Saxe-Meiningen
(1813-1871: Sachsen-Meiningen)
The Principality of Saxe-Meiningen, or more correctly Saxe-Meiningen-Hildburghausen, a German state in Thuringia since 1680, was a member state of the German Confederation from 1815 to 1866. In 1826, it absorbed Saxe-Hildburghausen in exchange for Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.
Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, succeeded his father, Georg I when he was but three years old. His mother served as regent until 1821. Shortly thereafter, he married Marie Frederica of Hesse-Kassel. During the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, Saxe Meiningen allied with Austria and was then occupied by Prussian troops. In September 1866, Duke Bernard abdicated and was succeeded by his son George II, who had supported the Prussians. George II immediately made peace with Prussia. During the Franco-Prussian war, George II fought in nearly every battle during the war. Georg was a member of Wilhelm I‘s staff when he entered Paris and remained a friend of the Emperor until the latter’s death in 1888.
George II married three times, the first for love. His first wife was Charlotte Frederica of Prussia, a niece of Frederick William IV. They spent much time in Berlin and Potsdam but had to return to Meiningen for the birth of their four children. Their second son, George died young two years old. Charlotte died shortly after giving birth to their unnamed fourth child who died the next day.
Her death left Georg distraught. His second wife, Feodora, was his second cousin and a niece of Queen Victoria. It was believed he married to find a mother for his two children. He and Feodora had three additional children. Fedora died of scarlet fever in 1872.Their eldest son, Bernhard III, succeeded his father.
George and Feodora’s second son’s (Fredrick Johann’s) daughter, Adelheid, would later marry the Kaiser’s third son, Prince Adalbert. There is early evidence that Adelheid suffered porphyria symptoms as a girl, and they grew worse with age. She did not die until 1971, and her obituary referenced that she died of an illness bravely born.
George’s third wife was Ellen Franz, a former actress; it was a morganatic marriage that angered Kaiser Wilhelm. She became known as Helene, “Baroness von Holdburg” shortly before their wedding. George and Ellen devoted themselves to the arts and Meiningen became well known for its patronage of the theater. Johannes Brahms and Richard Strauss both performed for them. George was succeeded by his eldest son, Bernard III, who was the last duke of Saxe- Meiningen.
Bernard was a Gen. Oberst in the Prussian army. He achieved the rank of Field Marshall in 1912 and left the Army. At the start of World War I he expected to be appointed as the commanding general of an army. it did not happen and he was quite disappointed and in reaction withdrew from most public including work in the Duchy. He married Princess Charlotte of Prussia in 1878 when she was 17. She was the oldest granddaughter of Queen Victoria of England. The Kaiser’s sister, she had a reputation for spreading gossip and mischief making. She was ill much of her life and scholars now believe that she suffered from porphyria.
Saxe-Meiningen was a hereditary constitutional monarchy. There was one chamber in the parliament known as the Landtag. The parliament consisted of 24 members who were elected by three different groups. Four members were elected by the largest landowners, 4 members by those who paid taxes up to a certain level, and 16 by all of the citizens in a direct secret election. Voting was by all males over 25 years of age who paid taxes. Saxe-Meiningen had one vote in the Bundesrat and two deputies in the Reichstag.
The Saxe-Meiningen military became a contingent of the Prussian army on 26 June 1867 and George became a lieutenant general in the Prussian army. Saxe-Meiningen subsequently joined the North German Confederation in 1867. It became a member state of the German Empire in 1871.
The population was 287,000 in1914, of which 98 percent was Protestant. The capital of the duchy was Meiningen. The soldiers were gathered in 2nd Battalion 6. Thüringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 95.