Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg | |
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Duchess of Saxe-Gotha and Altenburg | |
Tenure | 1640–1675 |
Spouse | Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha |
Issue | |
Prince Johann Ernst Elisabeth Dorothea, Landgravine of Hesse-Darmstadt Prince Johann Ernst Prince Christian Princess Sophie Princess Johanna Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg Albrecht, Duke of Saxe-Coburg Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen Heinrich, Duke of Saxe-Römhild Christian, Duke of Saxe-Eisenberg Princess Dorothea Maria Ernest III, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen Prince Johann Philip Johann Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld Princess Johanna Elisabeth Prince Johann Philip Princess Sophie Elisabeth |
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House | House of Wettin |
Father | Johann Philipp, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg |
Mother | Elisabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel |
Born | 10 October 1619 Halle |
Died | 20 December 1680 Gotha |
(aged 61)
Religion | Lutheranism |
Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg (Halle, 10 October 1619 – Gotha, 20 December 1680), was a princess of Saxe-Altenburg and, by marriage, duchess of Saxe-Gotha.
She was the only daughter of Johann Philipp, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg and Elisabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
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In Altenburg on 24 October 1636, Elizabeth Sophie married her kinsman Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha. As a dowry, she received 20,000 guilders, who were pledged by the town of Roßla. As Widow's seat, the bride obtained the towns of Kapellendorf and Berka, with the called Gartenhaus in Weimar.
Because according to the succession laws of the House of Saxe-Altenburg (who excluded the women from inheritance), after her father's death two years later (1 April 1639), he was succeeded by his brother, Frederick Wilhelm II.
When her cousin, the duke Frederick Wilhelm III died childless in 1672, Elisabeth Sophie became in the general heiress of all the branch of Saxe-Altenburg on the basis of her father's testament (as it was ultimately recognized in law that the Salic Law does not prevent an agnate from willing all his possessions to those other agnates of the house he desires to make his heirs, leaving other agnates without; and if those favored agnates also happened to be the testator's son-in-law and maternal grandsons, that's in no way prohibited).
Ernst I of Saxe-Gotha claimed the whole succession of Saxe-Altenburg, claimed both being the closest male relative and his wife's rights. However, the other branch of the family, the Dukes of Saxe-Weimar didn't accept that will, opening a succession dispute.
Finally, Elisabeth Sophie and Ernst's sons received the lion's share of Saxe-Altenburg inheritance, but a portion (a quarter of the original duchy of Saxe-Altenburg) passed to the Saxe-Weimar branch. Hence, the Ernestine line of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg was founded, which should exist until 1825.
When the Duke Ernst I died in 1675, his numerous sons divided the inheritance (five eighths of all Ernestine lands) into seven parts: Gotha-Altenburg, Coburg, Meiningen, Römhild, Eisenberg, Hildburghausen and Saalfeld. Of them, Coburg, Römhild and Eisenberg did not survive over that one generation and were divided between the four remaining lines.
Of the four remaining duchies, only survived two branches until today: Meiningen and Saalfeld (which eventually became the house of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha). Through the Saalfeld branch, Elisabeth Sophie is a direct ancestress of the British Royal Family.
After her husband's death, Elisabeth Sophie changed the towns originally given to her as Widow's seat in her marriage for the towns of Reinhardsbrunn and Tenneberg. Under the name "the Chaste", she was a member of the Virtuous Society.[1]
Ernst and Elisabeth Sophie had eighteen children:
Their eldest son Frederick was the first to inherit this title. His granddaughter from this son, Anna Sophie of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, was a direct matrilineal ancestor of Nicholas II of Russia. His younger son John was father to Franz Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.
Princess Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg
Cadet branch of the House of Wettin
Born: 10 October 1619 Died: 20 December 1680 |
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German royalty | ||
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New creation | Duchess consort of Saxe-Gotha 1640 – 26 March 1675 |
The two states that shared a personal union merged into one. When Saxe-Altenurg was recreated the successor was: Duchess Amelia of Württemberg |
Vacant
Title last held by
Magdalene Sibylle of Saxony |
Duchess consort of Saxe-Altenburg 14 April 1672 – 26 March 1675 |