Countess Sophia Albertine of Erbach-Erbach
Encyclopedia
Sophia Albertine, Countess of Erbach-Erbach (30 July 1683, Erbach
– 4 September 1742, Eisfeld
), was Countess of erbach-erbach by birth and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Hildburghausen
. From 1724 to 1728, she was Regent of this Thuringia
n state.
After her husband's death in 1724 Sophia Albertine acted as regent for her minor son, Ernest Frederick II of Saxe-Hildburghausen. She managed to reduce the national debt by savings and cuttings. A large part of the court was dismissed and the costly Guard was dissolved. She reduced the number of taxes from 16 to 8. In an attempt to obtain cash, she sold off the valuable ducal library.
Her husband had sold the District of Schalkau
to the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen
in 1723, in order to raise money. She regarded this sale as illegal. Influenced by Prince Joseph of Saxe-Hildburghausen
, who was in Hildeburghausen at the time, Sophia Albertine declared war on Saxe-Meiningen and had Schalkau occupied militarily on 11 July 1724.
After a fire in the town of Hildeburghausen in 1725, she played a major role in support of those affected. The main hall in the Hildburghausen Palace was equipped with an inlaid floor with a design in a star shape, in the center of which were the Duchess's initials "SA".
After her son took over government in 1728, she retired to her Wittum
seat of Eisfeld
, where she died on 4 September 1742.
Erbach im Odenwald
-Location:The town lies in the Odenwald at elevations between 200 and 560 m in the valley of the Mümling.-Neighbouring communities:Erbach borders in the north on the town of Michelstadt, in the east on the market town of Kirchzell , in the south on the community of Hesseneck and the town of...
– 4 September 1742, Eisfeld
Eisfeld
Eisfeld is a municipality in the district of Hildburghausen, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Werra, 12 km east of Hildburghausen, and 19 km north of Coburg....
), was Countess of erbach-erbach by birth and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Hildburghausen
Saxe-Hildburghausen
Saxe-Hildburghausen was an Ernestine duchy in what is now southern Thuringia, Germany. Its territory was similar to that of the modern Hildburghausen district.-History:...
. From 1724 to 1728, she was Regent of this Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
n state.
Life
Sophia Albertine was the youngest daughter of General Count George Louis I of Erbach-Erbach (1643–1693) and his wife Countess Amalia Katharina of Waldeck-Eisenberg (1640–1697 ). She married on 4 February 1704 in Erbach Duke Ernest Frederick I of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Sophia Albertine was responsible for the education of their children because her husband was largely devoted to the life of a soldier outside the country.After her husband's death in 1724 Sophia Albertine acted as regent for her minor son, Ernest Frederick II of Saxe-Hildburghausen. She managed to reduce the national debt by savings and cuttings. A large part of the court was dismissed and the costly Guard was dissolved. She reduced the number of taxes from 16 to 8. In an attempt to obtain cash, she sold off the valuable ducal library.
Her husband had sold the District of Schalkau
Schalkau
Schalkau is a town in the district of Sonneberg, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 13 km west of Sonneberg, and 15 km north of Coburg....
to the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen
Saxe-Meiningen
The Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine line of the Wettin dynasty, located in the southwest of the present-day German state of Thuringia....
in 1723, in order to raise money. She regarded this sale as illegal. Influenced by Prince Joseph of Saxe-Hildburghausen
Prince Joseph of Saxe-Hildburghausen
Joseph Maria Frederick Wilhelm of Saxe-Hildburghausen, Duke in Saxony , was an Austrian General and Field Marshal. He is best known for commanding the Franco-Austrian forces at the Battle of Rossbach.-Early life:He was the third but second surviving son of Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen and...
, who was in Hildeburghausen at the time, Sophia Albertine declared war on Saxe-Meiningen and had Schalkau occupied militarily on 11 July 1724.
After a fire in the town of Hildeburghausen in 1725, she played a major role in support of those affected. The main hall in the Hildburghausen Palace was equipped with an inlaid floor with a design in a star shape, in the center of which were the Duchess's initials "SA".
After her son took over government in 1728, she retired to her Wittum
Wittum
Wittum , Widum or Witthum is a medieval Latin legal term, known in marital and ecclesiastical law.- Provide for a widow at the wedding :...
seat of Eisfeld
Eisfeld
Eisfeld is a municipality in the district of Hildburghausen, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Werra, 12 km east of Hildburghausen, and 19 km north of Coburg....
, where she died on 4 September 1742.
Offspring
With her husband Ernest Frederick she had the following children:- Ernest Louis Hollandinus (1704-1704)
- Sophia Amalia Elisabeth (1705–1708)
- Ernst Louis Albrecht (1707-1707)
- Ernest Frederick II (1707–1745)
- Frederick August (1709–1710)
- Louis FrederickLouis Frederick of Saxe-HildburghausenLouis Frederick of Saxe-Hildburghausen , was a Prince of Saxe-Hildburghausen and General Field Marshal in the Bavarian army.- Life :...
(1710–1759), - Elisabeth Albertine (1713–1761), married in 1735 Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
- Emanuel Frederick Charles (1715–1718)
- Elizabeth Sophia (1717-1717)
- George William Frederick (1720–1721)