Franz Frederick Anton, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Encyclopedia
Franz Frederick Anton, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (Coburg
, 15 July 1750 – Coburg, 9 December 1806), was a duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. He is a patrilineal ancestor of Elizabeth II, Albert II of Belgium
and Simeon B. Sakskoburggotski
, former tsar
(Simeon II) and prime minister
of Bulgaria
.
and Sophia Antonia of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
Franz Frederick succeeded his father in the duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld when he died in 1800.
He received a private, careful and comprehensive education. As a result of this training, he became a large art connoisseur. Franz Frederick is considered as the greatest collector of books and illustrations among the dukes of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (later Gotha). He laid the basis for a 300,000 picture collection of copperplate engravings in 1775, which can be visited today on the Veste Coburg and equipped the library of his residence with an extensive book collection. In 1805, he bought back the Schloss Rosenau
as a summer residence for his family; due to an administration of the debts of his father, Ernst Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
, the property had passed out of the family.
on 6 March 1776, Franz Frederick married Sophie of Saxe-Hildburghausen, a daughter of Ernst Frederick III Karl, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen
. She died on 28 October 1776, only seven months after her wedding. There were no children born from this marriage.
on 13 June 1777, Franz Frederick married Augusta Reuss of Ebersdorf und Lobenstein. They had ten children, seven of whom survived to adulthood:
His descendants established ruling houses in Belgium, United Kingdom, Portugal and Bulgaria
. His son Leopold ruled as Leopold I of the Belgians
. His male-line great-grandson reigned as Edward VII of the United Kingdom
. Another grandson, Ferdinand, reigned as jure uxoris
king Ferdinand II of Portugal
. His granddaughter, Leopold I of Belgium
's daughter, was Empress Carlota of Mexico
. He was also the maternal grandfather of Queen Victoria. Furthermore, a great-grandson ruled as Ferdinand I of Bulgaria
.
Coburg
Coburg is a town located on the Itz River in Bavaria, Germany. Its 2005 population was 42,015. Long one of the Thuringian states of the Wettin line, it joined with Bavaria by popular vote in 1920...
, 15 July 1750 – Coburg, 9 December 1806), was a duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. He is a patrilineal ancestor of Elizabeth II, Albert II of Belgium
Albert II of Belgium
Albert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
and Simeon B. Sakskoburggotski
Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Simeon Borisov of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Tsar Simeon II or Simeon II of Bulgaria is an important political and royal figure in Bulgaria...
, former tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
(Simeon II) and prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
.
Biography
He was the eldest son of Ernst Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-SaalfeldErnst Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Ernest Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld , was a Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.He was the eldest son of Francis Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and Anna Sophie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt....
and Sophia Antonia of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
Franz Frederick succeeded his father in the duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld when he died in 1800.
He received a private, careful and comprehensive education. As a result of this training, he became a large art connoisseur. Franz Frederick is considered as the greatest collector of books and illustrations among the dukes of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (later Gotha). He laid the basis for a 300,000 picture collection of copperplate engravings in 1775, which can be visited today on the Veste Coburg and equipped the library of his residence with an extensive book collection. In 1805, he bought back the Schloss Rosenau
Schloss Rosenau, Coburg
Schloss Rosenau, called in English The Rosenau or Rosenau Palace, is a former castle, converted into a ducal country house, between the towns of Coburg and Rödental, formerly in Saxe-Coburg, now lying in Bavaria, Germany....
as a summer residence for his family; due to an administration of the debts of his father, Ernst Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Ernst Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Ernest Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld , was a Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.He was the eldest son of Francis Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and Anna Sophie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt....
, the property had passed out of the family.
First marriage
In HildburghausenHildburghausen
Hildburghausen is a town in Thuringia in central Germany, capital of the district Hildburghausen. It is situated on the river Werra, 20 km south of Suhl, and 25 km northwest of Coburg....
on 6 March 1776, Franz Frederick married Sophie of Saxe-Hildburghausen, a daughter of Ernst Frederick III Karl, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen
Ernst Frederick III Karl, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen
Ernst Frederick III Karl, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen , was a duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen....
. She died on 28 October 1776, only seven months after her wedding. There were no children born from this marriage.
Second marriage and children
In EbersdorfEbersdorf
Ebersdorf may refer to the following places:*Ebersdorf bei Coburg, in the district of Coburg, Bavaria, Germany*Ebersdorf, Lower Saxony, in the district of Rotenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany*Ebersdorf, Austria, in the district of Hartberg, Styria, Austria...
on 13 June 1777, Franz Frederick married Augusta Reuss of Ebersdorf und Lobenstein. They had ten children, seven of whom survived to adulthood:
| Name | Date of birth | Date of death | Age at death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sophie Fredericka Caroline Luise Princess Sophie of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld Princess Sophie Fredericka Caroline Louise of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld was a princess of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, and the sister of Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and King Leopold I of Belgium, and aunt of Queen Victoria... |
19 August 1778, in Coburg | 8 July 1835, in Tušimice, Bohemia | 56 years | Married on 23 February 1804 to Emmanuel von Mensdorff-Pouilly Emmanuel von Mensdorff-Pouilly Emmanuel, count of Mensdorff-Pouilly was an army officer in the Imperial and Royal Army of the Austrian Empire, and vice-governor of Mainz.... (later Count von Mensdorff-Pouilly). |
| Antoinette Ernestine Amalie | 28 August 1779, in Coburg | 14 March 1824, in St. Petersburg | 44 years | Married on 17 November 1798 to Alexander of Württemberg. |
| Juliane Henriette Ulrike (upon her marriage, she took the name Anna Feodorovna in a Russian Orthodox Russian Orthodox Church The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million... baptism) |
23 September 1781, in Coburg | 15 August 1860, in Elfenau, near Berne, Switzerland | 78 years | Married on 26 February 1796 to Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich of Russia Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich of Russia Constantine Pavlovich was a grand duke of Russia and the second son of Emperor Paul I. He was the Tsesarevich of Russia throughout the reign of his elder brother Alexander I, but had secretly renounced his claim to the throne in 1823... , the younger brother of Czar Alexander I of Russia Alexander I of Russia Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania.... (they divorced in 1820). |
| Stillborn son | 1782 | 1782 | ||
| Ernst I Anton Karl Ludwig, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha | 2 January 1784, in Coburg | 29 January 1844, in Gotha | 60 years | The father of Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. |
| Ferdinand Georg August Ferdinand Georg of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Prince Ferdinand Georg August of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was a prince of the house of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and a general of cavalry in the Austrian Imperial and Royal Army during the Napoleonic Wars.-Birth and family:... |
28 March 1785, in Coburg | 27 August 1851, in Vienna | 66 years | The father of Ferdinand II of Portugal Ferdinand II of Portugal Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha , named Prince Ferdinand Augustus Francis Anthony of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Koháry, was King of Portugal as husband of Queen Maria II of Portugal from the birth of their son in 1837 to her death in 1853.In keeping with Portuguese law, only after the birth of his son in... and Victoria, Duchess of Nemours. |
| Marie Luise Victoria Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld was the mother of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.-Early life:... |
17 August 1786, in Coburg | 16 March 1861, in Frogmore House | 74 years | Married on 11 July 1818 to Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and Strathearn Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and Strathearn The Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn was a member of the British Royal Family, the fourth son of King George III and the father of Queen Victoria... , the fourth son of King George III George III of the United Kingdom George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death... of Great Britain United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it.... , the mother of Queen Victoria. |
| Marianne Charlotte | 7 August 1788, in Coburg | 23 August 1794, in Coburg | 6 years | |
| Leopold Georg Christian Frederick Leopold I of Belgium Leopold I was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians, following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha... |
16 December 1790, in Coburg | 10 December 1865, in Laeken | 75 years | First king of the Belgians Belgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... under the name of Leopold I. His children included Leopold II of Belgium Leopold II of Belgium Leopold II was the second king of the Belgians. Born in Brussels the second son of Leopold I and Louise-Marie of Orléans, he succeeded his father to the throne on 17 December 1865 and remained king until his death.Leopold is chiefly remembered as the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free... and Empress Carlota of Mexico Charlotte of Belgium Charlotte of Belgium is remembered today as Carlota of Mexico as empress consort of Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico, ex-Archduke of Austria.-Princess of Belgium:The only daughter of Leopold I, King of the Belgians by his second wife,... . |
| Franz Maximilian Ludwig | 12 December 1792, in Coburg | 3 January 1793, in Coburg | 22 days | |
His descendants established ruling houses in Belgium, United Kingdom, Portugal and Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. His son Leopold ruled as Leopold I of the Belgians
Leopold I of Belgium
Leopold I was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians, following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
. His male-line great-grandson reigned as Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
. Another grandson, Ferdinand, reigned as jure uxoris
Jure uxoris
Jure uxoris is a Latin term that means "by right of his wife" or "in right of a wife". It is commonly used to refer to a title held by a man whose wife holds it in her own right. In other words, he acquired the title simply by being her husband....
king Ferdinand II of Portugal
Ferdinand II of Portugal
Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha , named Prince Ferdinand Augustus Francis Anthony of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Koháry, was King of Portugal as husband of Queen Maria II of Portugal from the birth of their son in 1837 to her death in 1853.In keeping with Portuguese law, only after the birth of his son in...
. His granddaughter, Leopold I of Belgium
Leopold I of Belgium
Leopold I was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians, following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
's daughter, was Empress Carlota of Mexico
Charlotte of Belgium
Charlotte of Belgium is remembered today as Carlota of Mexico as empress consort of Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico, ex-Archduke of Austria.-Princess of Belgium:The only daughter of Leopold I, King of the Belgians by his second wife,...
. He was also the maternal grandfather of Queen Victoria. Furthermore, a great-grandson ruled as Ferdinand I of Bulgaria
Ferdinand I of Bulgaria
Ferdinand , born Ferdinand Maximilian Karl Leopold Maria of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry, was the ruler of Bulgaria from 1887 to 1918, first as knyaz and later as tsar...
.