Christian Ernst, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
Encyclopedia
Christian Ernst of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (Bayreuth, 6 August 1644 – Erlangen
, 20 May 1712) was a member of the House of Hohenzollern
and Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
.
He was the only son of Erdmann August
, Hereditary Margrave (Erbmarkgraf) of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, by his wife and first cousin, Sophie of Brandenburg-Ansbach.
The death of his father (6 February 1651) made Christian Ernst the new heir to the margraviate of Bayreuth. At the age of ten, he succeeded his grandfather Christian
as margrave when he died on 30 May 1655. His uncle Georg Albrecht
acted as regent until 1664, when Christian Ernst was declared an adult and assumed the government of his principality.
, and creating a Knight's Academy (German: Ritterakademie), the basis for the Regional University of Erlangen (German: Landesuniversität Erlangen).
As margrave, he served as a faithful supporter of the emperor Leopold I
, whom he supported with war supplies, e.g. in wars against France
in support of the Dutch Republic
and Lorraine
and the liberation of Vienna
from the Turks. He began a successful military career on 12 February 1664, when he was designated a colonel of the Franconian Circle
. From 1668 the arming of his own dominion (which was intended originally to aid the emperor) strained state finances and exposed Bayreuth to military dangers. The principality suffered the first of several financial crisis in 1672.
The military ambitions of Christian Ernst made him an important political ally in spite of the small territories that he ruled. After supporting the Emperor in the Franco-Dutch War
, he was appointed a Field Marshal's lieutenant (German: Generalfeldmarschallleutnant) on 27 March 1676. In the liberation of Vienna from the Turks
in 1683, Christian Ernst was a participant in the relief army.
In 1691 he was appointed Imperial Field Marshal (German: Kaiserlichen Generalfeldmarschall) and took over the command of the groups of the imperial army stationed on the Rhine in 1692. He realized that he was not up to the task, and so he resigned the command to Louis William of Baden-Baden
. During the War of the Spanish Succession
he was able to enjoy some victories, but made a fatal mistake on 22 May 1707 that made it possible for French troops to enter Swabia and Bavaria. Thereafter his military career was destroyed.
Christian Ernst was also an advocate and benefactor of the arts and education. As a successor for the Latin School of Bayreuth (German: Bayreuther Lateinschule) he endowed a secondary school in 1664 that still carries his name, the Christian Ernst Secondary School (German: Christian-Ernst-Gymnasium). On the square near his stables he built a castle church (German: Schlosskirche) in 1672. In 1695 the architect Leonhard Dientzenhofer
began construction of the octagonal castle tower (German: Schlossturm). In 1686 he allowed Huguenots expelled by Louis XIV reside in Neustadt; soon after he also permitted refugees from the Palatinate, which was devastated in the Palatinate War of Succession, to reside in Erlangen.
In his private life, the margrave was a lover of horses and dogs (he possessed 85 of the latter).
on 29 October 1662, Christian Ernst was married to Erdmuthe Sophie, only surviving daughter of his paternal aunt, Magdalene Sibylle
, and her husband John George II, Elector of Saxony
. After seven years of childless union, Erdmuthe Sophie, his first wife and first cousin, died on 22 June 1670.
Eight months after the death of his first wife, Christian Ernst was married a second time in Stuttgart
on 8 February 1671 to Sofie Luise of Württemberg, his maternal second cousin, the eldest daughter of Eberhard III, Duke of Württemberg
. His second marriage lasted 31 years. They had six children, three of whom died in infancy:
In Potsdam
on 30 March 1703 (five months after the death of his second wife), Christian Ernst married thirdly Elisabeth Sophie of Brandenburg
. The marriage was childless.
The luxurious lifestyle of the margrave and his two last wives was a significant burden to the treasury of the principality.
Erlangen
Erlangen is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the river Regnitz and its large tributary, the Untere Schwabach.Erlangen has more than 100,000 inhabitants....
, 20 May 1712) was a member of the House of Hohenzollern
House of Hohenzollern
The House of Hohenzollern is a noble family and royal dynasty of electors, kings and emperors of Prussia, Germany and Romania. It originated in the area around the town of Hechingen in Swabia during the 11th century. They took their name from their ancestral home, the Burg Hohenzollern castle near...
and Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
Principality of Bayreuth
The Principality of Bayreuth or Brandenburg-Bayreuth was a reichsfrei principality in the Holy Roman Empire centered on the Bavarian city of Bayreuth. Until 1604 its capital city was Kulmbach; then the margraves used their palaces in Bayreuth as their residence...
.
He was the only son of Erdmann August
Erdmann August of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
Erdmann August of Brandenburg-Bayreuth , was a member of the House of Hohenzollern and Hereditary Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth....
, Hereditary Margrave (Erbmarkgraf) of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, by his wife and first cousin, Sophie of Brandenburg-Ansbach.
The death of his father (6 February 1651) made Christian Ernst the new heir to the margraviate of Bayreuth. At the age of ten, he succeeded his grandfather Christian
Christian, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
Christian, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth was a member of the House of Hohenzollern and Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach ....
as margrave when he died on 30 May 1655. His uncle Georg Albrecht
Georg Albrecht of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
Georg Albrecht of Brandenburg-Bayreuth , was a German prince and member of the House of Hohenzollern....
acted as regent until 1664, when Christian Ernst was declared an adult and assumed the government of his principality.
Life
Christian Ernst took bold decisions in centralizing the regional authorities in Bayreuth, settling Huguenots in ErlangenErlangen
Erlangen is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the river Regnitz and its large tributary, the Untere Schwabach.Erlangen has more than 100,000 inhabitants....
, and creating a Knight's Academy (German: Ritterakademie), the basis for the Regional University of Erlangen (German: Landesuniversität Erlangen).
As margrave, he served as a faithful supporter of the emperor Leopold I
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
| style="float:right;" | Leopold I was a Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and King of Bohemia. A member of the Habsburg family, he was the second son of Emperor Ferdinand III and his first wife, Maria Anna of Spain. His maternal grandparents were Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria...
, whom he supported with war supplies, e.g. in wars against 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...
in support of the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
and Lorraine
Lorraine (province)
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine was an historical duchy roughly corresponding with the present-day northeastern Lorraine region of France, including parts of modern Luxembourg and Germany. The main cities were Metz, Verdun, and the historic capital Nancy....
and the liberation of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
from the Turks. He began a successful military career on 12 February 1664, when he was designated a colonel of the Franconian Circle
Franconian Circle
The Franconian Circle was an Imperial Circle established in 1500 in the centre of the Holy Roman Empire. It comprised the eastern part of the former Franconian stem duchy — roughly corresponding with the present-day Bavarian Regierungsbezirke of Upper, Middle and Lower Franconia — while western...
. From 1668 the arming of his own dominion (which was intended originally to aid the emperor) strained state finances and exposed Bayreuth to military dangers. The principality suffered the first of several financial crisis in 1672.
The military ambitions of Christian Ernst made him an important political ally in spite of the small territories that he ruled. After supporting the Emperor in the Franco-Dutch War
Franco-Dutch War
The Franco-Dutch War, often called simply the Dutch War was a war fought by France, Sweden, the Bishopric of Münster, the Archbishopric of Cologne and England against the United Netherlands, which were later joined by the Austrian Habsburg lands, Brandenburg and Spain to form a quadruple alliance...
, he was appointed a Field Marshal's lieutenant (German: Generalfeldmarschallleutnant) on 27 March 1676. In the liberation of Vienna from the Turks
Battle of Vienna
The Battle of Vienna took place on 11 and 12 September 1683 after Vienna had been besieged by the Ottoman Empire for two months...
in 1683, Christian Ernst was a participant in the relief army.
In 1691 he was appointed Imperial Field Marshal (German: Kaiserlichen Generalfeldmarschall) and took over the command of the groups of the imperial army stationed on the Rhine in 1692. He realized that he was not up to the task, and so he resigned the command to Louis William of Baden-Baden
Louis William, Margrave of Baden-Baden
Louis William, Margrave of Baden was the ruler of Baden in Germany and chief commander of the Imperial army. He was also known as Türkenlouis...
. During the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
he was able to enjoy some victories, but made a fatal mistake on 22 May 1707 that made it possible for French troops to enter Swabia and Bavaria. Thereafter his military career was destroyed.
Christian Ernst was also an advocate and benefactor of the arts and education. As a successor for the Latin School of Bayreuth (German: Bayreuther Lateinschule) he endowed a secondary school in 1664 that still carries his name, the Christian Ernst Secondary School (German: Christian-Ernst-Gymnasium). On the square near his stables he built a castle church (German: Schlosskirche) in 1672. In 1695 the architect Leonhard Dientzenhofer
Leonhard Dientzenhofer
Leonhard Dientzenhofer wasa German builder and architect from the well known Dientzenhofer family of architect....
began construction of the octagonal castle tower (German: Schlossturm). In 1686 he allowed Huguenots expelled by Louis XIV reside in Neustadt; soon after he also permitted refugees from the Palatinate, which was devastated in the Palatinate War of Succession, to reside in Erlangen.
In his private life, the margrave was a lover of horses and dogs (he possessed 85 of the latter).
Marriages and Issue
In DresdenDresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
on 29 October 1662, Christian Ernst was married to Erdmuthe Sophie, only surviving daughter of his paternal aunt, Magdalene Sibylle
Magdalene Sibylle of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
Magdalene Sibylle of Brandenburg-Bayreuth was Electress of Saxony from 1656 to 1680 as the wife of John George II...
, and her husband John George II, Elector of Saxony
John George II, Elector of Saxony
John George was the Elector of Saxony from 1656 to 1680.He was the third but eldest surviving son of the Elector John George I of Saxony and Magdalene Sybille of Prussia, his second spouse....
. After seven years of childless union, Erdmuthe Sophie, his first wife and first cousin, died on 22 June 1670.
Eight months after the death of his first wife, Christian Ernst was married a second time in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
on 8 February 1671 to Sofie Luise of Württemberg, his maternal second cousin, the eldest daughter of Eberhard III, Duke of Württemberg
Eberhard III, Duke of Württemberg
Eberhard III, Duke of Württemberg ruled as Duke of Württemberg from 1628 until his death in 1674....
. His second marriage lasted 31 years. They had six children, three of whom died in infancy:
- Christiane EberhardineChristiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-BayreuthChristiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth was Electress of Saxony from 1694 to 1727 and titular Queen of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1697 to 1727 as the wife of Augustus II the Strong. Not once throughout the whole of her thirty-year queenship did she set foot in Poland, instead...
(Bayreuth, 29 December 1671 – Schloss Pretzsch, 5 September 1727); married on 20 January 1693 to Frederick August of Saxony, later August the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland. - Eleonore Magdalene (Bayreuth, 24 January 1673 – Ettlingen, 13 December 1711); married on 8 September 1704 to Hermann Frederick, Count of Hohenzollern-Hechingen.
- Claudia Eleonore Sophie (Bayreuth, 4 July 1675 – Bayreuth, 11 February 1676).
- Charlotte Emilie (Bayreuth, 4 June 1677 – Bayreuth, 15 February 1678).
- Georg WilhelmGeorge William, Margrave of Brandenburg-BayreuthGeorge William of Brandenburg-Bayreuth was a member of the House of Hohenzollern and Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth.-Family:...
(Bayreuth, 26 November 1678 – Bayreuth, 18 December 1726), successor of his father as Margrave of Bayreuth. - Karl Ludwig (Bayreuth, 21 November 1679 – Bayreuth, 7 April 1680).
In Potsdam
Potsdam
Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre....
on 30 March 1703 (five months after the death of his second wife), Christian Ernst married thirdly Elisabeth Sophie of Brandenburg
Elisabeth Sophie of Brandenburg
Elisabeth Sophie of Brandenburg , was a Duchess consort of Courland, Margravine consort of Brandenburg-Bayreuth and Duchess consort of Saxe-Meiningen. She was married to Duke Frederick Casimir Kettler of Courland, Christian Ernst, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, and Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of...
. The marriage was childless.
The luxurious lifestyle of the margrave and his two last wives was a significant burden to the treasury of the principality.