Ernest Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen

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Ernst Frederick III Karl, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen (b. Königsberg, 10 June 1727 - d. Seidingstadt, 23 September 1780), was a duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen.

He was the eldest son of Ernst Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen and Caroline of Erbach-Fürstenau.

He succeded his father as Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen when he was only eighteen years old in 1745; as a result his mother, the Dowager Duchess Caroline, acted as a regent on his behalf until he reached adulthood, in 1748.

Ernst Frederick was considered as intelligently, talentful, and one of the most beautiful princes of his time. He donated a library to the city, but finally highest places drew the attention of excessive prodigality in exaggerated yard and military splendor to the financial situation of the country.

The Emperor Joseph II created a Debit Commission under management of the Duchess Charlotte Amalie of Saxe-Meiningen and the prince Joseph of Saxe-Hildburghausen, the grand-uncle of the duke, for the investigation of the demands of the creditors and adjustment of the incomes and expenditures to 1769. The financial situation of the country was in such a manner wrecked that also a 35 years lasting duration of this commission, that could arrange conditions not completely.

After he made in 1757 of the Münzregal (Imperial Regalia) use, he was entangled into a complaint of the realm treasury. Finally, the huge fire of the city of Hildburghausen in 1779, forced to Ernst Fredercik to moved himself on his hunting residence in Seidingstadt, when he died a year later.

In the Hirschholm Palace, Copenhagen on 1 October 1749, Ernst Frederick married firstly with the Princess Louise of Denmark, daughter of the King Christian VI. They had one daughter:

1. Fredericka Sofie Juliane Caroline (b. Hildburghausen, 5 December 1755 - d. Hildburghausen, 10 January 1756).

In the Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen on 20 January 1757, five months after the death of his first wife, Ernst Frederick married secondly with Christine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth. They had one daughter:

1. Fredericka Sofie Marie Caroline (b. Hildburghausen, 4 October 1757 - d. Hildburghausen, 17 October 1757).

In Bayreuth on 1 July 1758, nine months after the death of his second wife, Ernst Frederick married thirdly with Ernestine of Saxe-Weimar. They had three children:

1. Ernestine Fredericka Sofie (b. Hildburghausen, 22 February 1760 - d. Coburg, 28 October 1776), married on 6 March 1776 to Franz Frederick Anton, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.
2. Christine Sophie Caroline (b. Hildburghausen, 4 December 1761 - d. Öhringen, 10 January 1790), married on 13 March 1778 to her uncle Eugen of Saxe-Hildeburghausen.
3. Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen (b. Hildburghausen, 29 April 1763 - d. Jagdhaus Hummelshain, Altenburg, 29 September 1834).

Preceded by Ernst Frederick II

Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen 1745–1780

Succeeded by Frederick