Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

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Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (b. Gotha, 10 September 1649 - d. Meiningen, 27 April 1706) was a duke of Saxe-Meiningen.

He was the sixth but third surviving son of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Altenburg and Elizabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg.

After the death of his father, in 1675, the duchy was governed with him and his brothers under co-ruling; but the duchy was divided five years later (in 1680); for this divisionary treaty, Bernhard received Meiningen, Wasungen, Salzungen, Untermassfeld, Frauenbreitungen and Ichtershausen. Bernhard became in the founder of the Saxe-Meiningen line.

The building of a official residence in Meiningen began immediately. The residence was terminated in 1692 and was called Schloss Elisabethenburg, in honor of Bernhard's second wife. Like his brother Ernst, Bernhard financial stability in his duchy was remarcable. The sales of chamber goods and the additional charge of taxes to the population were the result.

Bernhard ordered by will the indivisibility of the duchy, but a Primogenitur did not give it. For this, Bernhard's sons governed the duchy jointly after his death.

He married in Schloß Friedenstein, Gotha, on 20 November 1671 with Marie Hedwig of Hesse-Darmstadt. They had seven children:

1. Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (b. Gotha, 7 October 1672 - d. Meiningen, 24 November 1724).
2. Bernhard (b. Gotha, 28 October 1673 - d. Brussels, 25 October 1694).
3. Johann Ernst (b. Gotha, 29 December 1674 - d. Gotha, 8 February 1675).
4. Marie Elisabeth (b. Ichtershausen, 11 August 1676 - d. Ichtershausen, 22 December 1676).
5. Johann Georg (b. Ichtershausen, 3 October 1677 - d. Ichtershausen, 10 October 1678).
6. Frederick Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (b. Ichtershausen, 16 February 1679 - d. Meiningen, 10 March 1746).
7. Georg Ernst (b. Ichtershausen, 26 March 1680 - d. of smallpox, Meiningen, 1 January 1699).

He married secondly in Schningen on 25 January 1681 with Elisabeth Eleonore of Brünswick-Wolfenbüttel. They had five children:

1. Elisabeth Ernestine (b. Meiningen, 3 December 1681 - d. Gandersheim, 24 December 1766), Abbess of Gandersheim (1713-1766).
2. Eleonore Frederika (b. Meiningen, 2 March 1683 - d. Meiningen, 13 May 1739), a nun at Gandersheim.
3. Anton August (b. Meiningen, 20 June 1684 - d. Meiningen, 7 December 1684).
4. Wilhelmine Luise (b. Meiningen, 19 January 1686 - d. Bernstadt, 5 October 1753), married on 20 December 1703 to Karl, Duke of Württemberg-Bernstadt.
5. Anton Ulrich, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (b. Meiningen, 22 October 1687 - d. Frankfurt, 27 January 1763).

Preceded by: Duchy founded

Duke of Saxe-Meiningen 1675–1706

Succeeded by: Ernst Ludwig I