Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

Georg I Frederick Karl, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (Frankfurt, 4 February 1761 – Meiningen, 24 December 1803), was Duke of Saxe-Meiningen from 1782 to 1803. He was known as a reformer and considered a model prince by many of his peers.

Family

Georg was born on 4 February 1761 at Frankfurt as the fourth but second surviving son of Anton Ulrich, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Philippsthal. His father was 73 years old at the time and died two years later in 1763.^[1]

Reign

Georg succeeded his older and childless brother, Karl Wilhelm in the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen in 1782. He ruled based on the principles of "enlightened absolutism" emphasizing in particular the importance of education. He initiated the building of the Gymnasium later named Bernhardinum after his son. Georg I also opened the ducal library to the public, reformed the (Protestant) church practices in his princedom and initiated new social policies. Under a nom-de-plume he published philosophical treatises. As a result, many of his fellow princes considered him a model ruler and his duchy as the German state where enlightened absolutism reached its apogee.^[1]

Marriage and issue

In Langenburg on 27 November 1782, Georg married Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. After ten years they began to have children, finally having four:

Adelaide Luise Therese Karoline Amalie (b. Meiningen, 13 August 1792 - d. Bentley Priory, Middlesex, 2 December 1849), married on 11 July 1818 to the Duke of Clarence, later King William IV of the United Kingdom.
Ida (b. Meiningen, 25 June 1794 - d. Weimar, 4 April 1852), married on 30 May 1816 to Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.
stillborn daughter (Meiningen, 16 October 1796).
Bernhard II Erich Freund, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (b. Meiningen, 17 December 1800 - d. Meiningen, 3 December 1882).

Death

Georg I died of a fever on 24 December 1803 at Meiningen.^[1]

Ancestry

Ancestors of Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

16. John II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar

8. Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha

17. Princess Dorothea Maria of Anhalt

4. Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

18. Johann Philipp, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg

9. Princess Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg

19. Duchess Elisabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

2. Anton Ulrich, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

20. Augustus the Younger, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg

10. Anthony Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

21. Princess Dorothea of Anhalt-Zerbst

5. Duchess Elisabeth Eleonore of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

22. Frederick, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sønderburg-Norburg

11. Duchess Elizabeth Juliana of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Norburg

23. Princess Eleanor of Anhalt-Zerbst

1. Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

24. William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel

12. Philip, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal

25. Margravine Hedwig Sophie of Brandenburg

6. Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal

26. Carl Otto, Count of Solms-Laubach

13. Countess Catherine of Solms-Laubach

27. Countess Amöna Elisabeth of Bentheim-Steinfurt

3. Landgravine Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Philippsthal

28. John George I, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach

14. John William III, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach

29. Countess Johannetta of Sayn-Wittgenstein

7. Princess Christine of Saxe-Eisenach

30. Charles Gustav of Baden-Durlach

15. Margravine Christine Juliane of Baden-Durlach

31. Duchess Anna Sophie of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

References

Andrea Jakob, Meininger Museen: Herzog Georg I. von Sachsen-Meiningen - Ein Präzedenzfall für den aufgeklärten Absolutismus 2005, Südthüringer Forschungen Heft 33, ISBN 3-910114-06-7

1 2 3 "Biografie Georg I (German)". Meininger Museen. Retrieved 8 September 2014.

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Regnal titles
Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen House of Saxe-Meiningen Cadet branch of the House of Wettin Born: 4 February 1761 Died: 24 December 1803
Preceded by Karl Wilhelm	Duke of Saxe-Meiningen 1782–1803	Succeeded by Bernhard II

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