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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