Prince John August of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg

Prince John August
Prince John August of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Spouse Luise Reuss of Schleiz
Issue Augusta, Princess of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
Louise, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
House House of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Father Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Mother Magdalene Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst
Born 17 February 1704
Gotha
Died 8 May 1767 (aged 63)
Stadtroda

Johann August of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (b. Gotha, 17 February 1704 – d. Stadtroda, 8 May 1767), was a German prince, member of the House of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.

He was the fifth but second surviving son of Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Magdalene Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst.

Life

In 1725 he entered in the Imperial army and fought in Italy and Hungary. In the Battle of Grocka he was wounded and then spent some time in Altenburg to recover. Later he reasumed his military duties and fought in the War of the Austrian Succession in Silesia, Bohemia, Bavaria and the Rhine. He eventually became Imperial Field Marshal and received his own dragoon regiment.

He lived with his family in Stadtroda, where shortly before his death received a visit of King Frederick the Great of Prussia. He was awarded with the Polish Order of the White Eagle.

Marriage and Issue

In Stadtroda on 6 January 1752, Johann August married Luise Reuss of Schleiz (b. Staffelstein, 3 July 1726 - d. Stadtroda, 28 May 1773), widow of his younger brother, Christian Wilhelm. They had four children:

References