Category Archives: Saxe-Meiningen Royals

Ellen Franz, Baroness von Heldburg

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Ellen Franz, Baroness von Heldburg; Credit – Wikipedia

Ellen Franz, Baroness von Heldburg

Ellen Franz, Baroness von Heldburg, was the third wife of Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. She was born Hermine Helene Maria Augusta Franz on May 30, 1839, in Naumburg, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, to Hermann Franz and Sarah Grant.

Raised in Berlin, Ellen studied the piano with Hans von Bülow (who would later become Conductor of the Meiningen Court Orchestra under Ellen’s husband, Duke George II.) Through von Bülow, she met Cosima Liszt, the daughter of famed composer Franz Liszt, and the two maintained a lifelong friendship. Cosima would later marry and divorce von Bülow, and then married the German composer, Richard Wagner. She also studied acting, and made her debut on the stage in 1860, using the stage name Ellen Franz. Seven years later, she came to the Meiningen Court Theatre and appeared in numerous roles over the next six years. Within a year of arriving in Meiningen, Ellen had become romantically involved with Duke Georg II, who was still married to his second wife, Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. Feodora would die in late 1872.

Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

On March 18, 1873, Ellen married the twice-widowed Georg II at Villa Feodora in Bad Liebenstein. Prior to the marriage, Georg had created her Baroness von Heldburg in her own right, and she used this title for the rest of her life, also reverting back to her given name Helene. As the marriage was morganatic, she did not become Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen. The couple did not have any children.

Sharing a love of the theatre with her husband, Ellen worked with him to reform and redevelop the Meiningen Theater. Much of their efforts became known as the Meininger Principles which is still taught in theater schools today. While her husband created many of the costumes and scenery, Ellen focused on the casting of the productions and helped to train the young students. Through her friendship with Cosima Wagner, she was also able to bring several notable musicians and composers to the theater, including Richard Wagner and Johannes Brahms.

The Helenenstift, now the Palais am Prinzenberg. photo: Von Kramer96 – Eigenes Werk, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10154690

After her husband’s death in 1914, Ellen lived for several years at Heldburg Fortress before moving to the Helenenstift in Meiningen, a residence built for her in the early 1890s, intended to serve as a widow’s residence. The Helenenstift is now known as the Palais am Prinzenberg (link in German). The Baroness von Heldburg died at the Helenenstift on March 24, 1923, at the age of 83. She is buried beside her husband in the Park Cemetery in Meiningen, now in the German state of Thuringia.

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Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Credit – Wikipedia

Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen

Princess Feodora Victoria Adelheid of Hohenlohe-Langenburg was the second wife of Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. She was born in Stuttgart, Kingdom of Württemberg, now in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, on July 7, 1839, the youngest child of Ernst I, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Princess Feodora of Leiningen, the half-sister of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Through her mother, she was the niece of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

Feodora had five older siblings:

Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

On October 23, 1858, in Langenburg, Kingdom of Württemberg, now in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, Feodora married Georg, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Meiningen as his second wife. Georg was the son of Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Princess Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel. The couple was second cousins through their mutual descent from Christian Albrecht, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Princess Caroline of Stolberg-Gedern. Georg’s first wife, Charlotte of Prussia, had died in 1855 and left two young children. The marriage was primarily intended to find a mother for his children and was not a love match. He never got over the death of his first wife, with whom he shared many common interests. The same could not be said for his relationship with Feodora. His attempts to foster in her a love of the arts and theater proved unsuccessful, and he quickly realized that Feodora would never compare to his beloved Charlotte. Despite their differences, Feodora and Georg had three sons:

As Hereditary Princess, Feodora helped found a Meiningen branch of the Albert Association, an organization linked to the Red Cross, which later led to the foundation of the Red Cross Sisterhood. Following the death of their youngest son in 1865, Feodora began to spend much of her time at Villa Feodora, a small residence in Bad Liebenstein, and avoided Meiningen as much as possible. She became Duchess upon her husband’s accession in 1866, and that year commissioned the Feodor Hospital in Bad Liebenstein, which she supported through the rest of her life.

Villa Feodora, Bad Liebenstein. photo: Von Gunnar1m – Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3965316

Feodora, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen, died in, Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, on February 10, 1872, having contracted scarlet fever the previous month. She is buried in the Park Cemetery in Meiningen.

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Saxe-Meiningen Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Charlotte of Prussia, Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Charlotte of Prussia, Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Charlotte of Prussia was the first wife of the future Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. She died eleven years before her husband’s accession. She was born Princess Friederike Luise Wilhelmine Marianne Charlotte of Prussia on June 21, 1831, at Schönhausen Palace in Berlin,  Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany, the eldest child of Prince Albrecht of Prussia and Princess Marianne of the Netherlands. Charlotte had three younger siblings:

Charlotte also had two younger half-siblings from her father’s second, and morganatic, marriage to Rosalie von Rauch:

  • Count Wilhelm of Hohenau (1854-1930) – married (1) Laura, Countess Saurma von und zu der Jeltsch, had issue; (2) Princess Margaretha of Hohenlohe-Öhringen, had issue
  • Count Friedrich of Hohenhau (1857-1914) – married Charlotte von der Decken, had issue

Georg, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Following her parents’ divorce in 1849, Charlotte and her younger siblings Albrecht and Alexandrine were raised primarily by their aunt, Queen Elisabeth Ludovika of Prussia. By this time, however, the family was already on the hunt for a suitable husband for Charlotte. As a granddaughter of both King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia and King Willem I of the Netherlands, Charlotte was a very wealthy, and very sought-after young woman when it came to European princes looking for a bride. But she found her match in Hereditary Prince Georg of Saxe-Meiningen. He was the son of Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Princess Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel. The couple became engaged while Georg was serving in the Prussian military in Berlin, and was married at Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, now in the German state of Brandenburg, on May 18, 1850. Truly a love match (although it was most certainly encouraged by Charlotte’s uncle, King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia), Charlotte and Georg shared many of the same interests and unlike many marriages of the time, both were very happy to spend as much time together as possible. They would go on to have four children:

Charlotte with her three children, c1854; Credit – Wikipedia

Because of Georg’s military career, the family spent much of their marriage living in Berlin, where they had been given the use of the north wing of the Marble Palace by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. They also spent time at Villa Carlotta, a villa on Lake Como in Italy, which had been a wedding gift from Charlotte’s mother, and named in Charlotte’s honor. They also made trips to Meiningen, particularly returning for the births of several of their children.

Charlotte, the Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Meiningen, died in childbirth, along with her son, on March 30, 1855, at just 23 years old, in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen now in Thuringia, Germany. She is buried in the Park Cemetery in Meiningen.

Saxe-Meiningen Resources at Unofficial Royalty

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Georg 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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Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen; Credit – Wikipedia

Georg II was Duke of Saxe-Meiningen from 1866 until his death in 1914. He was born in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, on April 2, 1826, the only son of Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel. Georg had one younger sister:

First educated privately at home by tutors, Georg later attended the University of Bonn where he studied art history, history, and law. He finished his studies at Leipzig University in 1847.

Charlotte of Prussia. source: Wikipedia

On May 18, 1850, Georg married Princess Charlotte of Prussia at Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, now in the German state of Brandenburg. She was the daughter of Prince Albrecht of Prussia and Princess Marianne of the Netherlands. Charlotte and Georg had become engaged while Georg was serving in the Prussian military in Berlin, and their marriage was truly a love match. Together they had four children:

Villa Carlotta. photo: By Jean-Christophe BENOIST – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16407555

Georg and Charlotte spent much of their marriage in Berlin, then in the Kingdom of Prussia, now in Germany, living in the north wing of the Marble Palace. They also spent time at Villa Carlotta, a villa on Lake Como in Italy that had been a wedding gift from Charlotte’s mother, and named in her honor. Sadly, Charlotte died in March 1855, just after giving birth to their fourth child, who also died.

Princess Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

Although distraught over the loss of his beloved Charlotte, Georg set out to find another wife, primarily to be a mother to his children. While on his way to Italy, he met his second cousin, Princess Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, and they were quickly engaged. She was the daughter of Ernst I, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Princess Feodora of Leiningen, the elder half-sister of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. They married in Langenburg, Principality of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, now in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, on October 23, 1858, and had three children:

On September 20, 1866, Georg became Duke of Saxe-Meiningen when his father was forced to abdicate following his defeat in the Austro-Prussian War. Georg, who had remained loyal to the Prussians during the war, led several regiments of Meiningen soldiers and took the first French flags at the Battle of Froeschweiler. He maintained a close friendship with Wilhelm I, King of Prussia (later German Emperor), and served on his staff.

Ellen Franz. source: Wikipedia

Georg was widowed again in February 1872, when Feodora died of scarlet fever. The following year, on March 18, 1873, he married once again. His third wife was Ellen Franz, a former actress. Georg created her Baroness von Heldburg just before their marriage at Villa Feodora in Bad Liebenstein. She did not become Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen because the marriage was considered morganatic. They had no children.

Georg, passionate about the theatre, established the Meiningen Theater in the late 1860s and early 1870s, with the help of his third wife. The company toured extensively throughout Germany and Europe from 1874-1890 and became renowned for its attention to detail and authenticity in its sets and costumes and the portrayals of the characters. Georg himself drew upon his extensive knowledge of history and art and designed many of the costumes and scenery, as well as choreographing many of the large crowd scenes within the productions. Having been interested in theatre since his youth, he was able to spend much of his time, efforts, and money to create theatre productions that conveyed both lifelike reality and historical accuracy.

In addition to the theatre, Georg was the patron of the Meiningen Court Orchestra. Under his patronage, the orchestra became prominent in the 1880s when Georg hired Hans von Bülow as its conductor. The orchestra served as an ensemble for Johannes Brahms, who even conducted himself when premiering his Fourth Symphony. Brahms remained connected to the orchestra for the rest of his life. Following his death in 1897, Georg had a monument built in his honor in Meiningen’s English gardens.

Georg became nearly deaf in his later years and retired from public life. He died at Bad Wildungen, Principality of Waldeck and Pyrmont, now in Hesse, Germany, on June 25, 1914. He is buried in the Park Cemetery in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany.

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Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen

Princess Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel was the wife of Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. She was born in Kassel, Electorate of Hesse, now in Hesse, Germany, on September 6, 1804, to Wilhelm II, Elector of Hesse and Princess Auguste of Prussia, and had five siblings:

  • Prince Wilhelm (1798-1780) – died in childhood
  • Princess Karoline (1799-1854) – unmarried
  • Princess Luise (1801-1803) – died in childhood
  • Friedrich Wilhelm, Elector of Hesse (1802-1888) – married Gertrude Falkenstein, had issue
  • Prince Ferdinand (born and died1806) – died in infancy

Marie Friederike also had eight half-siblings from her father’s second morganatic marriage in 1841 to his longtime mistress Emilie Ortlöpp, Countess von Reichenbach-Lessonitz, who were all born before the marriage and styled Count/Countess von Reichenbach-Lessonitz:

  • Countess Luise (1813-1883) – married Karl, Count von Bose
  • Count Julius (1815-1822) – died in childhood
  • Countess Amalie (1816) – married (1) Wilhelm, Count von Lückner; (2) Karl, Baron von Watzdorf; (3) Wilhelm, Count von Lückner
  • Count Gustav Karl (1818-1861) – married Clementine Richter
  • Countess Emilie (1820-1891) – married Felix, Count Zichy-Ferraris
  • Countess Friederike (1821-1891) – married Wilhelm, Baron von Dungern
  • Count Wilhelm (1824-1866) – married Amelie, Baroness Goeler von Ravensburg
  • Countess Helene (1825-1898) – married Oswald, Baron von Fabrice

Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

Although she had been considered as a potential bride for King Oscar I of Sweden several years earlier, Marie Friederike married Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen on March 23, 1825. He was the son of Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Princess Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. Marie Friederike and Bernhard had two children, born over seventeen years apart:

Marie Friederike was Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen from her marriage until her husband was forced to abdicate in favor of his son, in 1866 following the defeat of Austria, who he supported, in the Austro-Prussian War. The couple took up residence at the Great Palace (link in German) in Meiningen, where they would live out the rest of their lives.

The Dowager Duchess died in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany on January 1, 1888, having survived her husband for more than five years. She was buried in the Ducal Crypt Chapel (link in German) in the Meiningen municipal cemetery until 1977 when her remains were removed from the chapel, cremated, and buried elsewhere in the cemetery.

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Bernhard 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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Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

Bernhard II was Duke of Saxe-Meiningen from 1803 until his abdication in 1866. He was born on December 17, 1800, in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, the youngest child of Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Princess Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. Bernhard had two older sisters:

At just three years old, Bernhard became the reigning Duke of Saxe-Meiningen upon his father’s death in December 1803. Because of his youth, his mother served as Regent until Bernhard reached his majority. During this time, Luise Eleonore steered the duchy successfully through the Napoleonic Wars, the famine that followed, and the alignment with the Allies in 1813. Thanks to her efforts, Bernhard II found the duchy in relatively good financial shape upon assuming his role as Duke in 1821.

Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel

On March 23, 1825, Bernhard married Princess Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel. She was the daughter of Wilhelm II, Elector of Hesse and Princess Auguste of Prussia. Bernhard and Marie had two children:

Bernhard II saw the expansion of the duchy of Saxe-Meiningen in 1826. The previous year, the childless Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg died with no heirs. As a result, Bernhard and the Dukes of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and Saxe-Hildburghausen divided the territories between them. The Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld ceded Saalfeld to Bernhard, and received the Gotha lands, becoming Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen ceded Hildburghausen to Bernhard, and received the Altenburg lands, becoming Duke of Saxe-Altenburg.

Although he had earlier aligned himself with Prussia, in the mid-1860s, Bernhard instead sided with Austria during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. Following Austria’s defeat, the Prussians forced Bernhard to abdicate on September 20, 1866, in favor of his son, Georg II. Now the former Duke, Bernhard took up residence at the Great Palace in Meiningen, previously built as a dower home for his mother. His attempts to be named as an advisor to his son were refused, and he lived out the remainder of his life removed from any aspect of the duchy’s government. His relationship with Georg II was somewhat strained – Bernhard had never allowed Georg access to any government business during his reign, leaving the new duke with little hands-on experience in his new role. Bernhard also later attempted – unsuccessfully – to have the German Emperor depose Georg II upon his morganatic marriage to Ellen Franz in 1873. It would be another five years before he would reconcile with his son, and meet his newest daughter-in-law.

Ducal Crypt Chapel, Meiningen. photo: Von kramer96 – Original uploader was Kramer96 at de.wikipedia.Originaltext: eigene Aufnahme, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19859816

Bernhard II died in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meinigen, now in Thuringia, Germany, on December 3, 1882. He was buried in the Ducal Crypt Chapel (link in German) in the Meiningen municipal cemetery until 1977 when his remains were removed from the chapel, cremated, and buried elsewhere in the cemetery.

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Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen

Princess Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg was the wife of Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, and later served as Regent for her young son. She was born in Langenburg, in the Principality of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, now in Baden-Württemberg, Germany,  on August 11, 1763, to Christian Albrecht, 2nd Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Princess Caroline of Stolberg-Gedern. Luise Eleonore had six siblings:

  • Karl Ludwig, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1762-1825) – married Amalie of Solms-Baruth, had issue
  • Gustav Adolf (1764-1796) – unmarried
  • Christine Caroline (1765-1768) – died in childhood
  • Ludwig Wilhelm (1767-1768) – died in infancy
  • Christian August (1768-1796) – unmarried
  • Auguste Karoline (1769-1803) – unmarried

Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

On November 27, 1782, Luise Eleonore married Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. After ten years of marriage, they began their family and had three children:

In December 1803, her husband died and her three-year-old son became the reigning Duke. Luise Eleonore became Regent and is credited with steering the duchy through some very difficult times. Forced to join the Confederation of the Rhine in 1806 and provide troops, Luise arranged to import wheat into the duchy to help fight the great famine which was ravaging many of the Saxon states. Unlike several of the other rulers, Luise refused to leave Meiningen to flee the French and Russian forces. Having managed to maintain her authority, she joined with the Allies in 1813 having saved the duchy for her son. She instituted special taxes in the duchy, in order to provide the large dowry – 6,000 florins a year – for her daughter Adelheid upon her marriage to the future King William IV of the United Kingdom. Luise Eleonore continued to work to restore the duchy’s finances and economic position within Europe, leaving a well-managed government to her son upon his majority in 1821.

Great Palace, Meiningen. source: Wikipedia

Following her Regency, Luise Eleonore moved into the newly built Great Palace (link in German) in Meiningen, built by her son Bernhard for her to use as her dower home. While living there for the rest of her life, Luise Eleonore traveled extensively throughout Europe, including an extended visit to her daughter Adelheid in England, with whom she was very close.

The Dowager Duchess died in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, on April 30, 1837, at the age of 73. She was buried in the Ducal Crypt Chapel (link in German) in the Meiningen municipal cemetery until 1977 when her remains were removed from the chapel, cremated, and buried elsewhere in the cemetery.

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Georg 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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Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

Georg I was Duke of Saxe-Meiningen from 1782 until 1803. He was born in the Imperial Free City of Frankfurt, now in Hesse, Germany, on February 4, 1761, the youngest son of Anton Ulrich, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Philippsthal. Georg had seven siblings:

Georg also had ten elder half-siblings from his father’s first, morganatic, marriage to Philippine Elisabeth Caesar. Although all were given the title Prince/Princess, none were eligible to succeed to the ducal throne.

Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg

Georg became Duke of Saxe-Meiningen in July 1782, upon the death of his childless brother, Karl Wilhelm. Just four months later, he married Princess Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg on November 27, 1782, in Langenburg, Principality of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, now in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Luise Eleonore was the daughter of Christian Albrecht, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Caroline of Stolberg-Gedern. After ten years of marriage, Georg and Luise Eleonore started their family, having three children:

One of the first things Georg did upon becoming Duke was to open the Ducal library and art collections to the public. He also oversaw the design of the new English Garden in Meiningen on the site of the former municipal cemetery and began to transform Meiningen into a prestigious royal city. In neighboring Bad Liebenstein, he oversaw the redesign of the town, as well as Altenstein Castle and its surrounding parks. He also founded a Forestry Academy in neighboring Dreissigacker. Using his own funds, he established a new school to be built in honor of his son’s birth and also founded a school for the poor along with providing free medical care.

Having always been in poor health, Georg I died in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany on December 24, 1803, after developing a fever. He was buried in the Ducal Crypt Chapel (link in German) in the Meiningen municipal cemetery until 1977 when his remains were removed from the chapel, cremated, and buried elsewhere in the cemetery.

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Saxe-Meiningen Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Luise of Stolberg-Gedern, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Luise of Stolberg-Gedern, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen

Luise of Stolberg-Gedern was the wife of Karl Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. She was born in Gedern, Principality of Stolberg-Gerdern, now in the German state of Hesse, on October 13, 1764, the daughter of Christian Karl, Prince of Stolberg-Gedern and Countess Eleonore of Reuss-Lobenstein.

Karl Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

On June 5, 1780, Luise married Karl Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. They had no children, and just two years later, Karl Wilhelm died.

Duke Eugen of Württemberg

Luise remarried on January 21, 1787, marrying Duke Eugen of Württemberg in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in the German state of Thuringia. He was the son of Friedrich II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg and Sophie Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt. Luise and Eugen had five children:

The former Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen died in Carlsruhe, Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia, now Pokój, Poland on May 24, 1834, having survived both of her husbands and two of her children. She is buried in the cemetery in Carlsruhe.

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Saxe-Meiningen Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Karl 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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Karl Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

Karl Wilhelm was Duke of Saxe-Meiningen from 1763-1782. He was born in the Imperial Free City of Frankfurt, now in the German state of Hesse, on November 19, 1754, to Anton Ulrich, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Philippsthal. Karl Wilhelm had seven siblings:

He also had ten elder half-siblings from his father’s first, morganatic, marriage to Philippine Caesar. None of those siblings were in the line of succession to the ducal throne.

At just eight years old, he succeeded his father as Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. Because of his age, his mother served as Regent and was instrumental in bringing the duchy back from the brink of financial and economic disaster. Following his mother’s example, Karl Wilhelm worked to reduce the size of his court and help restore the finances of the duchy. He promoted education for the people of Saxe-Meiningen and founded one of the first teachers’ colleges.

Luise of Stolberg-Gedern

Karl Wilhelm married Princess Luise of Stolberg-Gedern on June 5, 1780, in Gedern, Principality of Stolberg-Gedern, now in the German state of Hesse. She was the daughter of Christian Karl, Prince of Stolberg-Gedern and Countess Eleonore of Reuss-Lobenstein. They had no children.

Karl Wilhelm died in Sonneberg, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, on July 21, 1782, at just 27 years old. He was initially buried at the Castle Church at Elisabethenburg Palace, in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany. His remains were later moved to the Meiningen municipal cemetery in 1977.  He was succeeded by his younger brother, Georg I.

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Saxe-Meiningen Resources at Unofficial Royalty