Francis | |
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Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld | |
Reign | 1800–1806 |
Predecessor | Ernest Frederick |
Successor | Ernest III |
Spouse | Princess Sophie of Saxe-Hildburghausen Countess Augusta of Reuss-Ebersdorf |
Issue | |
Princess Sophie Fredericka, Countess von Mensdorff-Pouilly Antoinette, Duchess Alexander of Württemberg Grand Duchess Anna Feodorovna of Russia Ernest I Prince Ferdinand Georg Victoria, Duchess of Kent and Strathearn Princess Marianne Leopold I of Belgium Prince Franz Maximilian |
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Full name | |
(German: Franz Frederick Anton) (English: Francis Frederick Anthony) |
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House | House of Wettin |
Father | Ernst Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld |
Mother | Sophia Antonia of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel |
Born | 15 July 1750 Coburg |
Died | 9 December 1806 Coburg |
(aged 56)
Religion | Lutheranism |
Franz Frederick Anton, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (Coburg, 15 July 1750 – Coburg, 9 December 1806), was a duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. He is a patrilineal ancestor of Elizabeth II, Albert II of Belgium and Simeon B. Sakskoburggotski, former tsar (Simeon II) and prime minister of Bulgaria.
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He was the eldest son of Ernst Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and Sophia Antonia of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
Franz Frederick succeeded his father in the duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld when he died in 1800.
He received a private, careful and comprehensive education. As a result of this training, he became a large art connoisseur. Franz Frederick is considered as the greatest collector of books and illustrations among the dukes of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (later Gotha). He laid the basis for a 300,000 picture collection of copperplate engravings in 1775, which can be visited today on the Veste Coburg and equipped the library of his residence with an extensive book collection. In 1805, he bought back the Schloss Rosenau as a summer residence for his family; due to an administration of the debts of his father, Ernst Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, the property had passed out of the family.
In Hildburghausen on 6 March 1776, Franz Frederick married Sophie of Saxe-Hildburghausen, a daughter of Ernst Frederick III Karl, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen. She died on 28 October 1776, only seven months after her wedding. There were no children born from this marriage.
In Ebersdorf on 13 June 1777, Franz Frederick married Augusta Reuss of Ebersdorf und Lobenstein. They had ten children, seven of whom survived to adulthood:
Name | Date of birth | Date of death | Age at death | Notes |
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Sophie Fredericka Caroline Luise | 19 August 1778, in Coburg | 8 July 1835, in Tušimice, Bohemia | 56 years | Married on 23 February 1804 to Emmanuel von Mensdorff-Pouilly (later Count von Mensdorff-Pouilly). |
Antoinette Ernestine Amalie | 28 August 1779, in Coburg | 14 March 1824, in St. Petersburg | 44 years | Married on 17 November 1798 to Alexander of Württemberg. |
Juliane Henriette Ulrike (upon her marriage, she took the name Anna Feodorovna in a Russian Orthodox baptism) | 23 September 1781, in Coburg | 15 August 1860, in Elfenau, near Berne, Switzerland | 78 years | Married on 26 February 1796 to Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich of Russia, the younger brother of Czar Alexander I of Russia (they divorced in 1820). |
Stillborn son | 1782 | 1782 | - | |
Ernst I Anton Karl Ludwig, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha | 2 January 1784, in Coburg | 29 January 1844, in Gotha | 60 years | The father of Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. |
Ferdinand Georg August | 28 March 1785, in Coburg | 27 August 1851, in Vienna | 66 years | The father of Ferdinand II of Portugal and Victoria, Duchess of Nemours. |
Marie Luise Victoria | 17 August 1786, in Coburg | 16 March 1861, in Frogmore House | 74 years | Married on 11 July 1818 to Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, the fourth son of King George III of Great Britain, the mother of Queen Victoria. |
Marianne Charlotte | 7 August 1788, in Coburg | 23 August 1794, in Coburg | 6 years | |
Leopold Georg Christian Frederick | 16 December 1790, in Coburg | 10 December 1865, in Laeken | 75 years | First king of the Belgians under the name of Leopold I. His children included Leopold II of Belgium and Empress Carlota of Mexico. |
Franz Maximilian Ludwig | 12 December 1792, in Coburg | 3 January 1793, in Coburg | 22 days |
His descendants established ruling houses in Belgium, United Kingdom, Portugal and Bulgaria. His son Leopold ruled as Leopold I of the Belgians. His male-line great-grandson reigned as Edward VII of the United Kingdom. Another grandson, Ferdinand, reigned as jure uxoris king Ferdinand II of Portugal. His granddaughter, Leopold I of Belgium's daughter, was Empress Carlota of Mexico. He was also the maternal grandfather of Queen Victoria. Furthermore, a great-grandson ruled as Ferdinand I of Bulgaria.
Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Born: 15 July 1750 Died: 9 December 1806 |
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Regnal titles | ||
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Preceded by Ernest Frederick |
Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld 1800–1806 |
Succeeded by Ernest III |
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