Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
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Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (Gotha
, 30 January 1745 – Gotha, 20 April 1804),
He was the third but second surviving son of Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
and Luise Dorothea of Saxe-Meiningen
. The death of his older brother Frederick in 1756 made him the heir to the duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.
The Duchess Luise Dorothea was intensely worried about the training of her surviving sons, Ernest and her youngest son August, and had them educated by a selected group of teachers.
During 1768–1769 both princes took an educational journey to the Netherlands
, England
and France
, and Ernest met important people in Politics, Science and Arts.
In 1772 his father died, and Ernest inherited the duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.
He was interested as liberal and enlightened rulers versatile artistically and scientifically and developed a purposeful regime. He promoted the Educational System, the Economy, Theatre, Art collections and Libraries as well as the Natural Sciences in his duchy, which reached thereby in the top place of the Saxony Duchies in Thuringia. Privately, he was interested particularly in Astronomy and Physics. He appointed competent specialists in all these areas.
For his special interests he had the services of the important astronomer Franz Xaver von Zach for Gotha. With him, he established the Observatory of Gotha (Sternwarte Gotha), which developed into a European centre of Astronomy. His will stated that this institution should represent the only visible indication of his existence.
It succeeded to such an extent, that Gotha despite its size was thought of as a place that important people of the time should visit. One such person was Goethe who visited several times.
Since 1774 he was a Freemason
in the Zinnendorf system and member of the Gotha Lodge Zum Rautenkranz; in 1775 was appointed Grand Master of the Landesloge of Germany (Zinnendorf system). In 1783 Ernest became a member of the Bavaria
n Illuminati
under the name of Quintus Severus and/or Timoleon, and in 1784 he was created Supervisor of Abessinien (a name for Upper Saxony
). In 1787, he granted Adam Weishaupt
, the founder of this secret society, asylum in Gotha. As a freemason he was buried wrapped in a white cloth on the park island.
on 21 March 1769, Ernest married Princess Charlotte of Saxe-Meiningen
(cousin of his mother Luise Dorothea, but much younger). They had four sons:
Gotha (town)
Gotha is a town in Thuringia, within the central core of Germany. It is the capital of the district of Gotha.- History :The town has existed at least since the 8th century, when it was mentioned in a document signed by Charlemagne as Villa Gotaha . Its importance derives from having been chosen in...
, 30 January 1745 – Gotha, 20 April 1804),
He was the third but second surviving son of Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg , was a duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.-Biography:He was the eldest son of Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Magdalene Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst....
and Luise Dorothea of Saxe-Meiningen
Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen
Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen was a German nobleman.-Biography:He was born in Gotha, the eldest son of Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, and his first wife, Marie Hedwig of Hesse-Darmstadt....
. The death of his older brother Frederick in 1756 made him the heir to the duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.
The Duchess Luise Dorothea was intensely worried about the training of her surviving sons, Ernest and her youngest son August, and had them educated by a selected group of teachers.
During 1768–1769 both princes took an educational journey to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and 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...
, and Ernest met important people in Politics, Science and Arts.
In 1772 his father died, and Ernest inherited the duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.
He was interested as liberal and enlightened rulers versatile artistically and scientifically and developed a purposeful regime. He promoted the Educational System, the Economy, Theatre, Art collections and Libraries as well as the Natural Sciences in his duchy, which reached thereby in the top place of the Saxony Duchies in Thuringia. Privately, he was interested particularly in Astronomy and Physics. He appointed competent specialists in all these areas.
For his special interests he had the services of the important astronomer Franz Xaver von Zach for Gotha. With him, he established the Observatory of Gotha (Sternwarte Gotha), which developed into a European centre of Astronomy. His will stated that this institution should represent the only visible indication of his existence.
It succeeded to such an extent, that Gotha despite its size was thought of as a place that important people of the time should visit. One such person was Goethe who visited several times.
Since 1774 he was a Freemason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
in the Zinnendorf system and member of the Gotha Lodge Zum Rautenkranz; in 1775 was appointed Grand Master of the Landesloge of Germany (Zinnendorf system). In 1783 Ernest became a member of the Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n Illuminati
Illuminati
The Illuminati is a name given to several groups, both real and fictitious. Historically the name refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on May 1, 1776...
under the name of Quintus Severus and/or Timoleon, and in 1784 he was created Supervisor of Abessinien (a name for Upper Saxony
Upper Saxony
Upper Saxony was a name given to the majority of the German lands held by the House of Wettin, in what is now called Mitteldeutschland....
). In 1787, he granted Adam Weishaupt
Adam Weishaupt
Johann Adam Weishaupt was a German philosopher and founder of the Order of Illuminati, a secret society with origins in Bavaria.-Early life:...
, the founder of this secret society, asylum in Gotha. As a freemason he was buried wrapped in a white cloth on the park island.
Issue
In MeiningenMeiningen
Meiningen is a town in Germany - located in the southern part of the state of Thuringia and is the district seat of Schmalkalden-Meiningen. It is situated on the river Werra....
on 21 March 1769, Ernest married Princess Charlotte of Saxe-Meiningen
Princess Charlotte of Saxe-Meiningen
Princess Marie Charlotte Amalie Ernestine Wilhelmine Philippine of Saxe-Meiningen was a member of the House of Saxe-Meiningen and a Princess of Saxe-Meiningen by birth and a member of the House of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Duchess consort of...
(cousin of his mother Luise Dorothea, but much younger). They had four sons:
- Ernest (b. Gotha, 27 February 1770 – d. Gotha, 3 December 1779).
- Emil Leopold August, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (b. Gotha, 23 November 1772 – d. Gotha, 27 May 1822), knowly as Augustus.
- Frederick IV, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-AltenburgFrederick IV, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-AltenburgFrederick IV, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg , was the last duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg....
(b. Gotha, 28 November 1774 – d. Gotha, 11 February 1825). - Ludwig (b. Gotha, 21 October 1777 – d. Gotha, 26 October 1777).