Adolf Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach (

Weimar Weimar is a city in the state (Germany), German state of Thuringia, in Central Germany (cultural area), Central Germany between Erfurt to the west and Jena to the east, southwest of Leipzig, north of Nuremberg and west of Dresden. Together w ...

, 15 May 1632 –

Eisenach Eisenach () is a Town#Germany, town in Thuringia, Germany with 42,000 inhabitants, west of Erfurt, southeast of Kassel and northeast of Frankfurt. It is the main urban centre of western Thuringia, and bordering northeastern Hesse, Hessian re ...

, 21 November 1668) was a duke of Saxe-Eisenach. He was the fourth but second surviving son of

Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar (Altenburg, 11 April 1598 – Weimar, 17 May 1662), was a duke of Saxe-Weimar. Wilhelm was the fifth (but third surviving) son of Johann, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, and Dorothea Maria of Anhalt. He was brother to Bernard of ...

and Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau. When Adolf was nineteen years old, he traveled around several countries, in particular

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. Subsequently, in 1656 entered the service of King

Charles X Gustav of Sweden Charles X Gustav, also Carl X Gustav (; 8 November 1622 – 13 February 1660), was King of Sweden from 1654 until his death. He was the son of John Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg and Catherine of Sweden. After his father's ...

(who was at that time engaged in the

Northern Wars "Northern Wars" is a term used for a series of wars fought in northern Europe, northern and northeastern Europe from the 16th to the 18th century, primarily between the territorial rivals of the Swedish Empire, Tsardom of Russia, Poland–Lithuani ...

against

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

) as a colonel, where Adolf was characterised by his courage and bravery. However, after a meeting in

Funen Funen (, ), is the third-largest List of islands of Denmark, island of Denmark, after Zealand and North Jutlandic Island, Vendsyssel-Thy, with an area of . It is the List of islands by area, 165th-largest island in the world. It is located in th ...

with an imperial ambassador, Adolf transferred to the Imperial Army with the rank of colonel. In 1661, he traveled again to

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

, and King Charles Gustav offered him the rank of major general of the infantry with a pay of 2000 talents; Adolf declined. When his father died (1662) Adolf, with his older brother Johann Ernst, divided the paternal estates. He received

and its Schloss Wilhelmsburg, with its large garden, where he made his residence. His two younger brothers, Johann Georg and

Bernhard Bernhard is both a given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include: Given name *Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar (1604–1639), Duke of Saxe-Weimar *Bernhard, Prince of Saxe-Meiningen (1901–1984), head of the House of Saxe-Meiningen 1946 ...

, received only incomes from the duchies of their older brothers.

Marriage and issue

Wolfenbüttel Wolfenbüttel (; ) is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, the administrative capital of Wolfenbüttel District Wolfenbüttel (; ) is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, the administrative capital of Wolfenbüttel (district), Wolfenbüttel Distri ...

on 18 January 1663, Adolf married Marie Elisabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. They had five children: # Karl August (b. Eisenach, 31 January 1664 - d. Eisenach, 14 February 1665). # Frederick Wilhelm (b. Eisenach, 2 February 1665 - d. Eisenach, 3 May 1665). # Adolf Wilhelm (b. Eisenach, 26 June 1666 - d. Eisenach, 11 December 1666). # Ernst August (b. Eisenach, 28 August 1667 - d. Eisenach, 8 February 1668). # Wilhelm August, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach (b. posthumously, Eisenach, 30 November 1668 - d. Eisenach, 23 February 1671). Adolf lost all his sons shortly after birth, and his widow was pregnant with their fifth child at the time of his death. Eight days later, a son was born, called Wilhelm August, who inherited the estates of his father (under the regency of his uncle Johann Georg), until his death at only two years of age, whereupon Johann Georg inherited the estates.

Notes

References

* August Beck: '' Adolf Wilhelm''. In:

Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB; ) is one of the most important and comprehensive biographical reference works in the German language. It was published by the Historical Commission of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences between 1875 and 1912 in 56 volumes, printed in Lei ...

(ADB). Band 1, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1875, S. 120 f. {{DEFAULTSORT:Adolf William Of Saxe-Eisenach, Duke House of Wettin 1632 births 1668 deaths Nobility from Weimar Dukes of Saxe-Eisenach Military personnel from Weimar