Saxe-Jena
Saxe- Jena was a wettinisches territory in Thuringia, which was ruled in the last third of the 17th century for a short time by their own dukes of the Ernestine line of the Wettin family. (see Ernestine duchies ).
Saxe- Jena was born in 1672 from a division of the state within the duchy of Saxe -Weimar. The residence was Jena. 1690 was the area in part of Saxony -Weimar back, another part came to Sachsen- Eisenach.
History
The Wettin dynasty succeeded to the year 1300 to acquire rights to the city of Jena; In 1331 they were the lords of Lobdeburg buy their rights and thus came into full possession of the city. After the division of Leipzig in 1485, the city fell to the Ernestine branch of the Wettin dynasty, after the Erfurt division of the year 1572 to the Duchy of Saxe-Weimar. Like all Ernestine possessions known, the city quickly to the Reformation, Martin Luther stayed in 1521 for the first time in Jena and came after that eleven times in the city.
Since 1548 Jena was the seat of a "High School ", which was in 1558 at a university. This remained in all divisions in the common possession of all the Ernestine lines, as a substitute for the lost with the capitulation of Wittenberg Wittenberg University.
In Saxony -Weimar reigned until his death in 1662 Duke Wilhelm IV He had six children, five sons. After his death, the four remaining children took control in Weimar first together. The right of primogeniture was not yet introduced to the House of Saxe -Weimar, why not the eldest son inherited the reign alone, but had to be involved in the regency of all sons. As a rule, they tried to put country subdivisions by each heir own dominions available, 1662 was the Duchy of Saxe -Weimar but so small that you can not practically felt as further subdivisions.
This changed when in 1672 the 15 -year-old Duke Friedrich Wilhelm III. of Saxe- Altenburg died childless, so went the elder branch of the Dukes of Saxe- Altenburg with him. While you should because testamentary control of his father Frederick William II of Saxe -Altenburg of the oldest Agnat, and thus Ernst I of Saxe Gotha, alone become an heir of the Principality of Altenburg, but agreed this is certain with his nephew out of the line Weimar to the assignment offices, revenues and rights of the heir and his own possession against waiver regarding any further claims. This came about a quarter of the heritage of Saxe-Weimar, which had reached a size which made a division of the state possible.
In this division of 1672 reserves the oldest brother, Johann Ernst II of Saxe-Weimar, for his younger brother Johann Georg I, the Principality of Saxe- Weimar Eisenach is solved, for the further Brother Bernard, the Principality of Saxe- Jena.
The newly created principality had an area of 515 km ². As the " Prince of Jena " as Ernestine So at the same time ", Duke of Saxony " was, and this title was preceded by the title of prince, is often spoken of the " Duchy of Saxe -Jena ".
Bernhard reigned for six years and already died 1678th At his death his only son and heir of Johann Wilhelm was only three years old. It is therefore a regency was established, the first Duke Johann Ernst II of Saxe -Weimar, after his death in 1683 by Duke Johann Georg I of Saxe- Eisenach, when he finally passed away in 1686 by Duke Wilhelm Ernst of Saxe -Weimar was perceived.
Duke Johann Wilhelm of Saxe- Jena died in 1690 before reaching the age of majority and childless. Thus, the line of the Dukes of Saxe- Jena went out again already. The country was divided in 1692 between Saxe-Weimar and Saxe- Eisenach. The city of Jena itself was returned to Saxony -Eisenach and in 1741 at Saxe-Weimar- Eisenach.