Francis Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Franz Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (b. Saalfeld, 25 September 1697 - d. Rodach, 16 September 1764) was a duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.

He was the fourth living son of John Ernest IV, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, the third being born by his father's second wife Charlotte Johanne of Waldeck-Pyrmont.

During his youth, Francis Josias served into the Imperial Army.

The death of his two older brothers Wilhelm Frederick (28 July 1720) and Charles Ernest (30 December 1720) made him the second in line in the succession of the duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, preceded only by his older half-brother, Christian Ernest.

When Christian Ernest married unequally in 1724, Francis Josias claimed the sole inheritance of the duchy. The testament of his father (1729) however compelled him rule jointly with his brother. In 1735, the support of the line of Saxe-Meiningen allowed him to effectively rule over Coburg on his own right, and Christian Ernest's death in 1745 made him the sole Duke. Already in 1733 he had proclaimed primogenitur in the duchy, which however was confirmed by the Emperor only in 1747. From 1750 to 1755, he was regent of the duchy of Saxe-Weimar on behalf of Ernst August II Konstantin.

[edit] Ancestry

16. Johann Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar

8. John II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar

17. Dorothea Susanne of Simmern

4. Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha and Altenburg

18. Joachinm Ernst, Prince of Anhalt

9. Dorothea Maria of Anhalt

19. Eleonore of Württemberg

2. John Ernest IV, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld

20. Frederick Wilhelm I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar

10. Johann Philipp, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg

21. Anna Marie of Bavaria-Neuburg

5. Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg

22. Heinrich Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

11. Elisabeth of Brünswick-Wolfenbüttel

23. Elisabeth of Denmark

1. Francis Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld

24. Christian, Count at Waldeck-Wildungen

12. Philipp VII, Count of Waldeck-Wildungen

25. Elisabeth von Nassau-Siegen

6. Josias II, Count of Waldeck and Pyrmont

26. Wilhelm II, Count of Sayn-Wittgenstein

13. Anna of Sayn-Wittgenstein

27. Anna Ottilie of Nassau-Weilburg

3. Charlotte Johanne of Waldeck-Pyrmont

28. Johann II (VII), Count of Nassau-Siegen

14. Wilhelm, Count of Nassau-Siegen

29. Magdalena of Waldeck-Wildungen

7. Wilhelmine Christine of Nassau-Siegen

30. George III, Count of Erbach

15. Christina, Countess of Erbach

31. Maria of Barby-Mühlingen

[edit] Issue

In Rudolstadt on 2 January 1723 Franz Josias married with Anna Sophie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. They had eight children:

1. Ernst Frederick (b. Saalfeld, 8 March 1724 - d. Coburg, 8 September 1800).
2. Johann Wilhelm (b. Coburg, 11 May 1726 - killed in battle, Hohenfriedberg, 4 June 1745).
3. Anna Sophie (b. Coburg, 3 September 1727 - d. Coburg, 10 November 1728).
4. Christian Franz (b. Coburg, 25 January 1730 - d. Coburg, 18 September 1797).
5. Charlotte Sophie (b. Coburg, 24 September 1731 - d. Schwerin, 2 August 1810), married on 13 May 1755 to Ludwig of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
6. Fredericka Magdalene (b. Coburg, 21 August 1733 - d. Coburg, 29 March 1734).
7. Fredericka Caroline (b. Coburg, 24 June 1735 - d. Schloß Schwaningen, 18 February 1791), married on 22 November 1754 to Karl Alexander, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach.
8. Frederick Josias (b. Schloß Ehrenburg, Coburg, 26 December 1737 - d. Coburg, 26 February 1815).

Francis Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld House of Wettin Born: 25 September 1697 Died: 16 September 1764
Regnal titles
Preceded by Christian Ernest	Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld 1745–1764	Succeeded by Ernest Frederick

[edit] External links

• Pedigree
• WW-Person: A data base of the higher nobility in Europe.