Frederick IV, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Frederick IV, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (b. Gotha, 28 November 1774 - d. Gotha, 11 February 1825), was the last duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.

He was the third but second surviving son of Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Charlotte de Saxe-Meiningen.

After the death of his older brother Emil Leopold August without sons (1822), Frederick (the only surviving male of the house) inherited the duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.

Frederick fought -after military training- in the napoleonic campaigns and was heavily wounded. At the consequences of the injuries he was constantly ill until his death. Because of his illness, he travel for a long time to cure stays outside of his duchy and led the government in hands of his secret advice Bernhard August von Lindenau.

He only reigned three years and died unmarried; with him, the line of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg ended. After his death, his lands were repartitioned among his Wettin relations. Ernst I of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld received Gotha, and changed his title to Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, although the two duchies remained technically separate.

[edit] Ancestors

Frederick's ancestors in three generations
Frederick IV, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg Father:
Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Paternal Grandfather:
Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Paternal Great-grandfather:
Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Paternal Great-grandmother:
Magdalena Sibylle of Saxe-Weissenfels
Paternal Grandmother:
Luise Dorothea of Saxe-Meiningen
Paternal Great-grandfather:
Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen
Paternal Great-grandmother:
Dorothea Marie of Saxe-Gotha
Mother:
Charlotte of Saxe-Meiningen
Maternal Grandfather:
Anton Ulrich, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen
Maternal Great-grandfather:
Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen
Maternal Great-grandmother:
Elisabeth Eleonore of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Maternal Grandmother:
Philippine Elisabeth Caesar
Maternal Great-grandfather:
Maternal Great-grandmother:


Preceded by
Emil
Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
1822–1825
Succeeded by
Ernst I of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
as Duke of Saxe-Gotha
Frederick of Saxe-Hildburghausen
as Duke of Saxe-Altenburg