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Johann Adolf of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg

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Prince Johann Adolf
Prince of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Prince Johann Adolf of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Born(1721-05-18)18 May 1721
Gotha, Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Died29 April 1799(1799-04-29) (aged 77)
Friedrichstanneck near Eisenberg, Germany
Burial
Chapel of Christiansburg Castle in Eisenberg
SpouseMarie Maximiliane Elisabeth Schauer
IssueFriedrich Adolph (*/+1760)
Adolph Christian Carl von Gothart (1761–1835)
Johanna Adolfine Friederike von Gothart (1767–1804)
HouseSaxe-Gotha-Altenburg
FatherFrederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
MotherMagdalena Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst
Signature of Johann Adolf of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg („Johann Adolph zu Sachsen“)

Johann Adolf of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (18 May 1721, Gotha – 29 April 1799, Friedrichstanneck, now a district of Eisenberg, Thuringia), was a German prince of the House of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and a Saxon lieutenant general.

Life

Johann Adolf was the youngest son of Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Magdalene Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst. Since 1735 the prince was educated in Geneva and joined the Danish military service in 1739. On his Grand Tour he visited his sister Augusta in the United Kingdom where he also obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford.

In 1743 he moved to the Saxon army to become holder of a regiment the following year and fought at the Battle of Hohenfriedberg. He became major general in 1746 and established his headquarter in Naumburg. In 1748 he obtained the Polish Order of the White Eagle and became Saxon lieutenant general in 1753. During The Seven Years' War he was captured be the Prussian Army and had to swear not to fight the Prussians further before being released. Later, the Prussian Army tried to absord his regiment.

Johann Adolf retired to Eisenberg where he had the house Markt 25 built in 1750. In 1756 he had built Schloss Friedrichstanneck nearby. After Prince Joseph of Saxe-Hildburghausen died in 1787 he became Elder of the Ernestine line of the House of Wettin, a position alread hold by his older brother Frederick III until his death in 1772. Because of this position he obtained Oldisleben territory. After Johann Adolf died in 1799 Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld became Elder of Ernestine Wettin and received the Oldisleben territory. Johann Adolf is buried at the chapel of Christiansburg Castle in Eisenberg.

Schloss Friedrichstanneck
Markt 25, Eisenberg

Marriage and Issue

The Ernestine duchies of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Saxe-Weimar considered a marriage between Johann Adolf and Princess Ernestine Albertine of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, daughter of Ernest Augustus I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. The negotiations delayed over the dowry. In the meantime Ernestine Albertine decided for Philip II, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe.[1] Johann Adolf later married Marie Maximiliane Elisabeth Schauer morganatically.[2] They had three children of which two survived.

  • Friedrich Adolph (*/+1760)
  • Adolph Christian Carl (1761–1835)
  • Johanna Adolfine Friederike (1767–1804)

Marie Maximiliane Elisabeth Schauer was ennobled together with her two children on January 12, 1779 by Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor.[3]

Bibliography

  • August Beck (1881), "Johann Adolf", Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 14, Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot, p. 376
  • Johann Samuel Ersch: Allgemeine Encyclopädie der Wissenschaften und Künste, Zweite Sektion, 21. Teil, Leipzig, 1842, p. 240 (digital copy)
  • Ranft, Michael: Die Politische Historie von Thüringen, Meißen und Sachsen, welche der sächsische Patriot aus den bewährtesten Nachrichten in XI Stücken der studirenden Jugend in möglichster Kürze aufrichtig erzehlet, Band 10, Leipzig : Holle, 1772, p. 181f. (digital copy)

References

  1. ^ Knöfel, A.-S.: Dynastie und Prestige : Die Heiratspolitik der Wettiner. Köln u.a. : Böhlau, 2009, p. 358. (digital copy)
  2. ^ Weise, O.: Einige Mitteilungen über Prinz Johann Adolf von Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg. In: Mitteilungen des Geschichts- und Altertumsforschenden Vereins zu Eisenberg, Heft 24(1906), p. 276. (digital copy)
  3. ^ Adelsstand mit der Bewilligung ihren bisher geführten Geschlechtsnamen Schaur abzulegen und "von Gothart" zu nennen. Reichsadelsakten Österreichisches Staatsarchiv (AT-OeStA/AVA Adel RAA 150.29)

Ancestors

Family of Johann Adolf of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
16. John II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
8. Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha
17. Dorothea Maria of Anhalt
4. Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
18. Johann Philipp, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg
9. Princess Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg
19. Elisabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
2. Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
20. Johann Georg I, Elector of Saxony
10. August, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels
21. Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia
5. Magdalena Sibylle of Saxe-Weissenfels
22. Adolf Frederick I, Duke of Mecklenburg
11. Anna Maria of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
23. Anna Maria of Ostfriesland
1. Prince John Adolf of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
24. Rudolph, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
12. John VI, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
25. Magdalene of Oldenburg
6. Prince Charles of Anhalt-Zerbst
26. Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
13. Sophie Augusta of Holstein-Gottorp
27. Maria Elisabeth of Saxony
3. Princess Magdalena Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst
28. Johann Georg I, Elector of Saxony (= 20)
14. August, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels (= 10)
29. Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia (= 21)
7. Sophie of Saxe-Weissenfels
30. Adolf Frederick I, Duke of Mecklenburg (= 22)
15. Anna Maria of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (= 11)
31. Anna Maria of Ostfriesland (= 23)
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