John Ernest IV, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Johann Ernst of Saxe- Saalfeld (* August 22, 1658 in Gotha, † December 17, 1729 in Saalfeld ) was 1680-1729 Duke of Saxe- Saalfeld and founder of the House of Saxe - ( Coburg ) Saalfeld.
Life
Johann Ernst was the youngest son of Duke Ernst I of Saxe- Gotha (1601-1675) and his wife Elizabeth Sophia (1619-1680), daughter of Duke Johann Philipp of Saxe- Altenburg. As the youngest son, it was not possible for him to be sent on a grand tour. From his father, the primogeniture was contrary, he was, like all his brothers, brought up as the future regent. In 1677 he took part in a campaign against France in the Netherlands.
Johann Ernst reigned after the death of his father in 1675, as stated in his will, the state of Saxony -Gotha -Altenburg, together with his six older brothers. This left 1676 Gotha, where they shared out the budget, in those places from which they derived their income. Only Johann Ernst remained with his eldest brother Friedrich in Gotha, who held the guardianship of him.
In 1680 it came to the land division among the brethren. Johann Ernst received city and Office Saalfeld, cities Grafenthal, Probstzella and Lehesten, later Pössneck, also it was a payable of Friedrich annual pension to. He resided in Saalfeld as Duke of Saxe- Saalfeld. As the youngest son he had received the smallest share of the country and people. Since he and his brother Ernst significantly disadvantaged in this division saw ( exceeded the income of the eldest brother of Johann Ernst Friedrich the sevenfold ), put both a protest. The fraternal strife was maintained over the years and increased even more when the brothers Albert of Saxe-Coburg, Heinrich died of Saxe- Römhild and Christian of Saxe- Eisenberg without sons and heirs. The " Coburg -Eisenberg - Römhilder inheritance dispute " could be ended definitively until 1735 after multiple washes and intervention by the Emperor and the Imperial Court Councillor; six years after the death of Johann Ernst. It had mainly prevail against his older brother Bernhard this, who also laid claim to Saxe-Coburg.
Johann Ernst was from 1680 already erected by his brother Albrecht in Saalfeld residential palace expand and moved into it in 1691, the Duke was considered far less lavish than his brothers.; he promoted the mining industry and established a mint.
In 1719 he offered to Augustus the Strong, and during his absence his son to become an administrator of the Electorate of Saxony, which he refused, however. Johann Ernst died as a senior member of the Ernestine House.
Marriage and issue
Johann Ernst was married twice. He completed his first marriage on 18 February 1680 in Merseburg with Sophie Hedwig ( 1666-1686 ), daughter of Duke Christian I of Saxe- Merseburg, with whom he had the following children:
- Christiane Sophie (1681-1697)
- Christian Ernst (1683-1745), Duke of Saxe- Coburg -Saalfeld
- Charlotte Wilhelmine (1685-1767)
His second wife he married on 2 December 1690 in Maastricht Charlotte Johanna ( 1664-1699 ), daughter of Count Josias von Waldeck- Wildungen. She bore him the following children:
- Wilhelm Friedrich (1691-1720)
- Karl Ernst (1692-1720)
- Sophie Wilhelmine (1693-1727)
- Henriette Albertine (1694-1695)
- Luise Emilie (1695-1713)
- Franz Josias (1697-1764), Duke of Saxe- Coburg -Saalfeld
- Henriette Albertine (1698-1728)