Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (german: Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha), or Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (), was an
ErnestineErnestine is a feminine given name. Ernest is the male counterpart of this name. Notable people with the name include:
* Ernestine Anderson (1928–2016), American jazz and blues singer
* Ernestine Bayer (1909–2006), American athlete
* Ernestine B ...
,
Thuringian duchy ruled by a branch of the
House of Wettin
The House of Wettin () is a dynasty
A dynasty (, ) is a sequence of rulers from the same family,''Oxford English Dictionary'', "dynasty, ''n''." Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of th ...
, consisting of territories in the present-day states of
Thuringia
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a states of Germany, state of Germany. Located in central Germany, it covers , being the sixth smallest of the sixteen German States (including City States). It ...
and
Bavaria
Bavaria (; German
German(s) may refer to:
Common uses
* of or related to Germany
* Germans, Germanic ethnic group, citizens of Germany or people of German ancestry
* For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
* German language ...

in Germany. It lasted from 1826 to 1918. In
November 1918,
Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Leopold Charles Edward George Albert, german: Leopold Carl Eduard Georg Albert; 19 July 1884 – 6 March 1954) was the last sovereign duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha from 30 July 1900 until 1918. A mal ...
, was forced to abdicate. In 1920, the northern part of the duchy (since 1918 the
Free State of Gotha; culturally and
linguistically Thuringia
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a states of Germany, state of Germany. Located in central Germany, it covers , being the sixth smallest of the sixteen German States (including City States). It ...
n) was merged with six other
Thuringian free states to form the state of
Thuringia
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a states of Germany, state of Germany. Located in central Germany, it covers , being the sixth smallest of the sixteen German States (including City States). It ...
:
Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (german: Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach) was a historical German state, created as a duchy
A duchy, also called a dukedom, is a , territory, , or domain ruled by a or , a high-ranking nobleman hierarchically second to the or ...
(until 1918 a grand duchy),
Saxe-Altenburg
Saxe-Altenburg (german: Sachsen-Altenburg, links=no) was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine duchies, Ernestine branch of the House of Wettin in present-day Thuringia. It was one of the smallest of the German states with an area of 132 ...
and
Saxe-Meiningen
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
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuring ...
(until 1918 duchies),
Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt was a small historic state in present-day Thuringia
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state
State may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Literature
* ''State ...
and
Schwarzburg-Sondershausen
Schwarzburg-Sondershausen was a small principality in Germany, in the present day state of Thuringia, with its capital at Sondershausen.
History
Schwarzburg-Sondershausen was a Graf, county until 1697. In that year, it became a principality, whi ...
(until 1918 principalities), as well as the
People's State of Reuss
The People's State of Reuss (german: Volksstaat Reuß) was a short-lived country in what is now Thuringia. The state was formed on 4 April 1919 after the reigning princes of the two Reuss (state), Reuss principalities abdicated and elections were ...
(until 1918 the principalities of
Reuss-Gera and
Reuss-Greiz). The southern part of the duchy (since 1918 the
Free State of Coburg
The Free State of Coburg (German: ''Freistaat Coburg'') emerged from the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha at the end of the First World War. It existed from November 1918 until its union with the Free State of Bavaria on 1 July 1920.
History
With th ...
; culturally and
linguistically Franconia
Franconia (german: Franken, ; Franconian dialect: ''Franggn'' ; bar, Frankn) is a region
In geography
Geography (from Ancient Greek, Greek: , ''geographia'', literally "earth description") is a field of science devoted to the study ...

n), as southernmost of the Thuringian states, was the only one which, after a referendum, became part of
Bavaria
Bavaria (; German
German(s) may refer to:
Common uses
* of or related to Germany
* Germans, Germanic ethnic group, citizens of Germany or people of German ancestry
* For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
* German language ...

.
The name Saxe-Coburg-Gotha also refers to the family of the ruling
House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
The House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (; german: Haus Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha) is a German dynasty
A dynasty (, ) is a sequence of rulers from the same family,''Oxford English Dictionary'', "dynasty, ''n''." Oxford University Press
...

, which played many varied roles in the dynastic and political history of Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the early part of the 20th century, before the
First World War
World War I, often abbreviated as WWI or WW1, also known as the First World War or the Great War, was a global war
A world war is "a war
War is an intense armed conflict between states
State may refer to:
Arts, entertainmen ...
, it was the family of the sovereigns of the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain,Usage is mixed. The Guardian' and Telegraph' use Britain as a synonym for the United Kingdom. Some prefer to use Britain as shorth ...
,
Belgium
Belgium ( nl, België ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien ), officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Western Europe
Western Europe is the western region of Europe. The region's countries and territories vary depending on cont ...

,
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country
A country is a distinct territorial body or political entity
A polity is an identifiable political entity—any group of people who ...
,
Bulgaria
Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria ( bg, Република България, links=no, Republika Bǎlgariya, ), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia ...
, and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. In 1910, the Portuguese king was deposed, and the same thing occurred in Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1918 and in Bulgaria in 1946. , branches of the family still reign in Belgium, the United Kingdom, and the other
Commonwealth realms
A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state that has Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. Each realm functions as an independent state, equal with the other realms.
In 1952, Elizabeth II was the monarch and head of state of seven in ...

. The former
Tsar
Tsar ( or ), also spelled ''czar'', ''tzar'', or ''csar'', is a Royal and noble ranks, title used to designate Orthodox Slavs, East and South Slavic monarchs. In this last capacity it lends its name to a system of government, tsarist autocra ...

of Bulgaria,
Simeon II (reigned 1943–46), kept his surname while serving as the Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 2001 to 2005.
History

The Duchy was born when the arbitration of the King of Saxony,
Frederick Augustus, produced the Treaty of Hildburghausen on 12 November 1826 for the ''Gothaische Teilung'' (Gothan Division), the extensive rearrangement of the
Ernestine duchies
The Ernestine duchies (), also known as the Saxon duchies (''Sächsische Herzogtümer'', although the Albertine appanage
An appanage, or apanage (; french: apanage ), is the grant of an estate, title, office or other thing of value to a youn ...
. After the extinction of the
Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg () was a duchy ruled by the Ernestine duchies, Ernestine branch of the House of Wettin in today's Thuringia, Germany. The extinction of the line in 1825 led to a major re-organisation of the Thuringian states.
History
In 1640 ...
line, the Duke of
Saxe-Hildburghausen
Saxe-Hildburghausen () was an Ernestine duchies, Ernestine duchy in the southern side of the present State of Thuringia in Germany. It existed from 1680 to 1826 but its name and borders are currently used by the Hildburghausen (district), District ...
exchanged his Duchy for that of
Saxe-Altenburg
Saxe-Altenburg (german: Sachsen-Altenburg, links=no) was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine duchies, Ernestine branch of the House of Wettin in present-day Thuringia. It was one of the smallest of the German states with an area of 132 ...
. The
Saxe-Meiningen
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
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuring ...
line became Saxe-Hildburghausen and got from
Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld () was one of the Saxon Duchies held by the Ernestine line of the Wettin Dynasty. Established in 1699, the Saxe-Coburg-Saalfield line lasted until the reshuffle of the Ernestine territories that occurred following the extinc ...
the Saalfelder territories as well as the District of
Themar
Themar () is a town in the Hildburghausen (district), district of Hildburghausen, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Werra, 11 km northwest of Hildburghausen, and 14 km southwest of Suhl.
Main sights
* St. Bartholomew ...
and the places of
Mupperg,
Mogger,
Liebau and
Oerlsdorf. The Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld received for that the Duchy of
Saxe-Coburg
Saxe-Coburg (german: Sachsen-Coburg) was a duchy
A duchy is a medieval
In the history of Europe
The history of Europe concerns itself with the discovery and collection, the study, organization and presentation and the interpretation of ...
, Districts of
Königsberg
Königsberg (, , ) was the name for the historic Prussian city that is now Kaliningrad, Russia. Königsberg was founded in 1255 on the site of the ancient Old Prussian settlement ''Twangste'' by the Teutonic Knights during the Northern Crusade ...
and
Sonnefeld
Sonnefeld is a Municipalities of Germany, municipality in the Districts of Germany, district of Coburg (district), Coburg in States of Germany, Bavaria in Germany.
Geographical Location
Sonnefeld lies on Bundesstraße 303 between Coburg and Krona ...
from Saxe-Hildburghausen, and the properties of
and
Gauerstadt from Saxe-Meiningen.
By then, the
Principality of Lichtenberg, on the
Nahe River
The Nahe is a river in Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate (german: Rheinland-Pfalz, ) is a western states of Germany, state of Germany. It covers and has about 4.05 million residents. It is the ninth largest and sixth most populous of ...
, had already been a part of the Duchy of Coburg for ten years. Ernest III, the sovereign of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, had received it in 1816 from the
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna (, ) of 1814–1815 was an international diplomatic conference to reconstitute the European political order after the downfall of the French Emperor Napoleon I
Napoléon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) w ...

for providing assistance to the Allies in their war against France. But, because of the great distance from Coburg and of the unrest caused by the
Hambach Festival
The Hambacher Festival was a German Confederation, German national democratic festival celebrated from 27 May to 30 May 1832 at Hambach Castle, near Neustadt an der Weinstraße, in present-day Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The event was disguised a ...
, the Duke sold the Principality in 1834 to
Prussia
Prussia, , Old Prussian
Distribution of the Baltic tribes, circa 1200 CE (boundaries are approximate).
Old Prussian was a Western Baltic language belonging to the Balto-Slavic branch of the Indo-European languages
The Indo-Europ ...

.

The newly created Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was initially a double duchy, ruled by Ernest III as Duke Ernest I in a
personal union
A personal union is the combination of two or more states
State may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Literature
* ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State
* The State (newspaper), ''The Stat ...

,
[ Erdmann, ''Coburg, Bayern und das Reich 1918–1923'', p. 2–3] but with only one vote in the ''
Bundesrat''. The opportunity to unify the two duchies in 1826 was missed. After the ''Staatsgrundgesetz'' (
House law
House law or House laws (''Hausgesetze'') are rules that govern a royal family
A royal family is the immediate family of /, , /, or / and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an or ...
s) of 1852, the duchies were bound in a political and
real union
Real union is a union of two or more states
State may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Literature
* ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State
* The State (newspaper), ''The State'' (newspaper), ...

.
They were then a quasi-federal unitary state. Later attempts to merge the duchies failed in 1867 because the ''
Landtag
A Landtag (State Diet
Diet may refer to:
Food
* Diet (nutrition)
In nutrition, diet is the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism.
The word diet often implies the use of specific intake of nutrition for #Health, health or #Weigh ...

'' of Gotha did not want to assume the higher state debts of Coburg and in 1872 because of the questions about the administration of the whole union.
The Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha received on 3 May 1852 a national constitution, which had taken substantial parts of the fundamental rights from the
Constitution
A constitution is an aggregate of fundamental principles
A principle is a proposition or value that is a guide for behavior or evaluation. In law, it is a rule
Rule or ruling may refer to:
Human activity
* The exercise of political ...
of the
National Assembly
In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral
In government
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state
State may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media L ...
in Frankfurt. It also joined the German
Zollverein
The ''Zollverein'' (), or German Customs Union, was a coalition of German states formed to manage tariff
A tariff is a tax imposed by a government
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, gen ...

in 1834, the
North German Confederation
The North German Confederation (german: Norddeutscher Bund) was the German
German(s) may refer to:
Common uses
* of or related to Germany
* Germans, Germanic ethnic group, citizens of Germany or people of German ancestry
* For citizens of ...
in 1866 and the
German Empire
The German Empire or the Imperial State of Germany,, officially '.Herbert Tuttle
Herbert Tuttle (1846–1894) was an American historian.
Biography
Herbert Tuttle was born in Bennington, Vermont
Bennington is a New England town, town ...
in 1871. At the ''
Bundesrat'' in
Berlin
Berlin (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3,769,495 inhabitants, as of 31 December 2019 makes it the List of cities in the European Union by ...

, where it had a seat, it kept its agents but, since 1913, like most of the other
Thuringian states
The Thuringian states (german: Thüringische Staaten) refers to the following German federal states within the German Reich:
*The Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, officially the Grand Duchy of Saxony (''Großherzogtum Sachsen'') from 1903
*The ...
, it had to defer to the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen for the representation.
Ernest I died in 1844. His elder son and successor, Ernest II, ruled until his own death in 1893. Because he had died childless, the throne of the two duchies would have passed to his late brother
Prince Albert
Prince Albert most commonly refers to:
*Albert, Prince Consort
german: link=no, Franz Albert August Karl Emanuel
, house =
, father = Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
, mother = Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenbu ...

's male descendants. But Prince Albert was the husband of
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
There have been 12 British monarchs since the political union of the Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of En ...

of the United Kingdom and his eldest son,
, was already her
heir apparent
An heir apparent is a person who is first in an order of succession
An order of succession or right of succession is the line of individuals entitled to hold a high office when it becomes vacated such as head of state
A head of state ...
. Besides, he was prohibited by the Constitutions of both duchies from inheriting the throne if there were other eligible male heirs. But he had already renounced his claim in favour of his next brother,
, Duke of Edinburgh. So Alfred became the next Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Alfred's only son, also named
Alfred
Alfred may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
*''Alfred J. Kwak'', Dutch-German-Japanese anime television series
*Alfred (Arne opera), ''Alfred'' (Arne opera), a 1740 masque by Thomas Arne
*Alfred (Dvořák opera), ''Alfred'' (Dvořák opera), an ...
, died in 1899, so when Duke Alfred died in 1900 he was succeeded by his nephew the
Duke of Albany
Duke of Albany was a peerage
A peerage is a legal system historically comprising various hereditary title
Hereditary titles, in a general sense, are nobility
Nobility is a social class normally ranked immediately below Royal family, ...
, the 16-year-old son of Queen Victoria's youngest son, Leopold, as Duke Alfred's next brother
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (Arthur William Patrick Albert; 1 May 185016 January 1942), was the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of ...

and his son
Prince Arthur of Connaught
Prince Arthur of Connaught (Arthur Frederick Patrick Albert; 13 January 1883 – 12 September 1938) was a British military officer and a grandson of Queen Victoria. He served as Governor-General of the Union of South Africa from 20 November 1920 ...
had renounced their own claims to the succession. Reigning as Duke Carl Eduard,
Charles Edward, because of his age, began under the Regency of
until he came of age in 1905. The new Duke also continued to use his British title, the Duke of Albany. But, because he chose to side with the Germans against the British in the
First World War
World War I, often abbreviated as WWI or WW1, also known as the First World War or the Great War, was a global war
A world war is "a war
War is an intense armed conflict between states
State may refer to:
Arts, entertainmen ...
, he was stripped of his British titles in 1919.
After the
November Revolution ended the monarchy in 1918, the two duchies became two different and independent states, the
Free State of Coburg
The Free State of Coburg (German: ''Freistaat Coburg'') emerged from the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha at the end of the First World War. It existed from November 1918 until its union with the Free State of Bavaria on 1 July 1920.
History
With th ...
and the Republic (later Free State) of Gotha. But their leaders believed that their new countries were not economically feasible so they began to search for possible mergers. Eventually, a referendum was held on 30 November 1919 and the decision was made. On 1 May 1920 the Free State of Gotha merged with the new State of
Thuringia
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a states of Germany, state of Germany. Located in central Germany, it covers , being the sixth smallest of the sixteen German States (including City States). It ...
and the Free State of Coburg followed two months later, on 1 July 1920, by uniting with the Free State of
Bavaria
Bavaria (; German
German(s) may refer to:
Common uses
* of or related to Germany
* Germans, Germanic ethnic group, citizens of Germany or people of German ancestry
* For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
* German language ...

.
Politics
In the German Empire, the Duchy had only one vote in the ''Bundestag'' and two votes (for the two Duchies of Coburg and Gotha) in the ''
Reichstag
is a German word generally meaning parliament, more directly translated as ''Diet (assembly), Diet of the Realm'' or ''National diet'', or more loosely as ''Imperial Diet''. It may refer to:
Buildings and places
is the god
specific German word ...
''.
Each Duchy had its own ''
Landtag
A Landtag (State Diet
Diet may refer to:
Food
* Diet (nutrition)
In nutrition, diet is the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism.
The word diet often implies the use of specific intake of nutrition for #Health, health or #Weigh ...

'', elected every four years by male taxpayers over 25 years of age. Only males 30 years or older were eligible to stand for the elections. The Coburger assembly had 11 members and its twin in Gotha had 19. The assemblies met every year but, every two years, they would combine, alternatively in Gotha and Coburg, for the matters and questions that involve both Duchies.
For both duchies, however, there was a Ministry of State in Gotha but Coburg and Gotha had their own subordinate and almost independent ministries. The Minister of State directed Gotha's Ducal ministry but, for both Duchies, he was responsible for the state affairs, the economical and commercials policies, the judiciary and the conduct of Imperial laws. In Coburg, for state matters as such as community services, police duties, support of the state church, and education, as well as management of assets and finances, and also, until 1891, court matters, the local authorities could not interfere with the decisions from Gotha.
The finances of both Duchies remained basically disconnected. But, in their management, a distinction was always made between the Crown revenue from the domains and the State revenue from taxes and duties. Every four years, a common budget, especially in the financial dealings with the
German Empire
The German Empire or the Imperial State of Germany,, officially '.Herbert Tuttle
Herbert Tuttle (1846–1894) was an American historian.
Biography
Herbert Tuttle was born in Bennington, Vermont
Bennington is a New England town, town ...
, was made, even if it interfered with the local and national operations of the two Duchies. Grants from the state budgets of both Duchies were made in the ratio of 7 to 3 between Gotha and Coburg.
Because of its size and finances, the Duchy did not have ambassadors but it did have trade consuls. They were for trade with
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire or the Dual Monarchy, was a constitutional monarchy
A constitutional monarchy, parliamentary monarchy, or democratic monarchy is a form of monarchy in which the monarch exe ...

, Belgium,
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At 8.5 million square kilometers (3.2 million square miles) and with over 211 mill ...

,
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America
South America is a entirely in the and mostly in the , with a relatively small portion in the . It can also be described as the southern ...

,
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is a country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud
Isla de la Juventud (; en, Isle of Youth) is the second-largest Cuban islan ...

,
Ecuador
Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua
Quechua may refer to:
*Quechua people, several indigenous ethnic groups in South America, especially in Peru
*Quechuan languages, a Native South American language family spoken primarily in the Andes, derived from a ...

, France, Great Britain, Italy,
Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country
A country is a distinct territorial body or political entity
A polity is an identifiable political entity—any group of people who have a collective identity, who are organi ...

,
Peru
,
, image_flag = Flag_of_Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo_nacional_del_Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = Seal (device), National seal
, national_mott ...

,
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country
A country is a distinct territorial body or political entity
A polity is an identifiable political entity—any group of people who ...

, Prussia, Russia, Spain,
Switzerland
, french: Suisse(sse), it, svizzero/svizzera or , rm, Svizzer/Svizra
, government_type = Federalism, Federal semi-direct democracy under an assembly-independent Directorial system, directorial republic
, leader_title1 = Fe ...

, and
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Turkey, is a country located mainly on Anatolia
Anatolia,, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau. also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia an ...

.
[Robinson, Janet and Joe Robinson, ''Handbook of Imperial Germany'' (]Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat
A county seat is an administrative centerAn administrative centre is a seat of regional administration or local government, or a county town, or the place where the central administration of a Town ...
: AuthorHouse, 2009)
page 87
/ref> The United States had its own consul in Coburg from 1897 to 1918.
During the American Civil War
The American Civil War (also known by other names
Other most often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Books
* The Other (Tryon novel), ''The Other'' (Tryon nove ...
, Ernst Raven was assigned to the position of consul in the state of Texas. He applied to the Confederate Government for a diplomatic exequatur
An exequatur is a legal document issued by a sovereign authority that permits the exercise or enforcement of a right within the jurisdiction
Jurisdiction (from Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages ...

on 30 July 1861 and was accepted.
Military
Before 1867, the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha had its own Army. But, on 26 June 1867, because of a treaty signed in 1866 with Prussia, its Army was added, for defending and recruiting purposes, to the 6th Thuringian Infantry Regiment No. 95 of the 22nd Division22nd Division or 22nd Infantry Division may refer to:
Infantry divisions
* 22nd Division (People's Republic of China)
* 22nd Division (United Kingdom)
* 22nd Infantry Division (France)
* 22nd Division (German Empire)
* 22nd Reserve Division (Germ ...
of the XIth Army Corps. Three battalions of the 6th Thuringian were assigned to Gotha (No. 1), Hildburghausen
Hildburghausen is a town in Thuringia
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a states of Germany, state of Germany. Located in central Germany, it covers , being the sixth smallest of the sixteen Germa ...
(No. 2) and Coburg (No. 3) but the Corps headquarters was in Kassel
Kassel (; in Germany, spelled Cassel until 1926) is a city on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Regierungsbezirk Kassel (region), Kassel and the Districts of Germany, district Kassel (district), of th ...

. Unlike Prussia, where military service was mandatory, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha filled its quota in the Imperial Army with the draft.
Miscellaneous
The capitals of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha were Coburg
Coburg () is a Town#Germany, town located on the Itz (river), Itz river in the Upper Franconia region of Bavaria, Germany. Long part of one of the Thuringian states of the Ernestine duchies, Wettin line, it joined Bavaria by popular vote only ...

and Gotha
Gotha () is the fifth-largest city in Thuringia
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state
State may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Literature
* ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazi ...

. By 1914 the area and populations of the two duchies were:[ Sander, Harold, “I.11 ''Herzogtum Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha''”, ''Das Haus von Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha 1826 bis 2001'', page 27]
There are two residences in Gotha and Coburg. Therefore, the whole ducal court, including the Court Theater, had to move twice a year: from Gotha to Coburg for the summer, from Coburg to Gotha for the winter. For the Court Theater, two almost identical buildings had to be built in 1840 in Gotha (destroyed in the Second World War) and Coburg (now the ) and thereafter maintained at the same time. In addition to the residential castles, '' Friedenstein'' in Gotha and '' Ehrenburg'' in Coburg, the Ducal family also used the ''Schloss'' Reinhardsbrunn
Reinhardsbrunn in Friedrichroda near Gotha, in the German state of Thuringia
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a states of Germany, state of Germany. Located in central Germany, it covers , bein ...
in Gotha as well as the Rosenau and Callenberg castles in Coburg and the hunting lodge Greinburg Castle, Grein, Austria
Grein is a municipality in the district Perg
Perg is a city in the Austria
Austria (, ; german: Österreich ), officially the Republic of Austria (german: Republik Österreich, links=no, ), is a landlocked Eastern Alps, East Alpine co ...
(the latter two still today owned by the ducal branch of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
The House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (; german: Haus Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha) is a German dynasty
A dynasty (, ) is a sequence of rulers from the same family,''Oxford English Dictionary'', "dynasty, ''n''." Oxford University Press
...

).
File:Coburg-Veste4.jpg, Veste Coburg
The Veste Coburg (Coburg Fortress) is one of the most well-preserved medieval fortresses of Germany
Germany (german: Deutschland, ), officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in . It is the in Europe after , and the most populous ...

File:Coburg-Ehrenburg1.jpg, Ehrenburg Palace
Ehrenburg Palace (German: ''Schloss Ehrenburg'') is a palace in Coburg, Franconia, Germany. It served as the main Coburg residence for the ruling princes from the 1540s until 1918. The palace's exterior today mostly reflects Gothic Revival style.
...
, Coburg
File:Gotha Schloss 1900.jpg, Friedenstein Palace
Friedenstein Palace (german: Schloss Friedenstein) is an early Baroque
The Baroque (, ; ) is a Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque scul ...
, Gotha
File:Reinhardsbrunn Schloss Winter.JPG, Reinhardsbrunn
Reinhardsbrunn in Friedrichroda near Gotha, in the German state of Thuringia
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a states of Germany, state of Germany. Located in central Germany, it covers , bein ...
Castle, Gotha
File:Schloss Callenberg Luftbild.jpg, Callenberg Castle
Callenberg Castle (''Schloss Callenberg'') is a castle on a wooded hill in Beiersdorf (Coburg), Beiersdorf, an ''Ortsteil'' of Coburg, from the town centre. It was a hunting lodge and summer residence and has long been the principal residence of t ...
, Coburg
File:CO Schloss Rosenau1.jpg, Rosenau Castle, Coburg
Only the Duchy of Gotha, along with nearby Duchies of Saxe-Meiningen and Saxe-Altenburg and especially the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (german: Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach) was a historical German state, created as a duchy
A duchy, also called a dukedom, is a , territory, , or domain ruled by a or , a high-ranking nobleman hierarchically second to the or ...
– was able to be one of the sponsoring states of the University of Jena
The University of Jena, officially the Friedrich Schiller University Jena (german: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, abbreviated FSU, shortened form ''Uni Jena''), is a public
In public relations
Public relations (PR) is the prac ...
. Coburg did not have its own university. It did not have its court of law, either. Gotha had its own court of law while Coburg had to go to Meiningen
Meiningen () is a town in the southern part of the state of Thuringia, Germany. It is located in the region of Franconia and has a population of around 25,000 (2020). Meiningen is the capital and the largest town of the Schmalkalden-Meiningen d ...
for the legal administration.
Ruler
Titles and styles of the Sovereign of the House
According to the ''Staatsgrundgesetz'' (House law
House law or House laws (''Hausgesetze'') are rules that govern a royal family
A royal family is the immediate family of /, , /, or / and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an or ...
s) of the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the full title of the Duke was:[ Velde, François, "House Laws of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha", posted 17 June 2008, ''Heraldica: Topics: Royalty'', http://www.heraldica.org/topics/royalty/HGSachsen-CG.htm, retrieved 10 December 2013. The original source was: Paul Posener, ''Die staatsverfassungen des Erdballs; unter Mitwirkung von Gelehrten und Staatsmännern'' 'The State Constitutions of the World, With Participation of Scholars and Statesmen'' (]Charlottenburg
Charlottenburg () is a locality
Locality may refer to:
* Locality (association), an association of community regeneration organizations in England
* Locality (linguistics)
* Locality (settlement)
* Suburbs and localities (Australia), in which ...

: Fichtner, 1909).
''Wir, Ernst, Herzog zu Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha, Jülich, Cleve und Berg, auch Engern und Westphalen, Landgraf in Thüringen, Markgraf zu Meißen, gefürsteter Graf zu Henneberg, Graf zu der Mark und Ravensberg, Herr zu Ravenstein und Tonna usw.''
Translation: We, Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Jülich, Cleves and Berg, also Angria
Angria or Angaria (german: Engern, ) is a historical region in the present-day German
German(s) may refer to:
Common uses
* of or related to Germany
* Germans, Germanic ethnic group, citizens of Germany or people of German ancestry
* For c ...
and Westphalia
Westphalia (; german: Westfalen ; nds, Westfalen ) is a region of northwestern Germany
)
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, map_width = 250px
, capital = Berlin
Berlin (; ) is the and by both area and population. Its 3,769 ...

, Landgrave
Landgrave (german: Landgraf, nl, landgraaf, sv, lantgreve, french: landgrave; la, comes magnus, ', ', ', ', ') was a noble title
Traditional rank amongst European royalty, peers, and nobility
Nobility is a social class normall ...
in Thuringia, Margrave
Margrave was originally the medieval
In the history of Europe
The history of Europe concerns itself with the discovery and collection, the study, organization and presentation and the interpretation of past events and affairs of the ...
of Meissen
Meissen (in German orthography
German orthography is the orthography
An orthography is a set of conventions for writing
Writing is a medium of human communication that involves the representation of a language with written symbols. ...

, Princely Count
(male) or (female) is a historical title
A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some la ...
of Henneberg, Count of the Mark
The County of Mark (german: Grafschaft Mark, links=no, french: Comté de La Marck, links=no colloquially known as ) was a county
A county is a geographical region
In geography, regions are areas that are broadly divided by physical charac ...
and Ravensberg, Lord of Ravenstein and Tonna, et cetera.
Titles and styles of other members of the House
The use of Ducal and Princely titles may be restricted if the marriage conflicts with the requirements of the ''Staatsgrundgesetz'' or if a member of the House renounces his claims for himself and his descendants.
Dukes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1826–1918)
* Ernst I, Duke 1826–1844 (1784–1844)
** Ernst IIErnest II may refer to:
* Ernest II, Duke of Swabia (died in 1030)
* Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1745–1804)
* Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1818–1893)
* Ernest II, Count of Lippe-Biesterfeld (1842–1904)
* Ernst II, Pri ...

, Duke 1844–1893 (1818–1893)
** ''Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Francis Albert Augustus Charles Emmanuel; 26 August 1819 – 14 December 1861) was the husband of Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United ...
'' (1819–1861), married Queen Victoria''
*** ''Prince Albert Edward
Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910.
The eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert ...

'' (1841–1910), Prince of Wales
*** Alfred
Alfred may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
*''Alfred J. Kwak'', Dutch-German-Japanese anime television series
*Alfred (Arne opera), ''Alfred'' (Arne opera), a 1740 masque by Thomas Arne
*Alfred (Dvořák opera), ''Alfred'' (Dvořák opera), an ...

, Duke 1893–1900 (1844–1900), 1st Duke of Edinburgh
**** '' Alfred, Hereditary Prince'', (1874–1899)
*** ''Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (Arthur William Patrick Albert; 1 May 185016 January 1942), was the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of ...

'' (1850–1942)
**** ''Prince Arthur of Connaught
Prince Arthur of Connaught (Arthur Frederick Patrick Albert; 13 January 1883 – 12 September 1938) was a British military officer and a grandson of Queen Victoria. He served as Governor-General of the Union of South Africa from 20 November 1920 ...
'' (1883–1938)
*** ''Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany
Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, (Leopold George Duncan Albert; 7 April 185328 March 1884) was the eighth child and youngest son of Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United K ...

'' (1853–1884)
**** Carl Eduard, Duke 1900–1918 (1884–1954), abdicated 1918
Heads of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1918–present)
* Carl Eduard, Prince 1918–1954 (1884–1954), stripped of British title as 2nd Duke of Albany 1919
** ''Johann Leopold, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Johann, typically a male given name
A given name (also known as a first name or forename) is the part of a quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group ( ...
'' (1906–1972), surrendered rights 1932
** ''Hubertus
Hubertus or Hubert ( 656 – 30 May 727 A.D.) was a Christian saint who became the first bishop of Liège in 708 A.D. He is the patron saint of hunters, mathematicians, opticians, and metalworkers. Known as the "Apostle of the Ardennes", he was ...
'' (1909–1943)
** Friedrich Josias, Prince 1954–1998 (1918–1998)
*** Andreas
Andreas ( el, Ἀνδρέας) is a name usually given to males in Austria, Greece, Cyprus, Denmark, Armenia, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Romania, the Netherlands, and Indonesia. The name derives from ...
, Prince 1998–present (born 1943)
**** Hubertus Michael, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (born 1975)
***** Prince Philipp of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (born 2015)
**** Prince Alexander Philipp of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (born 1977)
State Ministers of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1824–1919)
* 1824–1840 Christoph Anton Ferdinand von Carlowitz
* 1840–1840 Dietrich arl August''Freiherr
(; male, abbreviated as ), (; his wife, abbreviated as , literally "free lord" or "free lady") and (, his unmarried daughters and maiden aunts) are designations used as titles of nobility
Traditional rank amongst European royalty, peers ...
'' von Stein, (first time)
* 1840–1846 Georg Ferdinand von Lepel
* 1846–1849 Dietrich arl August''Freiherr'' von Stein (second time)
* 1849–1888 Camillo ''Freiherr'' von Seebach
* 1888–1891 Gisbert von Bonin
* 1891–1900 Office Vacant
* 1900–1905 hilipp HermannOtto von Hentig
* 1905–1914 Ernst riedrich Hermannvon Richter
* 1914–1919 Hans Barthold von Bassewitz
See also
* Ernestine duchies
The Ernestine duchies (), also known as the Saxon duchies (''Sächsische Herzogtümer'', although the Albertine appanage
An appanage, or apanage (; french: apanage ), is the grant of an estate, title, office or other thing of value to a youn ...
* Palais Coburg in Vienna
References
Bibliography
* Dressel, Carl-Christian H.
''Die Entwicklung von Verfassung und Verwaltung in Sachsen-Coburg 1800–1826 im Vergleich''
''The Development and Comparison of the Constitution and Administration of Saxe-Coburg 1880 – 1826'') (Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, 2007), , Subscription required.
* Erdmann, Jürgen
''Coburg, Bayern und das Reich 1918–1923''
(''Coburg, Bavaria and the Empire 1918–1923''), Coburg, Druckhaus und Vesteverlag A. Rossteutscher, 1969, (''Coburger Heimatkunde und Landesgeschichte Reihe 2, 22'' (''Coburger Studies of State and Local History Series 2, Nr 22''), ZDB-ID 1151614-8) (simultaneously: University of Würzburg, Dissertation, 1969: ''Coburg in den Anfangsjahren der Weimarer Republik 1918–1923'' (''Coburg in the Beginning of the Weimar Republic Years 1918–1923''))
* Johann Homann, Homann, Johann B[aptist]., ''Die Herzogtümer Gotha, Coburg und Altenburg 1729. Historische Karte'' (''The Duchies of Gotha, Coburg and Altenburg 1729. Historical Maps''), ''Tabula Geographica Principatus Gotha, Coburg, Altenburg'' (''Geographical Maps of the Principalities of Gotha, Coburg and Altenburg 1729''), Bad Langensalza, Verlag Rockstuhl, 1999, (reprint), .
* Niclas, Thomas, ''Das Haus Sachsen-Coburg – Europas späte Dynastie'' (''The House of Saxe-Coburg – Europe's Last Dynasty''), Stuttgart, Kohlhammer Verlag, 2003, .
* Sandner, Harold, ''Das Haus von Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha 1826 bis 2001'' (''The House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha 1826 to 2001''), Coburg, Neue Presse GmbH, 2004. .
External links
The Ducal House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
– the official website of the house
– article about the Duchy, written in 1910, with details about the religious issues
*
{{Authority control
Saxe-Coburg and Gotha,
States and territories disestablished in 1918
States and territories established in 1826
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House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, *
Ernestine duchies, Coburg and Gotha
Dukes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha,
Former states and territories of Bavaria
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