Franz Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
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Franz Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
(Saalfeld, 25 September 1697 Rodach
, 16 September 1764) was a duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.
He was the fourth living son of John Ernest IV, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, the third born by his father's second wife Charlotte Johanne of Waldeck-Pyrmont.
During his youth, Francis Josias served in the Imperial Army.
The death of his two older brothers Wilhelm Frederick (28 July 1720) and Charles Ernest (30 December 1720) made him the second in line in the succession of the duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, preceded only by his older half-brother, Christian Ernest.
When Christian Ernest married unequally in 1724, Francis Josias claimed the sole inheritance of the duchy. His father's will (1729) however compelled him rule jointly with his brother. In 1735, the support of the line of Saxe-Meiningen allowed him to effectively rule over Coburg on his own right, and Christian Ernest's death in 1745 made him the sole Duke. Already in 1733 he was proclaimed primogeniture in the duchy, which however was confirmed by the Emperor only in 1747. From 1750 to 1755, he was regent of the duchy of Saxe-Weimar on behalf of Ernst August II Konstantin.
on 2 January 1723 Franz Josias married Princess Anna Sophie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. They had eight children:
Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
The Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld was one of the Saxon Duchies held by the Ernestine line of the Wettin Dynasty. Established in the 17th century, the Saxe-Coburg-Saalfield line lasted until the reshuffle of Ernestine territories that occurred following the extinction of the Saxe-Gotha line in...
(Saalfeld, 25 September 1697 Rodach
Bad Rodach
Bad Rodach is a town in the district of Coburg, in Upper Franconia, a north Bavarian Regierungsbezirk, Germany. It is situated 10 km southeast of Hildburghausen, and 17 km northwest of Coburg...
, 16 September 1764) was a duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.
He was the fourth living son of John Ernest IV, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, the third born by his father's second wife Charlotte Johanne of Waldeck-Pyrmont.
During his youth, Francis Josias served in the Imperial Army.
The death of his two older brothers Wilhelm Frederick (28 July 1720) and Charles Ernest (30 December 1720) made him the second in line in the succession of the duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, preceded only by his older half-brother, Christian Ernest.
When Christian Ernest married unequally in 1724, Francis Josias claimed the sole inheritance of the duchy. His father's will (1729) however compelled him rule jointly with his brother. In 1735, the support of the line of Saxe-Meiningen allowed him to effectively rule over Coburg on his own right, and Christian Ernest's death in 1745 made him the sole Duke. Already in 1733 he was proclaimed primogeniture in the duchy, which however was confirmed by the Emperor only in 1747. From 1750 to 1755, he was regent of the duchy of Saxe-Weimar on behalf of Ernst August II Konstantin.
Ancestry
Issue
In RudolstadtRudolstadt
Rudolstadt is a town in the German Bundesland of Thuringia, close to the Thuringian Forest to the southwest, and to Jena and Weimar to the north....
on 2 January 1723 Franz Josias married Princess Anna Sophie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. They had eight children:
- Ernst FrederickErnst Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-SaalfeldErnest 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....
(b. Saalfeld, 8 March 1724 - d. Coburg, 8 September 1800). - Johann Wilhelm (b. Coburg, 11 May 1726 - killed in battle, Hohenfriedberg, 4 June 1745).
- Anna Sophie (b. Coburg, 3 September 1727 - d. Coburg, 10 November 1728).
- Christian Franz (b. Coburg, 25 January 1730 - d. Coburg, 18 September 1797).
- Charlotte SophieCharlotte Sophie of Saxe-Coburg-SaalfeldPrincess Charlotte Sophie of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Duchess in Saxony was a German duchess.She was the daughter of Franz Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and Anna Sophie, Princess of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt ....
(b. Coburg, 24 September 1731 - d. Schwerin, 2 August 1810), married on 13 May 1755 to Ludwig of Mecklenburg-SchwerinDuke Louis of Mecklenburg-SchwerinDuke Louis of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was heir to the Dukedom of Mecklenburg-Schwerin from 1756 to his death. He was also the father of the first Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Frederick Francis I-Early life:...
. - Fredericka Magdalene (b. Coburg, 21 August 1733 - d. Coburg, 29 March 1734).
- Fredericka Caroline (b. Coburg, 24 June 1735 - d. Schloß Schwaningen, 18 February 1791), married on 22 November 1754 to Karl Alexander, Margrave of Brandenburg-AnsbachChristian Frederick Charles Alexander, Margrave of Brandenburg-AnsbachChristian Frederick Charles Alexander was the last Margrave of the two Franconian principalities Brandenburg-Ansbach and Brandenburg-Bayreuth, which he sold to the King of Prussia, a fellow member of the House of Hohenzollern.-Life:His parents were Charles William...
. - Frederick Josias (b. Ehrenburg PalaceEhrenburg PalaceEhrenburg Palace is a palace in Coburg, Germany.The palace was built by John Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Coburg in 1543.The new city palace was built around a dissolved Franciscan monastery....
, Coburg, 26 December 1737 - d. Coburg, 26 February 1815).