Category Archives: German Royals

Friedrich Wilhelm, 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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Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

Friedrich Wilhelm was born on February 16, 1679, in Ichtershausen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, the son of the future Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and his first wife, Maria Hedwig of Hesse-Darmstadt. He had six siblings:

He also had five half-siblings from his father’s second marriage to Elisabeth Eleonore of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel:

Following the death of his brother, Ernst Ludwig I, in 1724, Friedrich Wilhelm served as one of the guardians for his two young nephews – Ernst Ludwig II and Karl Friedrich – during their reigns. Following Karl Friedrich’s death in 1743, he became the reigning Duke of Saxe-Meiningen.

After reigning for just three years, Friedrich Wilhelm died in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, on March 10, 1746. He is buried in the Castle Church at Elisabethenburg Palace. in Meiningen. As he was unmarried and had no heirs, the ducal throne passed to his younger half-brother, Anton Ulrich.

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Saxe-Meiningen Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Karl Friedrich, 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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Karl Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Karl Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

Karl Friedrich reigned as Duke of Saxe-Meiningen from 1729-1743. He was born in Meiningen, Duchy of  Saxe-Meiningen now in Thuringia, Germany, on July 18, 1712, the youngest child of Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and his first wife, Dorothea Maria of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. He had four older siblings:

Karl Friedrich’s father died in November 1724, making his elder brother, Ernst Ludwig II, the reigning Duke. As both brothers were underage, their two uncles, Friedrich Wilhelm and Anton Ulrich, oversaw the running of the duchy. Ernst Ludwig II died in 1729, and Karl Friedrich became the reigning Duke. Despite his uncles’ guardianship ending in 1733 when Karl Friedrich reached his majority, he continued to leave the daily running of the duchy to his uncles and his court officials. In poor health, he was unable and had to be carried and driven everywhere, and had little interest in anything which required responsibility.

Never married, Karl Friedrich died in Meiningen, Duchy of  Saxe-Meiningen now in Thuringia, Germany, on March 28, 1743, at the age of 31. He is buried in the Castle Church at Elisabethenburg Palace in Meiningen.

Saxe-Meiningen Resources at Unofficial Royalty

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Ernst Ludwig II, 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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Ernst Ludwig II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Ernst Ludwig II was Duke of Saxe-Meiningen from 1724-1729. He was born in Coburg on August 8, 1709, to Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and his first wife, Dorothea Maria of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. He had four siblings:

Ernst Ludwig was the third son, but his elder brothers died before their father, making him heir to the Ducal throne. He became Duke upon his father’s death in November 1724. Just fifteen years old, his brief reign was overseen by his two uncles, Friedrich Wilhelm and Anton Ulrich.

Nineteen-year-old Ernst Ludwig II died in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, on February 24, 1729, and never reached his majority. He was succeeded by his younger brother Karl Friedrich. Ernst Ludwig is buried in the Castle Church at Elisabethenburg Palace in Meiningen.

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Saxe-Meiningen Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Elisabeth Sophie of Brandenburg, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Elisabeth Sophie of Brandenburg, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Elisabeth Sophie of Brandenburg was the second wife of Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. She was born in Cölln Electorate of Brandenburg, now part of Berlin, Brandenburg, Germany, on April 5, 1674, to Friedrich Wilhelm, Elector of Brandenburg and Princess Dorothea Sophie of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, and had six siblings:

Elisabeth Sophie also had six older half-siblings from her father’s first marriage to Princess Luise Henriette of Nassau:

Friedrich Casimir Kettler, Duke of Courland; Credit – Wikipedia

On April 29, 1691, Elisabeth Sophie married her first cousin, Friedrich Casimir Kettler, Duke of Courland, as his second wife. He was the son of Jacob Kettler, Duke of Courland and Luise Charlotte of Brandenburg. They had two sons:

After being widowed in 1698, Elisabeth Sophie became Co-Regent of Courland with her brother-in-law. She left Courland in 1701 for her brother’s court in Berlin, losing custody of her son as well as her position as Co-Regent.

Christian Ernst, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth; Credit – Wikipedia

On March 30, 1703, in Potsdam, Elisabeth Sophie married Christian Ernst, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, as his third wife. He was the son of Erdmann August, Hereditary Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth and Sophie of Brandenburg-Ansbach. They had no children. From all accounts, she completely dominated her husband, particularly by imposing her pro-Prussian political views on him. A lavish spender, Elisabeth Sophie’s expenses greatly impacted the finances of the Margraviate during their nine-year marriage. She was widowed again in May 1712.

Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Elisabeth Sophie’s third husband was the widowed Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, whom she married at Schloss Ehrenburg in Coburg, Duchy of Saxe-Coburg, Saalfeld, now in Bavaria, Germany, on June 3, 1714. They had no children. After ten years of marriage, Elisabeth Sophie was once again widowed in 1724. She survived her husband by twenty-four years and died at Schloss Glücksburg (link in German), in Römhild, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, on November 22, 1748. She is buried in the Castle Church at Elisabethenburg Palace. in Meinigen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany.

Saxe-Meiningen Resources at Unofficial Royalty

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Dorothea Maria of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Dorothea Maria of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Dorothea Maria of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg was the first wife of Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. She was born in Gotha, Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, now in Thuringia, Germany, on January 22, 1674, to Friedrich I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Magdalena Sibylla of Saxe-Weissenfels. She had seven siblings:

Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

On September 19, 1704, at Schloss Friedenstein in Gotha, Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, now in Thuringia, Germany, Dorothea Maria married Ernst Ludwig. The two first cousins – both were grandchildren of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha – had become engaged four months earlier. Over the next eight years, they had five children:

The marriage was happy, and both shared the same interest in music and the arts. She devoted much of her time to charitable works, particularly supporting the orphanage in Meiningen. Because of a condition referred to as ‘facial fluxes’ – probably a nervous condition – she spent much of her time living in the countryside. At Dreiẞigacker, her husband planned to build a palace and name it Dorotheenburg in her honor, but she did not live long enough to see this happen.

Dorothea Maria died, aged 39, in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, on April 18, 1713. She is buried in the Castle Church at Elisabethenburg Palace. in Meiningen.

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Saxe-Meiningen Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Ernst Ludwig 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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Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen was born at Friedenstein Palace in Gotha, Duchy of Saxe-Gotha, now in Thuringia, Germany,  on October 7, 1672. The eldest child of Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and his first wife, Marie Hedwig of Hesse-Darmstadt, Ernst Ludwig had six younger siblings:

  • Bernhard (1673-1694) – unmarried
  • Johann Ernst (1674-1675) – died in infancy
  • Marie Elisabeth (born and died 1676) – died in infancy
  • Johann Georg (1677-1678) – died in infancy
  • Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (1679-1746) – unmarried
  • Georg Ernst (1680-1699) – unmarried

Ernst Ludwig also had five half-siblings from his father’s second marriage to Elisabeth Eleonore of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel:

An artistically gifted child, Ernst Ludwig studied at the Rudolph-Antoniana Knight Academy in Wolfenbüttel. He began a military career in 1689, leading several regiments against France, and serving with troops led by Ludwig Wilhelm, Margrave of Baden-Baden, helping to conquer the city of Landau. He was later raised to the rank of Imperial Field Marshal Lieutenant.

Dorothea Maria of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg; Credit: Wikipedia

On September 19, 1704, in Gotha, Duchy of Saxe-Gotha Altenburg, now in Thuringia, Germany, Ernst Ludwig married his first cousin, Dorothea Maria of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. She was the daughter of Friedrich I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Magdalena Sibylla of Saxe-Weissenfels. Together they had five children before Dorothea Maria died in April 1713:

Ernst Ludwig succeeded his father, Bernhard I, as Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. Unlike his own father who had divided his territories among his sons, Bernhard stipulated in his will that the duchy should remain united. However, he also wanted his sons to rule jointly, which none of them wanted to do. Ernst Ludwig, as the eldest son, felt that the throne should go solely to him and his heirs, which caused a rift between him and his brothers. Eventually, he reached an agreement with them which gave him sole reign. His two remaining brothers later ruled after his death, in the guardianship of Ernst Ludwig’s sons.

Elisabeth Sophie of Brandenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

On June 3, 1714, just over a year after the death of his first wife, Ernst Ludwig married Elisabeth Sophie of Brandenburg, at Schloss Ehrenburg in Coburg, Duchy of Saxe-Coburg, now in the German state of Bavaria. She was the daughter of Friedrich Wilhelm, Elector of Brandenburg and Princess Dorothea Sophie of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg. They had no children.

During his reign, Ernst Ludwig was involved in several military conflicts, in an attempt to gain more territory after his uncles, the Dukes of Saxe-Coburg, Saxe-Römhild, and Saxe-Eisenberg, died without heirs. The disputes eventually went to Imperial arbitration, with Ernst Ludwig receiving very little gain in his lands. These conflicts and the rift between Ernst Ludwig and his brothers, caused a decline in the economy in Saxe-Meiningen, already in bad shape since his father’s reign. Ernst Ludwig’s attempts at political reform were ineffective. He ended up focusing on the arts, composing numerous hymns, and expanding his collection of musical compositions. Several years before his death, he wrote the lyrics for the hymns at his funeral, with the music composed by Johann Ludwig Bach.

Ernst Ludwig I died in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in the German state of Thuringia, on November 24, 1724. He is buried in the Castle Church at Elisabethenburg Palace in Meiningen.

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Saxe-Meiningen Resources at Unofficial Royalty

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 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. photo: By Kooij – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3665880

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 principalities coat of arms featured a black hen, which was seen at the time as a symbol of magic and witchcraft. Marie Hedwig made it clear that she would not move to the “land of the black hen”.

Nine weeks before the planned move, Marie Hedwig died in Ichtershausen, Duchy of Anhalt, now in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany on April 19, 1680. She had given birth to her youngest child just a few weeks earlier. She 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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Saxe-Meiningen Resources at Unofficial Royalty

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.

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Saxe-Meiningen Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia; Credit – Wikipedia

One of the few members of the Romanov family who managed to get their jewelry out of Russia after the Russian Revolution, Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (Marie Alexandrine Elisabeth Eleonore) was born May 14, 1854, at Schloss Ludwigslust in Ludwiglust,  Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, now in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Marie was the only daughter and the third of the six children of Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and his first wife Augusta of Reuss-Köstritz.

Marie’s mother died at the age of 40 when Marie was eight years old. The official cause was a heart valve inflammation but there is evidence that Grand Duchess Augusta died from tuberculosis. Tuberculosis was taboo in royal circles at the time and would have reduced the marriage prospects of her children.

Marie had five siblings, all brothers:

Marie’s father married a second time but his wife Princess Anna of Hesse and by Rhine died shortly after giving birth to a daughter, Marie’s half-sister:

  • Duchess Anna  of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1865 – 1882), died at age 16 from pneumonia

Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II married a third time in 1868 and Marie was then raised by a stepmother, Princess Marie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, who was only four years older than her.  Marie had four half-siblings from her father’s third marriage:

Marie’s childhood was marked by the wars of German unification. Her father Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was the nephew of King Wilhelm I of Prussia. Friedrich Franz supported Prussia and distinguished himself in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 – 1871. As a result of the war, the German states proclaimed their union as the German Empire under the Prussian King Wilhelm I, finally uniting Germany as a nation-state with Wilhelm I becoming the German Emperor.

Engagement Photo: Marie and Vladimir, 1874; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1871, while traveling with his family through the various German monarchies, twenty-year-old Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia, the second surviving son of Alexander II, Emperor of All Russia, met his seventeen-year-old second cousin Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. The two young people were descended from Paul I, Emperor of All Russia and Friedrich Wilhelm III, King of Prussia. Vladimir and Marie quickly fell in love and Marie broke off her engagement to Georg Albert, Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt.

However, Marie, who was Lutheran, refused to convert to Russian Orthodoxy. This caused a three-year delay in the marriage until Vladimir’s father, Alexander II allowed Marie to remain Lutheran and ruled that Vladimir could still retain his succession rights. The engagement was announced in April 1874. The wedding was held at the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia on August 28, 1874, After marriage, the bride was known as Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna.

The marriage caused Maria to have some brilliant alliances: She would be the sister-in-law of Alexander III, Emperor of All Russia and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna who had married Prince Alfred of the United Kingdom, a son of Queen Victoria. She would be the aunt of Nicholas II, Emperor of All Russia and Queen Marie of Romania.

Vladimir and Maria had five children:

Vladimir, Maria, and their children, circa 1883; Credit – Wikipedia

Vladimir and Maria moved into the new 360-room Vladimir Palace on the Palace Embankment facing the Neva River just down the road from the Winter Palace in St.Petersburg. The yellow facade of the palace is in the Florentine Renaissance style and the interior is a mixture of Moorish, Gothic, and Rococo styles. It was the last imperial palace built in St. Petersburg. Across the Neva River was a view of the Peter and Paul Fortress and within the Fortress, the Peter and Paul Cathedral with its gilded spire with a flying angel at the very top. Vladimir and Maria enjoyed entertaining and Vladimir Palace became the heart of St. Petersburg’s social life. Marie was socially ambitious and established herself as one of the best hostesses in the capital. Her addiction to gambling caused her to defy Nicholas II’s prohibition on playing roulette and baccarat in private homes and she was temporarily banned from Court.

Vladimir Palace; Photo Credit – Von A.Savin (Wikimedia Commons · WikiPhotoSpace) – Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21506331

In 1905, Maria Pavlovna’s eldest son Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich married his first cousin, Princess Victoria Melita of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Victoria Melita was the daughter of Prince Alfred of the United Kingdom, Duke of Edinburgh and Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (second son of Queen Victoria) and Vladimir’s sister Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia. Because Kirill married his first cousin, prohibited by the Russian Orthodox Church, and because he had not received the consent of Nicholas II to marry, he was stripped of his imperial titles, military appointments, and funding. The couple was banished from Russia and settled in France. Grand Duke Vladimir went into a rage after a brief interview with his nephew Nicholas II and resigned from all his posts in the army.

Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich; Credit – Wikipedia

On February 17, 1909, 61-year-old Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich died suddenly after suffering a major cerebral hemorrhage. His funeral and burial, held on February 21, 1909, was attended by Nicholas II, Vladimir’s widow Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, other members of the Imperial Family, government ministers, and Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria. Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich was buried in the Grand Ducal Mausoleum, adjacent to the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia.

In 1909, following several deaths within the Imperial Family including Vladimir’s, Kirill was third in line to the Russian throne after Nicholas II’s hemophiliac son Alexei and Nicholas’ younger brother Michael. Nicholas II relented and allowed Kirill to return to Russia, restoring his Imperial titles, his military positions, and his funding. Maria Pavlovna finally decided to convert to Russian Orthodoxy to help Kirill’s possibility of inheriting the throne.

Maria Pavlovna with her children; Credit – Wikipedia

Maria Pavlovna was proud to have given birth to strong sons who were potential heirs to the throne, while Empress Alexandra, her niece by marriage, had four daughters before giving birth to a son with hemophilia, a hereditary disease transmitted by the Empress. Maria Pavlovna was the oldest of the Grand Duchesses and formed an alternative court during the last years of Nicholas II’s reign. Together with her sons, Maria Pavlovna planned a coup against Nicholas II during the winter of 1916-1917, which would force his abdication. However, Maria and her sons found no allies to support their coup.

After the abdication of Nicholas II in March 1917 and the advent of the Russian Revolution, Maria Pavlovna still hoped that her eldest son Kirill would one day be Emperor of All Russia. When other Romanovs were leaving Russia, including her son Kirill and his family, Maria spent 1917-1918 with her son Boris, her son Andrei, his lover Matilde Kschessinskaya, and her son Vladimir in the war-torn Caucasus. With the advance of the Bolsheviks, they fled to Anapa, Russia on the Black Sea, where they spent another fourteen months. However, Boris decided to leave Russia once he reached Anapa.

When the Commander of the White Army told Maria Pavlovna that the Bolsheviks would win the Russian Civil War, she finally agreed to go into exile. On February 13, 1920, Maria Pavlovna, her son Andrei, his mistress Matilde Kschessinska, and her son Vladimir boarded an Italian ship in the direction of Venice, Italy. They traveled from Venice to Switzerland and then to France, where Maria Pavlovna’s health failed. Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna died on September 6, 1920, aged 66, surrounded by her family at her villa (now the Hotel La Souveraine) in Contrexéville, France.

Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna was buried in the Chapel of St. Vladimir and St. Mary Magdalene in Contrexéville, France which she had built in 1909. Her son Andrei and his wife were also buried there.

Chapel of St. Vladimir and St. Mary Magdalene, burial place of Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna; Photo Credit – Par Yorick Petey — Travail personnel, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=876364

Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna had a passion for jewelry and her collection was renowned. She was one of the few members of the Romanov family who managed to get her jewelry out of Russia. British art dealer and diplomatic courier Albert Stopford, a family friend, rescued the jewelry from her Vladimir Palace safe and smuggled the jewels out of Russia to England. After Maria Pavlovna’s death, the jewelry was sold by her children to support their lives in exile. Queen Mary of the United Kingdom purchased some of the jewelry including the Vladimir Tiara. Maria Pavlovna had received the tiara as a gift from her husband at the time of their wedding. Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna inherited the tiara from her mother. Queen Mary bought the tiara in 1921 and had the tiara altered to accommodate fifteen of the Cambridge cabochon emeralds. The original drop pearls can easily be replaced as an alternative to the emeralds. Queen Mary personally gave the tiara to her granddaughter Queen Elizabeth II.

Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna wearing the Vladimir Tiara; Credit – Wikipedia

Queen Mary wearing the Vladimir Tiara; Credit – Wikipedia

Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Vladimir Tiara; Credit – Wikipedia

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