Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg

Duke Friedrich I of Saxe- Gotha -Altenburg ( born July 15, 1646 Gotha; † August 2, 1691 in Friedrichswerth ) was a ruler in Thuringia from the family of Wettin Ernestine. He continued, founded by his father line Saxe-Gotha, but which is commonly referred to differentiate the older line as Gotha Saxe-Gotha -Altenburg.

Life

Frederick I was born the son of Duke Ernst the Pious of Saxe- Gotha and his wife Elisabeth Sophia of Saxe- Altenburg. As his father, who since 1640, the Principality of Gotha ruled as Duke of Saxony, by succession in 1672 and the Principality of Saxe-Altenburg fell to, put this Frederick I there a regent. 1674 his weakened by diseases father gave him then the business of government in all its lands.

After the death of his father in 1675, Frederick took over in accordance with the paternal Testament discipleship. But he had to join his six younger brothers to the government because his father did not want a division of the country, but had the introduction of primogeniture can not decide, because these de facto expropriation of the later born sons contradicted his understanding of familial behavior. It first came to a common royal household of all seven brothers at Castle peace stone, which was, however, only to 1676.

Then negotiations began for dividing the paternal inheritance. This was finally done with the " Hauptreceß " of 24 February 1680. Frederick kept the offices Gotha, Tenneberg, Wachsenburggemeinde, Ichterhausen, George valley, Black Forest, Reinhardsbrunn, Volkenrode, Upper crane field, Altenburg, Leuchtenburg and Orlamünde. The molded from these offices State called Saxe-Gotha -Altenburg. It consisted of three larger, non- contiguous areas around Gotha, Kahla and Altenburg as well as six smaller enclaves. As a residence of Frederick continued to serve the castle built by the father of peace stone. The Gotha land partition of 1680 took Frederick to lay the Kreismünzstätte Saalfeld to Gotha.

Frederick I tried to continue his father's works. In order to prevent future land divisions, he led for his house in 1685 primogeniture one (1688 confirmed by the Emperor ). From 1677 he built the summer palace Friedrichswerth in the village Erffa, around 15 kilometers from Gotha, which was renamed in his honor in Friedrichswerth.

In 1683 Frederick I established the still existing Gotha Palace Theatre. He was also an avid diarist; obtained his diaries are among the most important princely autobiographies of the era and occupy a very far-reaching, even practical interest in alchemy. Frederick I participated in the relief of Vienna, when it was besieged by the Turks (1683 ), and in the kingdom of war against France in part. The finances of his small country he ruined but by building a standing army, which consisted of 10,000 men at his death.

Frederick I died in August 1691 during a stay on his summer residence Friedrichswerth and was in the scale at his behest 1679/80 royal crypt of the castle church in the peace stone next to his ten years earlier deceased first wife Magdalene Sibylle buried. His eldest son Frederick II succeeded him as Duke of Saxe- Gotha -Altenburg.

Family

Friedrich I. had married his first wife in 1669 Magdalena Sibylle ( 1648-1681 ), a daughter of Duke Augustus of Saxe- Weissenfels. With this he had six daughters and two sons:

  • Anna Sophie (1670-1728), married in 1691 with Prince Ludwig Friedrich I of Schwarzburg- Rudolstadt
  • Magdalena Sibylle (1671-1673)
  • Dorothea Maria (1674-1713), married in 1704 with Duke Ernst Ludwig I of Saxe- Meiningen
  • Friederike (1675-1709), married 1702 Prince Johann August von Anhalt- Zerbst
  • Frederick II (1676-1732), Duke of Saxe- Gotha -Altenburg
  • Johann Wilhelm (1677-1707)
  • Elisabeth (1679-1680)
  • Johanna (1680-1704), married in 1702 with Duke Adolf Friedrich II of Mecklenburg -Strelitz

After the death of his first wife in 1681 he married the same year again, Christine ( 1645-1705 ), daughter of Margrave Friedrich VI. of Baden-Durlach. His second marriage remained childless.

See also: Ernestine duchies

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