Ernst Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen
Ernst Friedrich II of Saxe -Hildburghausen ( born December 17, 1707 Hildburghausen; † August 13, 1745 ibid ) from the Ernestine line of the Wettin, Duke of Saxe- Hildburghausen was.
Life
Ernst Friedrich II was a son of Duke Ernst Friedrich I of Saxe- Hildburghausen (1681-1724) from his marriage to Sophia Albertine (1683-1742), daughter of Count Georg Ludwig I of Erbach- Erbach.
When his father's death still a minor, his mother took over from 1724 to 1728 the guardianship. This is understood to halve by austerity measures the number of taxes now levied.
The prince was educated at Jena, Geneva and Utrecht and undertook with his brother Ludwig Friedrich 1722 a trip to France, where he. At the coronation King Louis XV participated. Ernst Friedrich came in 1728 to the government and took over, despite the efforts of his mother, a still highly indebted state. In 1729 he had a lack of money the school close illustrious, which Duke Ernst had founded in 1715. 1730 Jews were granted the power of intercession of the Duchess - mother a special grace letter of protection which granted it with elevated privileges. Ernst Friedrich granted in 1732 Salzburg exiles the right to settle in the country.
On a trip to the court of Emperor Charles VI. in Vienna, he was appointed to intercede his great uncle Joseph Frederick in 1733 to the Imperial Obrist field sergeant. In 1743 he was commissioned by Prince Elector Karl Theodor an infantry regiment as a lieutenant general. Emperor Charles VII appointed him then to General Feldzeugmeister.
Always sickly in body and mind, he was the problems in the Duchy helpless. The debt of the country was now so high that all government revenues do not even cover the interest.
Progeny
On June 10, 1726, he married in Fuerstenau with Caroline ( 1700-1758 ), daughter of Count Philipp Karl von Erbach- Fuerstenau ( 1677-1736 ), with whom he had the following children:
- Ernst Friedrich III. Carl (1727-1780), Duke of Saxe- Hildburghausen
- Albrecht (1728-1735)
- Eugen (1730-1795)
- Amalie (1732-1799)