the family’s privately owned estates. Literally translated as ‘The Castle of Happy Return’, the Schloss dated back to the 1500s and had been thoroughly restored and expanded in the 1850s and 1860s by Ernst’s great-uncle Joseph, the former Duke of Saxe-Altenburg.

Ernst had a modern observatory constructed at the Schloss to enjoy his love of astronomy.  Ernst began using the title Baron of Rieseneck, as he was forbidden from using his ducal title. It was not until 1934 that he was again permitted to use ‘Duke of Saxe-Altenburg’, but only as a surname. In the 1930s, he studied at the Astrophysical Institute at the University of Jena, further expanding his scientific knowledge. In 1934, he married his longtime companion, Maria Triebel (b. October 1893). As the marriage was morganatic, his new wife took the title Countess of Rieseneck. They had no children.

Ernst became a member of the Nazi Party in May 1937, and the following year received honorary citizenship from the City of Altenburg. He gifted Altenburg Castle to the city, in 1943. After World War II, he refused an offer to relocate to the British occupation zone, preferring to gain citizenship in the German Democratic Republic also known as East Germany. The East German government expropriated his beloved Schloss Fröhliche Wiederkunft in 1946, but Ernst was given the use of the residence for the remainder of his life.

At the age of 83, Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg died at Schloss Fröhliche Wiederkunft on March 22, 1955. He is buried in the Ducal Cemetery in Trockenborn-Wolfersdorf alongside his second wife. He was the only former German ruler who was a citizen of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), and the last surviving sovereign from the German Empire. The Saxe-Altenburg line ended in 1991, following the death of Ernst’s son, Hereditary Prince Georg Moritz.

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The Queen’s Official Birthday

by Scott Mehl

source: British Monarchy; photo by David Bailey

This weekend, Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate her official birthday (although her actual date of birth is April 21st). The day is marked with the Trooping the Colour – also known as the Sovereign’s Birthday Parade. This tradition began in 1748, and has occurred nearly every year since 1820. The Queen herself will take the salute, continuing the tradition begun by her great-grandfather, King Edward VII. It was also Edward VII who moved his official birthday from November to June, to capitalize on the better weather. Since 1959, Her Majesty’s official birthday has been held on the second Saturday in June. Read more about Trooping the Colour here!

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The Sovereign also issues what is known as the Birthday Honours – a listing of those people being appointed to the various orders, or being awarded with various decorations and medals. Birthday Honours have been given annually since at least 1860, during the reign of Queen Victoria. This is one of two lists per year, the other being the New Year Honours.

This year, as we celebrate Her Majesty’s 92th birthday, our friends at Country & Stable have put together a fun page of facts and trivia about The Queen. Check it out and find out what The Queen was doing when she was your age!

What was the Queen doing at your age?

Agnes of Anhalt-Dessau, Duchess of Saxe-Altenburg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Agnes of Anhalt-Dessau, Duchess of Saxe-Altenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Agnes of Anhalt-Dessau was the wife of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg. She was born Friederike Amalie Agnes on June 24, 1824, in Dessau, Duchy of Anhalt, now in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, the daughter of Leopold IV Friedrich, Duke of Anhalt and Princess Friederike of Prussia. She had three siblings:

Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg. source: Wikipedia

On April 28, 1853, Agnes married Prince Ernst of Saxe-Altenburg, the son of Georg, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg and Duchess Marie Luise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

They had two children:

A few months after their marriage, Ernst and Agnes became Duke and Duchess of Anhalt following the death of Ernst’s father Georg. Agnes became very involved in charity work, particularly in the areas of nursing and education.

Agnes and Ernst, c1870. source: Wikipedia

From all accounts, the marriage was very happy and the two were very devoted to each other. For their 25th anniversary in 1878, Ernst gave Agnes the Princess Cross – a newly created miniature of the Knight’s Cross First Class of the Saxe-Ernestine House Order. They also established the Ernst-Agnes Foundation. In 1893, Agnes wrote a book entitled ‘A Word to Israel’, which discussed anti-semitism and Christianity in Germany. The book was later translated and published in Italian.

The Duchess Agnes Memorial Church. photo: by User:WikiABG – self-photographed, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=875509

Agnes died at the family’s summer residence, Schloss Hummelshain in Hummelshain, Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg, now in the German state of Thuringia, on October 23, 1897, and was initially buried in the Ducal Mausoleum in Altenburg Cemetery in Altenburg, Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg, now in the German state of Thuringia. Several years later, her husband had the Duchess Agnes Memorial Church (link in German) built in Altenburg in her honor. Once completed, her remains were moved to the crypt there, along with those of their son Georg who had died in infancy.

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Saxe-Altenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg: The Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg was created in 1826 when Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen became Duke of Saxe-Altenburg. After Friedrich IV, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg died in 1825 without heirs, the Ernestine duchies were reorganized. Gotha passed to the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld becoming the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Altenburg passed to Friedrich. In exchange, the two Dukes ceded Saalfeld and Hildburghausen, respectively, to the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen.

As World War I ended, the last Duke of Saxe-Altenburg, Ernst II, was one of the first German sovereigns to realize that major changes were coming and quickly arrived at an amicable settlement with his subjects. He abdicated on November 13, 1918. Today the territory that encompassed the Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg is located in the German state of Thuringia.

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Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

Ernst I was the longest-reigning Duke of Saxe-Altenburg, reigning from 1853 until 1908. He was born Prince Ernst Friedrich Paul Georg Nikolaus of Saxe-Hildburghausen on September 16, 1826, to the future Georg, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg and Duchess Marie Luise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Just two months after his birth, his title changed to Prince of Saxe-Altenburg, when his grandfather Friedrich ceased to be Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen and became Duke of Saxe-Altenburg. Ernst had two younger brothers:

Ernst attended the University of Jena from 1840 until 1843 along with his brother, Moritz. He then continued his education in Lausanne. In 1845, he began his military training, serving with the Saxe-Altenburg forces and then with the Prussian Army. After completing his education at the University of Leipzig, he became a First Lieutenant in the 1st Foot Guards Regiment in Potsdam.

Ernst’s wife, Agnes of Anhalt-Dessau. source: Wikipedia

Ernst married Princess Agnes of Anhalt-Dessau on April 28, 1853, in Dessau, Duchy of Anhalt, now in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. She was the daughter of Leopold IV Friedrich, Duke of Anhalt and Princess Friederike of Prussia. They had two children:

Ernst I succeeded his father as Duke of Saxe-Altenburg on August 3, 1853. Unlike his predecessors, he left much of the running of the duchy to his ministers, preferring to focus his attention on social issues, and his personal pursuits. However, he remained very active in cultivating the duchy’s relationship with Prussia and the other German states. He joined Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, although his forces were never involved in actual battles. For his efforts, he was given a guarantee of independence for Saxe-Altenburg, at a time when Prussia was annexing other territories, including the Kingdom of Hanover. Again joining the Prussians for the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, Ernst joined the military staff of Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. He later joined the staff of the 4th Army Corps, participating in the siege of Paris and the battles on the Loire.

Jagdschloss Hummelshain. photo: by Michael Sander – Own Work (self photographed), CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10112948

Meanwhile, at home, Ernst reorganized the government and helped to develop Altenburg into one of the major industrial cities in Germany. He oversaw the construction of a court theater in 1871 and was instrumental in establishing the Lindenau Museum several years later. An avid huntsman, he spent much of his time at the Jagdschloss Hummelshain, the family’s hunting lodge. After the lodge was destroyed by fire in 1872, Ernst oversaw the construction of a new, much more opulent lodge that was completed in 1885. In 1903, Ernst commissioned the construction of a memorial church in honor of his wife who had died six years earlier. The Duchess Agnes Memorial Church was completed in 1906, and Ernst had his wife’s tomb moved to the crypt there, along with that of their son Georg who had died in infancy.

The Duchess Agnes Memorial Church. photo: by User:WikiABG – Self photographed, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=875509

After a reign of nearly 55 years, Ernst I died in Altenburg, Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg, now in Thuringia, Germany, on February 7, 1908. He was buried in the crypt at the Duchess Agnes Memorial Church in Altenburg with his wife and son. As he had no living male heir, he was succeeded by his nephew Ernst II, the son of his brother Moritz.

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Marie Luise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Duchess of Saxe-Altenburg

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Marie Luise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Duchess of Saxe-Altenburg. source: Wikipedia

Marie Luise was the wife of Georg, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg. Duchess Marie Luise Friederike Alexandrine Elisabeth Charlotte Catherine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was born on March 31, 1803, at Ludwigslust Palace in Ludwgislust, Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin now in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. She was the daughter of Friedrich Ludwig, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna of Russia.

Marie Luise had one older brother:

Marie Luise had three younger half-siblings from her father’s second marriage to Princess Caroline Louise of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach:

Prince Georg of Saxe-Hildburghausen, circa 1820. source: Wikipedia

On October 7, 1825, in Ludwigslust, Marie Luise married Prince Georg of Saxe-Hildburghausen. He was the son of Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen (later Duke of Saxe-Altenburg) and Duchess Charlotte Georgine of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Marie Luise and her husband had three sons:

A year after their marriage, Georg became the Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Altenburg. The Ernestine duchies had been reorganized, and Georg’s father ceded Hildburghausen to the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and had instead been created Duke of Saxe-Altenburg. The family left Hildburghausen, and Marie and Georg settled at Christiansburg Castle in Eisenburg. They later moved to Altenburg, where, on November 30, 1848, Georg’s brother Joseph abdicated the throne. George and Marie became the new reigning Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Altenburg.

Christiansburg Castle. photo: By Wolkenkratzer – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38730308

The new Duchess quickly threw herself into charity work. Through her Marie Foundation, she founded a women’s association, several schools, and the Lutheran missionary society in Altenburg. After being widowed in August 1853, Marie Luise stayed in Altenburg and maintained a very close relationship with her son and his children.

On October 26, 1862, the 59-year-old Dowager Duchess died at the Elisabethenburg Palace in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany. Her body was brought back to Altenburg, Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg, now in Thuringia, Germany, and was buried in the Ducal Mausoleum in the Altenburg cemetery. In 1974, her remains were removed from the mausoleum and reburied elsewhere in the cemetery.

Saxe-Altenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

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Georg, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg: The Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg was created in 1826 when Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen became Duke of Saxe-Altenburg. After Friedrich IV, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg died in 1825 without heirs, the Ernestine duchies were reorganized. Gotha passed to the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld becoming the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Altenburg passed to Friedrich. In exchange, the two Dukes ceded Saalfeld and Hildburghausen, respectively, to the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen.

As World War I ended, the last Duke of Saxe-Altenburg, Ernst II, was one of the first German sovereigns to realize that major changes were coming and quickly arrived at an amicable settlement with his subjects. He abdicated on November 13, 1918. Today the territory that encompassed the Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg is located in the German state of Thuringia.

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Georg, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

Georg, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg reigned from 1848 until 1853. He was born Prince Georg Karl Friedrich of Saxe-Hildburghausen in Hildburghausen, Duchy of Saxe-Hildburghausen, now in Thuringia, Germany, on July 24, 1796, to Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen (later Duke of Saxe-Altenburg) and Duchess Charlotte Georgine of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Georg had 11 siblings:

As a younger son, it was not expected that Georg would one day succeed to the ducal throne. He began a military career early, serving in the Austrian forces in 1804. Ten years later, he was wounded in the Italian Campaign and forced to give up active service. Returning to Hildburghausen, he lived with his brother Joseph at the nearby Charlottenburg Palace. From 1816 until 1820, he studied at the University of Heidelberg and was appointed as a personal adjutant to King Maximilian I of Bavaria. After two years, he returned to Hildburghausen and undertook a project to redesign a castle in nearby Hellingen. He also founded a youth army, and in 1824, founded the municipal savings bank in Hildburghausen.

Marie Luise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. source: Wikipedia

On October 7, 1825, in Ludwigslust, Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin now in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, Georg married Duchess Marie Luise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. She was the daughter of Friedrich Ludwig, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna of Russia. They had three sons:

The following year, his father became the Duke of Saxe-Altenburg and moved to Altenburg. Georg and his family, however, remained in Hildburghausen for three more years. Eventually, in 1829, they moved to his father’s new duchy, taking up residence at Christiansburg Castle in nearby Eisenberg.

Christiansburg Castle. photo: by Wolkenkratzer – Own Work, CC-BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38730308

Georg became Duke of Saxe-Altenburg on November 30, 1848, succeeding his brother Joseph who was forced to abdicate. As Duke, he reformed the financial administration of the duchy and founded the George Foundation, which worked to promote and support artists and craftsmen. Georg came significant amounts of his own money to welfare efforts for the poor, earning him the nickname ‘Georg the Good’.

In declining health, Georg handed over much of his role to his son Ernst on May 28, 1853. Just over two months later, Duke Georg died at Jagdschloss Hummelshaim (link in German), now in the German state of Thuringia, on August 3, 1853. He was buried in the Ducal Mausoleum in Altenburg Cemetery in Altenburg, Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg, now in the German state of Thuringia, until 1974. At that time, all the remains in the mausoleum were removed and buried in an unmarked grave elsewhere in the cemetery.

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