Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg: Difference between revisions

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Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (b. Gotha, 15 July 1646 - d. Friedrichswerth, 2 August 1691), was a duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.

He was the fourth but eldest surviving son of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Altenburg and Elizabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg.

When Ernst inherited the duchy of Saxe-Altenburg (1672), he made Frederick the regent of that duchy. In 1674 his father, who was already ill, made him the regent of his entire lands.

After the death of his father (1675) Frederick asumed the throne of both duchies. He had to take part, however -on basis of the house law of his family- his six younger brothers in the government. First he came to a common household of all seven brothers in the Schloss Friedenstein, which existed however was only until 1676.

Afterwards, negotiations began for the division of the paternal inheritance. This was finally accomplished on 24 February 1680; Frederick kept Gotha, Tenneberg, Wachsenburg, Ichtershausen, Georgenthal, Schwarzwald, Reinhardsbrunn, Volkenrode, Oberkranichfeld, Orlamünde, Altenburg and Tonna. These towns virtually formed the old duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. They consisted in three larger and coherent areas around Gotha, Karla and Altenburg as well as six smaller enclaves.

Frederick continued the work of his father. In order to prevent future disputes on his descendants, he established the Primogenitur for his house in 1685 (with the Imperial assent only in 1688). About 1680 he established in the Lustschloss Friedrichswerth, near the village of Erffa, approximately 20 km of Gotha, who was renamed in his honour in Friedrichswerth.

In 1683 Frederick created the today still existing Teather of Gotha (Gothaer Schloßtheater). He was also an eager diary writer; they diaries was the most important source of his time. Frederick took part in the frightening of Vienna, when was besieged for the Turks (1688) and at the realm war against France. He ruined finances of his small duchy, however, were used by the maintenance of his standing army, which -at the time of his death- was more than 10,000 men.

Frederick married firstly in Halle on 14 November 1669, with Magdalene Sibylle of Saxe-Weissenfels. They have eight children:

Anna Sofie (b. Gotha, 22 December 1670 - d. Rudolstadt, 28 December 1728), married on 15 October 1691 to Ludwig Frederick I of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt.
Magdalene Sibylle (b. Gotha, 30 September 1671 - d. Altenburg, 2 March 1673).
Dorothea Marie (b. Gotha, 22 January 1674 - d. Meiningen, 18 April 1713), married on 19 September 1704 to Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen.
Fredericka (b. Gotha, 24 March 1675 - d. Karlsbad, 28 May 1709), married on 25 May 1702 to Johann August of Anhalt-Zerbst.
Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (b. Gotha, 28 July 1676 - d. Altenburg, 23 March 1732).
Johann Wilhelm (b. Gotha, 4 October 1677 - killed in battle, Toulon, 15 August 1707), General Imperial.
Elisabeth (b. Gotha, 7 February 1679 - d. of smallpox, Gotha, 22 June 1680).
Johanna (b. Gotha, 1 October 1680 - d. Strelitz, 9 July 1704), married on 20 June 1702 to Adolf Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

In Ansbach on 14 August 1681, Frederick married secondly with Christine of Baden-Durlach. They have no children.

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 He was the fourth but eldest surviving son of [[Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Altenburg]] and [[Elizabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg]].
+When Ernst inherited the duchy of Saxe-Altenburg ([[1672]]), he made Frederick the regent of that duchy. In [[1674]] his father, who was already ill, made him the regent of his entire lands.
-After the death of his father, in [[1675]], and under the treaty of division with of the family lands with his younger brothers, Frederick received the towns of [[Gotha]], [[Tenneberg]], [[Wachsenburg]], [[Ichtershausen]], [[Georgenthal]], [[Oberkranichfeld]], [[Orlamünde]], [[Altenburg]] and [[Tonna]].
+After the death of his father ([[1675]]) Frederick asumed the throne of both duchies. He had to take part, however -on basis of the house law of his family- his six younger brothers in the government. First he came to a common household of all seven brothers in the [[Schloss Friedenstein]], which existed however was only until [[1676]].
+Afterwards, negotiations began for the division of the paternal inheritance. This was finally accomplished on [[24 February]] [[1680]]; Frederick kept [[Gotha]], [[Tenneberg]], [[Wachsenburg]], [[Ichtershausen]], [[Georgenthal]], [[Schwarzwald]], [[Reinhardsbrunn]], [[ Volkenrode]], [[Oberkranichfeld]], [[Orlamünde]], [[Altenburg]] and [[Tonna]]. These towns virtually formed the old duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. They consisted in three larger and coherent areas around Gotha, Karla and Altenburg as well as six smaller enclaves.
+Frederick continued the work of his father. In order to prevent future disputes on his descendants, he established the ''Primogenitur'' for his house in [[1685]] (with the Imperial assent only in [[1688]]). About [[1680]] he established in the ''Lustschloss Friedrichswerth'', near the village of Erffa, approximately 20 km of Gotha, who was renamed in his honour in [[Friedrichswerth]].
+In [[1683]] Frederick created the today still existing [[Teather of Gotha]] (''Gothaer Schloßtheater''). He was also an eager diary writer; they diaries was the most important source of his time. Frederick took part in the frightening of [[Vienna]], when was besieged for the Turks ([[1688]]) and at the realm war against France. He ruined finances of his small duchy, however, were used by the maintenance of his standing army, which -at the time of his death- was more than 10,000 men.
 Frederick married firstly in [[Halle]] on [[14 November]] [[1669]], with [[Magdalene Sibylle of Saxe-Weissenfels]]. They have eight children: