Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
(1815-1871: Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha)
Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and Saxe-Gotha became a combined double state in 1826 named the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. In addition to the two almost equal sized parts, there were a number of small enclaves. The small Thuringian state was a member state of the German Confederation until 1866. After the Austro-Prussian War, during which it allied with Prussia, it became a member state of the North German Confederation in 1867. The Saxe-Coburg-Gotha military became a contingent of the Prussian army on 26 June 1867. It became a member state of the German Empire in 1871.
Saxe-Coburg-Gotha’s first duke was Ernest I; his younger brother was Leopold I, the King of the Belgians. In 1817, Ernst I married Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and they had two children, Ernest II and Albert, who later married Queen Victoria. Ernest I was a noted philanderer and his marriage ended in divorce, which created a political challenge. Louise’s uncle was the last duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. Ernst would have been next in line to inherit Gotha, but there was disagreement on the succession. A compromise was reached. Unfortunately, Louise died shortly thereafter. Ernest I then married Duchess Marie of Württemberg, his sister’s daughter, making her Albert’s cousin and stepmother.
Ernest II succeeded his father and married Alexandrine of Baden and they had no children. This lack of progeny proved problematic, as the line of succession was then to Albert’s line. This transfer meant that a British sovereign would also become a German sovereign and neither Queen Victoria nor Albert supported this turn of events. In 1855, Albert agreed to renounce his right of succession. The succession passed to Alfred, the second son of Albert and Queen Victoria. When Alfred died, the line of succession passed to Charles Edward, a Prince of the United Kingdom, whose father was Prince Leopold (the fourth son of Queen Victoria). He reigned until 1918. After the war, he had to give up all British titles and honors.
All of the twists and turns related to the Royal family of this small Duchy impacted both Britain and Germany. Here is some trivia that will probably make your head hurt. The British Royal family name of Windsor was created in 1917 – the middle of World War I – by proclamation of the British king George V. This replaced the family name of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
This had been the family name since 1901 and King Edward VII. He and George V were the only two kings of England that had their last name.
Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was a hereditary constitutional monarchy. There were two separate parliaments, one for the Duchy of Coburg and another for the Duchy of Gotha. The Coburg diet consisted of eleven members and the Gotha diet numbered nineteen members. Common issues were decided by a joint session. The franchise was given to all male taxpayers who were at least 25 years of age. The united duchy was represented in the Bundesrat by one member and in the Reichstag by two members, one for each duchy. The Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was quite rich as Duke Ernest I sold the principality of Lichtenberg to Prussia for a large sum of money.
The population was 226,000 in 1914 of which 98 percent was Protestant. The capital was both Gotha and Coburg (summer). The duchy was 1977 km². The soldiers were concentrated in the 6. Thüringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 95.