Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

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Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (b. Gotha, 10 September 1649 - d. Meiningen, 27 April 1706) was a duke of Saxe-Meiningen.

He was the sixth but third surviving son of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Altenburg and Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg.

After the death of his father, in 1675, the duchy was governed by him and his brothers under co-ruling; but the duchy was divided five years later (in 1680); for this divisionary treaty, Bernhard received Meiningen, Wasungen, Salzungen, Untermassfeld, Frauenbreitungen and Ichtershausen. Bernhard became the founder of the Saxe-Meiningen line.

The building of an official residence in Meiningen began immediately. The residence was finished in 1692 and was called Schloss Elisabethenburg, in honor of Bernhard's second wife. Like his brother Ernst, Bernhard's financial stability in his duchy was remarkable. The sales of chamber goods and the additional charge of taxes to the population were the result.

Bernhard ordered by will the indivisibility of the duchy, but a Primogenitur did not give it. For this, Bernhard's sons governed the duchy jointly after his death.

[edit] Ancestors

Bernhard's ancestors in three generations

Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen	Father: Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha	Paternal Grandfather: John II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar	Paternal Great-grandfather: Johann Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
			Paternal Great-grandmother: Dorothea Susanne of Simmern
		Paternal Grandmother: Dorothea Maria of Anhalt	Paternal Great-grandfather: Joachim Ernst of Anhalt
			Paternal Great-grandmother: Eleonore of Württemberg
	Mother: Princess Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg	Maternal Grandfather: Johann Philipp, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg	Maternal Great-grandfather: Frederick Wilhelm I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
			Maternal Great-grandmother: Anna Marie of Bavaria-Neuburg
		Maternal Grandmother: Elisabeth of Brünswick-Wolfenbüttel	Maternal Great-grandfather:
			Maternal Great-grandmother:

[edit] Issue

He married in Schloß Friedenstein, Gotha, on 20 November 1671 with Marie Hedwig of Hesse-Darmstadt. They had seven children:

1. Ernst Ludwig I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (b. Gotha, 7 October 1672 - d. Meiningen, 24 November 1724).
2. Bernhard (b. Gotha, 28 October 1673 - d. Brussels, 25 October 1694).
3. Johann Ernst (b. Gotha, 29 December 1674 - d. Gotha, 8 February 1675).
4. Marie Elisabeth (b. Ichtershausen, 11 August 1676 - d. Ichtershausen, 22 December 1676).
5. Johann Georg (b. Ichtershausen, 3 October 1677 - d. Ichtershausen, 10 October 1678).
6. Frederick Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (b. Ichtershausen, 16 February 1679 - d. Meiningen, 10 March 1746).
7. Georg Ernst (b. Ichtershausen, 26 March 1680 - d. of smallpox, Meiningen, 1 January 1699).

He married secondly in Schningen on 25 January 1681 with Elisabeth Eleonore of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. They had five children:

1. Elisabeth Ernestine (b. Meiningen, 3 December 1681 - d. Gandersheim, 24 December 1766), Abbess of Gandersheim (1713-1766).
2. Eleonore Frederika (b. Meiningen, 2 March 1683 - d. Meiningen, 13 May 1739), a nun at Gandersheim.
3. Anton August (b. Meiningen, 20 June 1684 - d. Meiningen, 7 December 1684).
4. Wilhelmine Luise (b. Meiningen, 19 January 1686 - d. Bernstadt, 5 October 1753), married on 20 December 1703 to Karl, Duke of Württemberg-Bernstadt.
5. Anton Ulrich, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (b. Meiningen, 22 October 1687 - d. Frankfurt, 27 January 1763).

Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen House of Wettin Born: 10 September 1649 Died: 27 April 1706
Regnal titles
Preceded by Duchy established	Duke of Saxe-Meiningen 1675–1706	Succeeded by Ernst Ludwig I