| John Ernest IV | |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Reign | 1699–1729 |
| Successor | Christian Ernest |
|
|
|
| Reign | 1675–1729 |
|
|
|
| Reign | 1699 |
| Predecessor | Albert V |
| Successor | Merged with Saxe-Saalfeld |
| Spouse | Sophie Hedwig of Saxe-Merseburg Charlotte Johanna of Waldeck-Pyrmont |
| Issue | |
| Princess Christiane Sophie Christian Ernest Princess Charlotte Wilhelmine Prince Wilhelm Frederick Prince Karl Ernst Princess Sophie Wilhelmine Princess Henriette Albertine Princess Louise Emilie Princess Charlotte Francis Josias Princess Henriette Albertine |
|
| House | House of Wettin |
| Father | Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Altenburg |
| Mother | Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg |
| Born | 22 August 1658 Gotha |
| Died | 17 February 1729 (aged 70) Saalfeld |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
John Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (22 August 1658, Gotha – 17 February 1729, Saalfeld) was a duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.
He was the tenth but seventh surviving son of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha and Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg.
After the death of his father in 1675, John Ernest initially governed the duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, jointly with his six older brothers, as set out in their father's will. However, in 1680 the brothers concluded a treaty dividing the paternal lands and John Ernest became duke of Saxe-Saalfeld, with the towns of Gräfenthal, Probstzella and Pössneck. As he was the youngest, he kept the smallest portion of the lands; John Ernest and his brother Ernest soon found themselves financially overstretched as a result of the partition (the income of their eldest brother, Frederick, far exceeded the income of John Ernest), and they both made a protest. Over the following years, the controversy continued and increased, as their older brothers Albert of Saxe-Coburg, Henry of Saxe-Römhild and Christian of Saxe-Eisenberg died without male heirs. During these years, John Ernest took possession of Coburg (in 1699), Römhild and 5/12 of Themar (in 1714).
The "Coburg-Eisenberg-Römhilder Erbstreit" was finally resolved (after repeated intervention and arbitration by the emperor) in 1735, six years after the death of John Ernest. His descendants retained Coburg. The decision was generally accepted, most importantly by the descendants of his older brother Bernhard, who also had a claim to Coburg.
Contents |
| John Ernest IV, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld | Father: Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha |
Paternal Grandfather: John II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Johann Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar |
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Dorothea Susanne of Simmern |
|||
| Paternal Grandmother: Dorothea Maria of Anhalt |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Joachim Ernst of Anhalt |
||
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Eleonore of Württemberg |
|||
| Mother: Princess Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg |
Maternal Grandfather: Johann Philipp, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg |
Maternal Great-grandfather: Frederick Wilhelm I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar |
|
| Maternal Great-grandmother: Anna Maria of the Palatinate-Neuburg |
|||
| Maternal Grandmother: Elizabeth |
Maternal Great-grandfather: Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg |
||
| Maternal Great-grandmother: Elizabeth of Denmark |
In Merseburg on 18 February 1680, Johann Ernst married firstly Sophie Hedwig of Saxe-Merseburg. They had five children:
In Maastricht on 2 December 1690 Johann Ernst married secondly Charlotte Johanna of Waldeck-Pyrmont (b. Arolsen, 13 December 1664, d. Hildburghausen, 1 February 1699). They had eight children:
| Preceded by Ernest I the Pious |
Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld 1675–1729 |
Succeeded by Christian Ernst |