Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach

Karl Friedrich of Saxe -Weimar- Eisenach ( born February 2, 1783 in Weimar, † July 8th, 1853 ibid ) was Grand Duke of Saxe -Weimar- Eisenach.

Life

Karl Friedrich was the eldest son of the Duke and later Grand Duke Karl August of Saxe- Weimar -Eisenach (1757-1828) from his marriage to Louise (1757-1830), daughter of Landgrave Ludwig IX. of Hesse- Darmstadt. Karl Friedrich was considered the declared favorite of the mother, while the father preferred the younger brother Bernard. After completing his training, for which Johann Gottfried Herder was responsible, the prince went on his grand tour, which took him to France and Russia.

On August 3, 1804 he married in St. Petersburg, the Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna ( 1786-1859 ), daughter of the Russian Tsar Paul I. His time spent Hereditary Prince Karl Friedrich partly in Weimar, partly in St. Petersburg. After the death of his father he became Grand Duke in 1828.

The principles of management Karl Friedrich continued his father's policy, however, limited the court considerably. Under the influence of his wife emerged in 1821 first savings banks in the duchy as well as numerous charities. Karl Friedrich promoted agriculture, trade and industry, joined the German Customs Union in 1834 and joined with other Thuringian duchies and Prussia signed a contract to build the Thuringian Railway of Halle ( Saale) about Weimar to Eisenach.

In the aftermath of the civil movement of 1848, the Constitution of 1816 was further liberalized. In the days of March 1848, there came to the castle courtyard to riots because the population called liberal ministers. Ernst Christian August von Gersdorff had to be dismissed, and the next Cabinet issued numerous regulations that restricted the rights of the Grand Duke.

Karl Friedrich was completely in the shadow of his father. Although he was more economical than this, but he had no sense of the trends of the new age. The initiatives for cultural fresh start almost always went out of his highly talented woman.

Progeny

From his marriage Karl Friedrich had the following children:

  • Paul Alexander Carl Constantin Friedrich August (1805-1806)
  • Marie (1808-1877)
  • Augusta (1811-1890)
  • Charles Alexander (1818-1901), Grand Duke of Saxe -Weimar -Eisenach
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