Adolf William, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach
Encyclopedia
Adolf Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach (Weimar
, 15 May 1632 – Eisenach
, 21 November 1668), was a duke of Saxe-Eisenach
.
He was the fourth but second surviving son of Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
and Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau
.
When Adolf was nineteen years old, he traveled around several different countries, in particular France
. Subsequently, in 1656 entered the service of King Charles X Gustav of Sweden
(who was at that time engaged in the Northern Wars
against Poland
) as a Colonel, where Adolf was characterised by his courage and bravery. However, after a meeting in Funen
with an imperial ambassador, Adolf transferred to the Imperial Army with the rank of Colonel. In 1661, he traveled again to Sweden
, and King Charles Gustav offered him the rank of Major General of the Infantry with a pay of 2000 talents
; Adolf declined.
When his father died (1662) Adolf, with his older brother Johann Ernst
, divided the paternal estates. He received Eisenach
and its Schloss Wilhelmsburg, with its large garden, where he made his residence. His two younger brothers, Johann Georg
and Bernhard
, received only incomes from the duchies of their older brothers.
on 18 January 1663, Adolf married Marie Elisabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. They had five children:
Adolf lost all his sons shortly after birth, and his widow was pregnant with their fifth child at the time of his death. Eight days later, a son was born, called Wilhelm August, who inherited the estates of his father (under the regency of his uncle Johann Georg), until his death at only two years of age, whereupon Johann Georg inherited the estates.
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
, 15 May 1632 – Eisenach
Eisenach
Eisenach is a city in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated between the northern foothills of the Thuringian Forest and the Hainich National Park. Its population in 2006 was 43,626.-History:...
, 21 November 1668), was a duke of Saxe-Eisenach
Saxe-Eisenach
Saxe-Eisenach was the name of an Ernestine duchy ruled by the Saxon House of Wettin. The State intermittendly existed at three different times in the Thuringian region of the Holy Roman Empire...
.
He was the fourth but second surviving son of Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar , was a duke of Saxe-Weimar.Wilhelm was the fifth son of Johann, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, and Dorothea Maria of Anhalt...
and Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau
Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau
Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau , was a princess of Anhalt-Dessau by birth and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Weimar.- Life :...
.
When Adolf was nineteen years old, he traveled around several different countries, in particular France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Subsequently, in 1656 entered the service of King Charles X Gustav of Sweden
Charles X Gustav of Sweden
Charles X Gustav also Carl Gustav, was King of Sweden from 1654 until his death. He was the son of John Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg and Catherine of Sweden. After his father's death he also succeeded him as Pfalzgraf. He was married to Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp, who...
(who was at that time engaged in the Northern Wars
Northern Wars
Northern Wars is a term used for a series of wars fought in northern and northeastern Europe in the 16th and 17th century. An internationally agreed nomenclature for these wars has not yet been devised...
against Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
) as a Colonel, where Adolf was characterised by his courage and bravery. However, after a meeting in Funen
Funen
Funen , with a size of 2,984 km² , is the third-largest island of Denmark following Zealand and Vendsyssel-Thy, and the 163rd largest island of the world. Funen is located in the central part of the country and has a population of 454,358 inhabitants . The main city is Odense, connected to the...
with an imperial ambassador, Adolf transferred to the Imperial Army with the rank of Colonel. In 1661, he traveled again to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, and King Charles Gustav offered him the rank of Major General of the Infantry with a pay of 2000 talents
Talent (weight)
The "talent" was one of several ancient units of mass, as well as corresponding units of value equivalent to these masses of a precious metal. It was approximately the mass of water required to fill an amphora. A Greek, or Attic talent, was , a Roman talent was , an Egyptian talent was , and a...
; Adolf declined.
When his father died (1662) Adolf, with his older brother Johann Ernst
Johann Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
John Ernest II , was a duke of Saxe-Weimar.He was the second but eldest surviving son of William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, and Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau....
, divided the paternal estates. He received Eisenach
Eisenach
Eisenach is a city in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated between the northern foothills of the Thuringian Forest and the Hainich National Park. Its population in 2006 was 43,626.-History:...
and its Schloss Wilhelmsburg, with its large garden, where he made his residence. His two younger brothers, Johann Georg
John George I, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach
Johann Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach .He was the fifth but third surviving son of Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau....
and Bernhard
Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Jena
Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Jena , was duke of Saxe-Jena.He was the seventh child but fourth surviving son of Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau....
, received only incomes from the duchies of their older brothers.
Marriage and issue
In WolfenbüttelWolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, located on the Oker river about 13 kilometres south of Brunswick. It is the seat of the District of Wolfenbüttel and of the bishop of the Protestant Lutheran State Church of Brunswick...
on 18 January 1663, Adolf married Marie Elisabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. They had five children:
- Karl August (b. Eisenach, 31 January 1664 - d. Eisenach, 14 February 1665).
- Frederick Wilhelm (b. Eisenach, 2 February 1665 - d. Eisenach, 3 May 1665).
- Adolf Wilhelm (b. Eisenach, 26 June 1666 - d. Eisenach, 11 December 1666).
- Ernst August (b. Eisenach, 28 August 1667 - d. Eisenach, 8 February 1668).
- Wilhelm August, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach (b. posthumously, Eisenach, 30 November 1668 - d. Eisenach, 23 February 1671).
Adolf lost all his sons shortly after birth, and his widow was pregnant with their fifth child at the time of his death. Eight days later, a son was born, called Wilhelm August, who inherited the estates of his father (under the regency of his uncle Johann Georg), until his death at only two years of age, whereupon Johann Georg inherited the estates.