Prince Ernst Bernhard of Saxe-Meiningen

Infobox Person
name = Ernst Bernhard of Saxe-Meiningen


image_size =
caption =
birth_date = birth date|1859|9|27
birth_place = Meiningen
death_date = death date and age|1941|12|29|1859|9|27
death_place = Altenstein
title = Prince of Saxe-Meiningen
spouse = Katharina Jensen
parents = Georg II of Saxe-Meiningen and Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg

Prince Ernst Bernhard Victor Georg of Saxe-Meiningen (27 September 1859 - 29 December 1941) was the head of the house of Saxe-Meiningen from 1928 until his death.

Biography

He was born in Meiningen the eldest son of the heir apparent to the duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, Prince Georg and his second wife Princess Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. His father succeeded to the throne in 1866. Ernst pursued a career in the Army and retried as Colonel in the Prussian cavalry. He received an honorary doctorate in philosophy from the University of Jena.

Ernst was married in Munich on 20 September 1892 to Katharina Jensen, the daughter of poet Wilhelm Jensen. This was a morganatic marriage and his wife was created "Baroness of Saalfeld" on their wedding day by Ernst's father Georg II. Though the marriage was unequal Ernst retained his succession rights to the duchy of Saxe-Meiningen. [cite news |title=Whims of Young William; Zedlitz Sacrificed to Prove the Emperor a Liberal |publisher=New York Times |page=1 |date=1892-03-20 ]

When his older half brother the last reigning duke of Saxe-Meiningen, Bernhard III died on 16 January 1928 Ernst succeeded him as head of the ducal house. As his children were born of a morgantic marriage Ernst's nephew Georg succeeded him as head of the house following his death at Schloss Altenstein.

Children

Ernst and Katharina had six children, all of whom held the title "Baron (Baroness) of Saalfeld":

References