Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach

1897-1918

Saxe-Weimar -Eisenach was a ernestinisches duchy in Thuringia and today a territory of the Holy Roman Empire. The capital was Weimar. It originated in 1741, when the Duchy of Saxe -Eisenach fell to the Duchy of Saxe-Weimar. 1809 they were Saxe- Eisenach and Saxe-Weimar united under Duke Carl August of Saxe- Weimar -Eisenach by the Constitution and constitutional law of the duchy of Saxe-Weimar- Eisenach, ruled by the House of Saxe-Weimar.

At the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the Duchy acquired the status of the Grand Duchy; In 1903 it claimed to be the Grand Duchy of Saxony.

• 3.1 Constitution and Administration
• 3.2 dukes and grand dukes

• 4.1 Agriculture
• 4.2 Industries
• 4.3 Mining
• 4.4 trade
• 4.5 traffic
• 4.6 Education

Geography

The Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar -Eisenach was divided into three major parts of the territory that made up the former counties, as well as some enclaves. Neighbouring states were Prussia, Saxony, Bavaria, Hesse -Kassel ( until 1866, then Prussian province of Hesse -Nassau ), as well as all the Thuringian States ( three Saxon duchies and both Reuss and Schwarzburg both ).

The Weimar circle was flat in the north and was in the Thuringian basin, the southern and the eastern part circle lay on the Ilm -Saale- disk and in the Saale valley. The Eisenach circle was in the north hilly ( Hörselberge and Hainich ), it was followed by the Hörseltal with the city of Eisenach, then south of the Thuringian Forest, behind the valley of the Werra, the Kuppenrhön and finally the very south of the Rhön. The New Town district is located in the hills with heights between 200 and 400 meters.

The main rivers in the territory were the Saale by Jena in the east, the Werra by Vacha and Eisenach past and its tributaries Felda and Ulster in the West, the Unstrut in the enclaves Altstedt and Oldisleben in the north, the White Elster by Berga / Elster in the extreme East and finally the Ilm by Ilmenau and the city of Weimar and Apolda in the middle. According to her, who acts as head of government in Saxony -Weimar -Eisenach Weimar Goethe also called the " Ilm- Athen". The highest elevations in the country were the Kickelhahn in Ilmenau ( 861 meters above sea level. NN. ), The elbow in the Rhön (814 meters above sea level. NN. ), The Etter Mountain near Weimar ( 477 meters above sea level. NN. ).

In 1895 there was the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar -Eisenach from three circles:

Furthermore, the circles of Weimar and Eisenach were each divided into two administrative districts. In the case of Weimar, these were: Weimar and Jena, in the case of Eisenach Eisenach and these were Dermbach. A total of 31 towns and 594 municipalities were in the Grand Duchy. The Grand Dukes of Saxe- Weimar -Eisenach awarded three locations in the state, the city rights: namely Berka / Werra ( Eisenach Circle, 1847), Ruhla ( Eisenach Circle, 1886, together with the Gotha Duke ) and Münchenbernsdorf ( New Town District, 1904).

In 1840 had 13 locations (all with city status ) about 2,000 inhabitants. In the 70 years of industrialization to 1910, the population development of the greatest places in Saxony -Weimar -Eisenach designed differently. The seven largest cities grew into industrial cities, while the average rural towns due to migration in some cases even lost population. Particularly dramatic in the population of the city Lengsfelds declined since the large Jewish community of the city Lengsfelds migrated to big cities according to Jewish emancipation.

Moreover, there were 1910 compared to 1840 following places above the mark of 2,000 inhabitants: City Ruhla (only weimarischer share: 3917-1533; 156 % ), City Blankenhain ( 3405-1689; 102 %), town of Bad Sulza ( 3052 - 1422; 115 % ), City Auma ( 2978-1701; 75 % ), City Triptis ( 2948-1480; 99 %), community Tiefenort ( 2539-1237; 105 % ), City of Bad Berka ( 2379-1228, 94 % ), City Münchenbernsdorf ( 2264-1383; 64 %), community Oberweimar ( 2095-621; 237 %), community Oldisleben ( 2064-1332; 55 %) and community Mihla ( 2008-1294; 55%).

History

The existing since 1572 Duchy of Saxe -Weimar fell in 1741, the Duchy of Saxe- Eisenach, since the line with the death of Duke William Henry went out. First Duke of united state of Saxony -Weimar -Eisenach was Ernst August, the builder of the palace Belvedere in Weimar. His son Ernst August Konstantin reigned for only three years, and died at the age of 20 years. At 18, he had one years younger Brunswick Princess Anna Amalia, a niece of the Prussian King Frederick II married. She gave birth a year later their son Carl August and after another year, even as a widow, the son of Constantine.

As Dowager Duchess Anna Amalia took over with the consent of the Empress Maria Theresa and the support of her integrity Minister Freiherr von Fritsch effectively deal with the reign of Saxony- Weimar and Eisenach. When Prince educator, she won the poet Christoph Martin Wieland, then professor at the University of Erfurt.

Age of 18 years, Carl August married the Princess Louise of Hesse and called the poet Johann Wolfgang Goethe, with the soon he formed a deep friendship, to his court. Goethe took care of the Appeals Johann Gottfried Herder and Friedrich Schiller. Thus grew, promoted in the background of Anna Amalia, the circle of Weimar Classicism to guard their heritage, the following regents made ​​to the task.

The wedding of Crown Prince Carl Friedrich with the Russian Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna in 1804 brought the country to the protection of the Russian Tsar Alexander I, it needed in the turmoil of the Napoleonic wars. The influence of Alexander owed ​​Carl August at the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the survey of the Grand Duke and 1,700 km ² an extensive enlargement and rounding of his country. The Duchy was part of the district Neustadt ad Orla ( 629 km ² ), large parts of the Erfurt Mainz enclave and other smaller dominions such as Blank grove and crane field. In the Rhön the Eisenach Oberland was created; this consisted of the adjacent former territory parts of Hesse -Kassel and the previously secularised Bishopric of Fulda. National -minded and cosmopolitan at the same time gave the prince his country as the first in Germany on 5 May 1816 liberal, so-called the estates of the Constitution. The first student fraternity organized in the students of the University of Jena celebrated in October 1817 at the Wartburg Wartburg festival. Involved many liberal -minded people, mostly student speakers were at the feast, however, of the early German democracy must already be allocated.

Maria Pavlovna, Grand Duchess since 1828, initiated the silver age of Weimar, which was regarded with names like Franz Liszt and Peter Cornelius especially the music. My art-loving son Carl Alexander (1818-1901) worked in the same sense. Married to the Oranierin Sophie, who supported his plans, he left the decaying Wartburg rebuild in the true style of romantic historicism and coloring by Moritz von Schwind. The founding of the School of Applied Arts in Weimar, which merged in 1919 at the Bauhaus, was by him, albeit half-heartedly promoted.

On Carl Alexander followed in 1901 by his grandson Wilhelm Ernst, first marriage with Karoline of Reuss Elder Line and secondarily with Feodora of Saxe- Meiningen. On November 9, 1918, he renounced the throne. Thus the monarchy in the Grand Duchy of Saxony ended ( so officially since 1903). The Grand Duchy became the Free State of Saxony -Weimar -Eisenach and went in 1920 in the newly established state of Thuringia with Weimar, the state capital on.

Religion

In the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar -Eisenach, the Lutheran confession was predominant, as in all Thuringian States. Specifically, were from 339 217 inhabitants ( 1895):

• Evangelical: 325 315 ( 95.9 %)
• Catholic: 12,112 (3.6%)
• Jewish: 1,290 (0.4%)
• Other / non-denominational: 500 (0.1%)

In Eisenach circle religions were somewhat weighted differently, there were 95 226 of inhabitants ( 1895):

• Evangelical: 85 319 ( 89.6 %)
• Catholic: 8,809 (9.3%)
• Jewish: 979 (1.0%)
• Other / non-denominational: 119 (0.1%)

The Catholic and Jewish minorities in the district of Eisenach lived primarily in the Rhön, the area around the small town Geysa was mostly Catholic and belonged to the diocese of Fulda.

Policy

Constitution and Administration

According to the Constitution of 5 May 1816 ( revised October 15, 1850 ) was Saxe-Weimar -Eisenach a constitutional monarchy, hereditary in the male line. After the state election law of 1852 the state legislature consisted of 31 members, but only 21 of which emerged from general elections. One deputy was from those "state subjects, which relate an annual income of at least one thousand dollars from sources other than the estates " elected by the wealthy former imperial knights, four MPs from the large landowners and 5 deputies. Their electors were popularly called " thousand thalers men." According to the electoral law of 17 April 1896 parliament consisted of 33 members. In the Bundesrat, the country had one vote in the Reichstag three deputies.

In 1909, the direct suffrage was introduced under the auspices of the State Parliament later to become the President Alfred Appelius under the principle of universal and equal suffrage. After 23 deputies were directly elected. It remained at the previous special voting rights for the landowners and the so-called " thousand thalers men " who had to increase the cost of domestic real property or from other sources, an annual income of at least 3,000 marks, and had to send each of five MPs in the parliament. More 5 MP consisted of one representative of the University of Jena, the Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Trade, Chamber of Agriculture and the working chamber, so that the Parliament, 38 MPs insisted.

The national colors were until 1897 black-green - gold and then black-and- gold - green.

The jurisdiction was incumbent on all States Thuringia common Oberlandesgericht Jena, to the Regional Courts in Weimar and Eisenach. Divided the country was divided into five administrative districts of Weimar, Jena, Eisenach, Dermbach and Neustadt an der Orla. Militarily, presented the Grand Duchy of an infantry regiment, which belonged to the 11th Prussian army corps.

Dukes and grand dukes

• Ernst August I (1688-1748), son of Johann Ernst III. of Saxe- Weimar, Duke 1741-1748
• Ernst August II (1737-1758), son of Ernst August I, Duke 1748-1758 Friedrich III. of Saxe- Gotha, Regent 1748-1755

• Anna Amalia (1739-1807), wife of Ernst August II, regent 1758-1775

Economy

Agriculture

In 1895, 37.9 % of the workforce were employed in agriculture and forestry, 38.9 % worked in industry and 16.4 % were service providers.

Agriculture until 1900 the main industry in the Grand Duchy. A total of 56 % of state land were used for agricultural purposes, including especially the circles of Weimar and Neustadt and the enclaves Altstedt and Oldisleben in Golden Meadows.

Were harvested in 1895:

Fruit was grown mainly in the Saale valley in the area around Jena and Biirgel. North of Jena, between Dornburg and Camburg also viticulture was operated.

The livestock was also highly developed. 1892 were counted: 19,121 horses, 119,720 cattle, 113,208 sheep, 122,974 pigs, 46,405 goats and 16,999 hives. Wild it was only at Eisenach, in Zillbach (Rhön ) as well as in the enclave Ilmenau, where there was the greatest ducal hunting ground to the fork creek. The forests in the Grand Duchy were about 50% state-owned (450 km ²). The dominant tree species were book ( in Weimar circle), pine (especially in the Neustadt district ) and spruce ( in Eisenach circle and to Ilmenau). The State Forestry Office had its headquarters in Eisenach.

Industries

The industries in the Grand Duchy were developed quite versatile. So it was in Biirgel and Ilmenau significant porcelain industry ( in total there were 39 factories nationwide ). Glass industry existed in Ilmenau and Jena (Schott). Glass making was particularly specialized in industrial glass (measuring devices such as thermometers from Ilmenau ) and Optical products from Jena. 1846, Carl Zeiss Jena in a precision engineering and optical company, which quickly became the market leader in Germany and in the world. 1917, the company had 10,000 employees. 1889 was founded by Ernst Abbe, Carl -Zeiss-Stiftung, in the later, the company Carl Zeiss Jena and Schott glass works were transferred. Of great importance also owned the textile industry, particularly in Apolda ( Strumpfwirkereien ) and Neustadt an der Orla was a resident. Other large textile factories were located in Little Jena, Eisenach, Weida, Remda and Blank grove. A total of 7,000 people were working in 1895 in the textile industry. Center of metalworking was initially Ruhla, in Eisenach, the first automobile factory was built in 1898. Chemical products ( colors) are also produced in Eisenach. A large Pappmühle there were in Upper Weimar, toy factory in Ilmenau, basketry in the Kuppenrhön and Pfeifenschnitzerei in Geysa (Rhön ). In the Grand Duchy passed in 1895 a total of 257 breweries, the largest in Apolda and Ilmenau.

Mining

As mining centers in the Thuringian Forest Ilmenau and Ruhla be mentioned. In 1900 the structure of the potash industry in the Werra valley began to Vacha and Berka / Werra. Earlier, there were salt pans in Creuzburg and Bad Sulza.

Trade

The most important transshipment centers were Weimar and Eisenach. Here, many banks have opened their branches. With the exception of enclaves Ostheim, Oldisleben and Altstedt the whole territory belonged to the Thuringian customs and tax club. In the country, there were 23 in 1895 Sparkassen branches, the total deposits managed by about 40 million Reichsmarks.

Traffic

With the construction of several highways and stone bridges was begun after 1820 and promoted as the overland traffic. The railway reached the country in 1846, when the railway line from White Rock on Apolda was opened to Weimar. Important railway lines were next to the trunk line of Weimar Thuringia Erfurt and Gotha and Eisenach, which went into operation in 1847. The south of Eisenach circle was developed in 1858 by the Werrabahn. 1871 railroad followed the route Leipzig- Probstzella that opened up the Neustadt district with the cities of Weida and Neustadt. The Hall track, with Leipzig in the north and Saalfeld connected Jena in the South, followed in 1874, 1876 then the wooden runway Weimar -Jena -Gera was opened. When the railway line Erfurt- Ilmenau was completed in 1879, all the major cities of the country were being linked to the railway network. Until 1920 was followed by numerous secondary and small railways (also: secondary path ), which then joined most places of over 2000 inhabitants, situated on the railway network. First of all the railway lines were in private hands or were companies until the Prussian state railway began to buy up the other railway companies. Some private railways but, the Weimar- Rastenberger railway, remained in private ownership. The state of Saxony- Weimar -Eisenach belonged until 1920 the Ilmbahn (Weimar Crane field) and Feldabahn in the Rhön. 1886 was the length of the state highways 1913 km.

Education

In the territory there was a university in Jena, which funded Saxe-Weimar -Eisenach in common with the other Thuringian States. In Weimar, there were various art and music schools in Ilmenau and the Thuringian pilot, a technical- scientific university in private hands. Schools existed in Weimar, Eisenach and Jena, secondary schools in Weimar, Jena, Jena, Eisenach, Neustadt and Ilmenau. In 1895 there were also 462 primary schools, which at least allowed any citizen four years of basic education. Large libraries of each 200,000 volumes were entertained in Weimar and Jena. The state museum in the country was located in Weimar since 1869.