Ernest Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld explained

Ernest Frederick
Succession:Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Reign:16 September 1764 –
8 September 1800
Predecessor:Francis Josias
Successor:Francis
Issue:Francis
Prince Karl Wilhelm
Princess Fredericka
Princess Caroline
Prince Ludwig Karl
Prince Ferdinand August
Prince Frederick
House:Wettin
Father:Francis Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Mother:Anna Sophie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
Birth Date:8 March 1724
Birth Place:Saalfeld, Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Holy Roman Empire
Death Place:Coburg, Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Holy Roman Empire
Religion:Lutheranism

Ernest Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (in German, Ernst Friedrich, Herzog von Sachsen-Coburg-Saalfeld, 8 March 1724, in Saalfeld – 8 September 1800, in Coburg), was a Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.

Biography

He was the eldest son of Francis Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and Anna Sophie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt.

Ernest Frederick succeeded his father in the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld when he died in 1764 and established his definitive residence shifted in Coburg. Because of the high indebtedness of the duchy he was compelled by Emperor Joseph II in 1773 to work with a Debit commission—an obligatory administration of debts assigned by the emperor—for over thirty years.

Issue

In Wolfenbüttel on 23 April 1749 Ernest Frederick married with Sophia Antonia of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. They had seven children:

  1. Franz Frederick Anton, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (b. Coburg 15 July 1750 – d. Coburg, 9 December 1806), father of Leopold I of Belgium and grandfather of Leopold II, Empress Carlota of Mexico, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, and her husband Prince Albert.
  2. Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand (b. Coburg, 21 November 1751 – d. Coburg, 16 February 1757).
  3. Fredericka Juliane (b. Coburg, 14 September 1752 – d. Coburg, 24 September 1752).
  4. Caroline Ulrike Amalie (b. Coburg, 19 October 1753 – d. Coburg, 1 October 1829), a nun at Gandersheim.
  5. Ludwig Karl Frederick (b. Coburg, 2 January 1755 – d. Coburg, 4 May 1806); he had an illegitimate son by Mademoiselle Brutel de la Rivière: Ludwig Frederick Emil von Coburg (b. Hildburghausen, 1779 - d. Coburg, 1827). In turn, the five children of Ludwig Frederick were created Freiherren von Coburg. His descendants are still alive.
  6. Ferdinand August Heinrich (b. Coburg, 12 April 1756 – d. Coburg, 8 July 1758).
  7. Frederick (b. Coburg, 4 March 1758 – d. Coburg, 26 June 1758).

References