Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg
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Ernst II Bernhard Georg Johann Karl Frederick Peter Albert, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg (b. Altenburg, 31 August 1871 - d. Schloß Fröhliche Wiederkunft, 22 March 1955), was the last reigning duke of Saxe-Altenburg.
He was the fourth but only son of Prince Moritz the youngest son of Georg, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg and Augusta of Saxe-Meiningen.
The death of his father on the 13 May 1907 made him first in the line of succession to the duchy of Saxe-Altenburg. He inherited the dukedom when his uncle and namesake Ernst I, died without surviving male issue, on the 7 February 1908.
On the 27 February 1898 In Bückeburg Ernst married firstly with Adelaide of Schaumburg-Lippe. They had four children:
- Charlotte Agnes Ernestine Augusta Bathildis Marie Therese Adolfine (b. Potsdam, 4 March 1899 - d. Hemmelmark bei Eckernförde, 16 February 1989), married on 11 July 1919 to Sigismund of Prussia.
- Wilhelm Georg Moritz Ernst Albert Frederick Karl Konstantin Eduard Max (b. Potsdam, 13 May 1900 - d. Rendsburg, 13 February 1991).
- Elisabeth Karola Viktoria Adelaide Hilda Luise Alexandra (b. Potsdam, 6 April 1903 - d. Breiholz, 30 January 1991).
- Frederick Ernst Karl August Albert (b. Potsdam, 15 May 1905 - d. Rosenheim, 23 February 1985).
When Germany lost World War I, all the German princes lost their titles and states. Ernst was forced to abdicated the government of the duchy on 13 November 1918, and spent the rest of his life like a private citizen. Two years later, in 1920, his marriage ended in divorce.
In Schloß Fröhliche Wiederkunft on 15 July 1934 Ernst married secondly (and unequally) with Maria Triebel. They had no children.
| Preceded by: Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg |
Duke of Saxe-Altenburg 1908-1918 |
Duchy abolished |
| Head of the Ducal house of Saxe-Altenburg 1908-1955 |
Succeeded by: Prince Georg Moritz of Saxe-Altenburg |
