John Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar

Johann Ernst II
Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Reign 16621683
Predecessor William
Successor William Ernest
Spouse Christine Elisabeth of Holstein-Sonderburg
Issue Anna Dorothea, Abbess of Quedlinburg
Wilhelmine Christine, Countess of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen
Eleonore Sophie, Duchess of Saxe-Merseburg-Lauchstädt
William Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
John Ernest III, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
House House of Wettin
Father William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Mother Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau
Born 11 September 1627
Weimar
Died 15 May 1683 (aged 55)
Weimar
Religion Lutheranism

John Ernest II (September 11, 1627, in Weimar May 15, 1683, in Weimar), was a duke of Saxe-Weimar. He was the second but eldest surviving son of William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, and Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau.

Life

After the death of his father on 1662, he became reigning duke. In 1672 John Ernest divided his possessions with his younger brothers. He retained Weimar, his brother John George I received Eisenach, and his other brother, Bernhard, received Jena. Eventually, the partitioned lands, Saxe-Weimar, Saxe-Eisenach (1741) and Saxe-Jena (1690) were re-combined.

Like his father, John Ernest was particularly interested in the arts (see Fruitbearing Society). He was also an avid hunter. Given his overriding interest in these pursuits, John Ernest entrusted the reigns of government to his chancellor.

In Weimar on 14 August 1656, John Ernest married Christine Elisabeth, (23 June 1638 7 June 1679), a daughter of John Christian, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (26 April 1607 28 June 1653).[1] They had five children:[2]

  1. Anna Dorothea (b. Weimar, 12 November 1657 - d. Quedlinburg, 23 June 1704), Abbess of Quedlinburg (1685–1704).
  2. Wilhelmine Christine (b. Weimar, 26 January 1658 - d. Sondershausen, 30 June 1712), married on 25 September 1684 to Christian William of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen.
  3. Eleonore Sophie (b. Weimar, 22 March 1660 - d. Lauchstädt, 4 February 1687), married on 9 July 1684 to Philipp of Saxe-Merseburg-Lauchstädt.
  4. William Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Weimar (b. Weimar, 19 October 1662 - d. Weimar, 26 August 1728).
  5. John Ernest III, Duke of Saxe-Weimar (b. Weimar, 22 June 1664 - d. Weimar, 10 May 1707).

Ancestors

References

John Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Born: 11 September 1627 Died: 15 May 1683
Preceded by
William
Duke of Saxe-Weimar
16621683
Succeeded by
William Ernest