Ernst II, Duke of Sachsen-Altenburg

From Kaiserreich

Ernst II von Sachsen-Altenburg (born Ernst Bernhard Georg Johann Karl Frederick Peter Albert, on August, 31 1871 in Altenburg, Germany), is the fifth and current ruler of Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg, one of the constituent states of the German Empire, succeeding to his uncle Ernst I on February, 7 1908.

Biography

Ernst was born in Altenburg as one of the five children but only son of Prince Moritz, son of Duke Georg of Saxe-Altenburg, and Augusta of Saxe-Meiningen. He attended the Vitzthumsche Gymnasium in Dresden in 1884, and from 1886 to 1889 the Christians-Gymnasium in Eisenberg. On 1890, he began studying at the Lausanne Academy, later from 1891 to 1892 at the University of Jena studying political science, history and philosophy for two semersters. In 1892, he moved to the University of Heidelberg, and the following year, the Prince attended the war academy in Kassel, the one in Berlin in 1894, passing the officer exam. In September 1894, he joined as a lieutenant the Royal Prussian First Regiment of Foot Guards. From 1903 to 1905 he served in the General Staff. After his childless uncle Ernst I died in 1908, as Prince Moritz had died the previous year, he became Duke of Saxe-Altenburg. Immediately, he tried to convert his whole duchy to his personal interest in science, research and technology, opening the future Leipzig-Altenburg Airport and receiving various world travellers. He properly distinguished during the Weltkrieg, appointed as General after the Battle of the Marne, but forced to step down in 1916 due to dysentery. Now, the small Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg is one of the most advanced technologically in Germany, as the Duke acts as some sort of Protector of Sciences, planning to open a laboratory even more advanced than the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute.

Marriage

On February, 27 1898, in Bückeburg Ernst married Adelaide of Schaumburg-Lippe. They had four children:

• Charlotte Agnes Ernestine Augusta Bathildis Marie Therese Adolfine (born March, 4 1899), married on July, 11 1919 to Prince Sigismund of Prussia.
• Wilhelm Georg Moritz Ernst Albert Friedrich Karl Konstantin Eduard Max (born May, 13 1900), who would succeed him as Georg II.
• Elisabeth Karola Viktoria Adelaide Hilda Luise Alexandra (born April, 6 1903)
• Friedrich Ernst Karl August Albert (born May, 15 1905).