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
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:
- Josef Bernhard (1706-1724) – unmarried
- Friedrich August (born and died 1707) – died in infancy
- Luise Dorothea (1710-1767) – married Friedrich III, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, had issue
- Karl Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (1712-1743) – unmarried
Although Ernst Ludwig was the third son, both of his elder brothers had 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.
Ernst Ludwig II died in Meiningen, Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, now in Thuringia, Germany, on February 24, 1729, never having 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