Johann Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Encyclopedia
Johann Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar (Altenburg
, 21 February 1594 – Sankt Martin
, Hungary
, 6 December 1626), was a duke of Saxe-Weimar
.
and Dorothea Maria of Anhalt
, during his first years, Johann Ernst had a tutor and arms master, Frederick of Kospoth. His father died on 18 July 1605, leaving the duchy under the governance of a regent. In 1608 he began his studies at the age of 14 at the University of Jena accompanied by his younger brothers, Wilhelm and Frederick. While at the university, his guardian appointed a companion and supervisor over the three princes, who later became Field Marshal
Kaspar of Teutleben and the Preceptor Frederick Hortleder. In 1613-1614, Johann and his brothers, with his guardians, took a tour of France, Great Britain and the Netherlands as part of their studies.
In 1615 Johann Ernst reached adulthood and took control of his duchy and the guardianship of his under-age younger brothers.
On 24 August 1617 in the Schloss Hornstein (now Wilhelmsburg Castle), during his mother's funeral, Johann Ernst created The Fruitbearing Society
(Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft), a German literary society. The young duke participated as an initial member.
During his government, Johann Ernst promoted the reforms of Wolfgang Ratke
in Köthen. He also supported the similar school reforms of Johannes Kromayer and Johann Weidner in Weimar, starting on 1618 in Jena and Weimar with the annulment of tax decrees.
In 1620 Johann Ernst served under Frederick V, Elector Palatine
, the famous Winter King. After his defeat in the Battle of White Mountain
on 8 November 1620, the duke refused to submit to the Emperor without conditions. As a punishment, he lost his estates and the guardianship of his brothers.
Now fully against the Habsburgs, he fought in the Netherlands and performed duties as a ride master. Later, he took a commission as a Danish lieutenant general of the cavalry
and fought in the Thirty Years' War
in Westphalia
and Lower Saxony
. As such he participated in the conquest of the Schlesiens. Afterwards he went to fight for Count Ernst von Mansfeld
for one of his estates in Hungary
. There Johann Ernst died, at the age of 32 years, in the Hungarian location of Sankt Martin, as a result of war wounds.
Altenburg
Altenburg is a town in the German federal state of Thuringia, 45 km south of Leipzig. It is the capital of the Altenburger Land district.-Geography:...
, 21 February 1594 – Sankt Martin
Sankt Martin
Sankt Martin may refer to the following places:*Sankt Martin, Germany, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany*in Austria:**Sankt Martin, Lower Austria, in Lower Austria**Sankt Martin im Innkreis, in Upper Austria**Sankt Martin im Mühlkreis, in Upper Austria...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, 6 December 1626), was a duke of Saxe-Weimar
Saxe-Weimar
Saxe-Weimar was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine branch of the Wettin dynasty in present-day Thuringia. The chief town and capital was Weimar.-Division of Leipzig:...
.
Biography
Born as the eldest son of Johann, Duke of Saxe-WeimarJohann, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
John II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar , was a Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Jena.-Biography:He was the second son of John William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Dorothea Susanne of Simmern....
and Dorothea Maria of Anhalt
Dorothea Maria of Anhalt
Dorothea Maria of Anhalt , was by birth a member of the House of Ascania and princess of Anhalt...
, during his first years, Johann Ernst had a tutor and arms master, Frederick of Kospoth. His father died on 18 July 1605, leaving the duchy under the governance of a regent. In 1608 he began his studies at the age of 14 at the University of Jena accompanied by his younger brothers, Wilhelm and Frederick. While at the university, his guardian appointed a companion and supervisor over the three princes, who later became Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Kaspar of Teutleben and the Preceptor Frederick Hortleder. In 1613-1614, Johann and his brothers, with his guardians, took a tour of France, Great Britain and the Netherlands as part of their studies.
In 1615 Johann Ernst reached adulthood and took control of his duchy and the guardianship of his under-age younger brothers.
On 24 August 1617 in the Schloss Hornstein (now Wilhelmsburg Castle), during his mother's funeral, Johann Ernst created The Fruitbearing Society
Fruitbearing Society
The Fruitbearing Society was a German literary society founded in 1617 in Weimar by German scholars and nobility to emulate the idea of the Accademia della Crusca in Florence and similar groups already thriving in Italy, to be followed in later years also in France and Britain...
(Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft), a German literary society. The young duke participated as an initial member.
During his government, Johann Ernst promoted the reforms of Wolfgang Ratke
Wolfgang Ratke
Wolfgang Ratke was a German educational reformer.-Early life:...
in Köthen. He also supported the similar school reforms of Johannes Kromayer and Johann Weidner in Weimar, starting on 1618 in Jena and Weimar with the annulment of tax decrees.
In 1620 Johann Ernst served under Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Frederick V was Elector Palatine , and, as Frederick I , King of Bohemia ....
, the famous Winter King. After his defeat in the Battle of White Mountain
Battle of White Mountain
The Battle of White Mountain, 8 November 1620 was an early battle in the Thirty Years' War in which an army of 30,000 Bohemians and mercenaries under Christian of Anhalt were routed by 27,000 men of the combined armies of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor under Charles Bonaventure de Longueval,...
on 8 November 1620, the duke refused to submit to the Emperor without conditions. As a punishment, he lost his estates and the guardianship of his brothers.
Now fully against the Habsburgs, he fought in the Netherlands and performed duties as a ride master. Later, he took a commission as a Danish lieutenant general of the cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
and fought in the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
in Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
and Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
. As such he participated in the conquest of the Schlesiens. Afterwards he went to fight for Count Ernst von Mansfeld
Ernst von Mansfeld
Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld , was a German military commander during the early years of the Thirty Years' War.-Biography:...
for one of his estates in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. There Johann Ernst died, at the age of 32 years, in the Hungarian location of Sankt Martin, as a result of war wounds.