Duchy of Saxe-Gotha facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Duchy of Saxe-Gotha
Herzogtum Sachsen-Gotha
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1553 – 1572 1640 – 1680 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | State of the Holy Roman Empire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital | Gotha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Government | Principality | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
• Split from Saxe-Thuringia
|
1553 1553 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
• Split into Saxe-Coburg and Saxe-Eisenach
|
1572 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
• Split from Saxe-Weimar
|
1640 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
• Partitioned in seven
|
1680 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Saxe-Gotha (pronounced SAKS-goh-tah) was a small state in what is now Thuringia, Germany. It was like a mini-country ruled by a duke. It existed for two main periods: first from 1553 to 1572, and then again from 1640 to 1680.
The second time Saxe-Gotha was created was in 1640. It was made for a ruler named Duke Ernest I, who was also known as "the Pious" because he was very religious. He ruled until his death in 1675.
After Duke Ernest I died, his lands were divided among his seven sons in 1680. This was a common practice in those times. The main area around the city of Gotha went to his oldest son, Frederick. Frederick also inherited another area called Altenburg from his mother, Elisabeth Sophie. Together, these lands became the new state of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.
Dukes of Saxe-Gotha
- Ernest I the Pious (1640 – 75, also Duke of Saxe-Altenburg from 1672)
- After Ernest I's death in 1675, his lands were divided among his sons in 1680. This created several new small states:
- Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
- Saxe-Coburg
- Saxe-Meiningen
- Saxe-Römhild
- Saxe-Eisenberg
- Saxe-Hildburghausen
- Saxe-Saalfeld
Later History
The state of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg continued until 1825. At that time, the ruling family had no more direct heirs. So, Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg was split up again.
The area of Saxe-Gotha went to the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. In return, he gave up some of his own land, Saalfeld, to Saxe-Meiningen. The Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen became the new Duke of Saxe-Altenburg. He then gave his old territory, Saxe-Hildburghausen, to Saxe-Meiningen.
After World War I ended in 1918, Germany's monarchies (like dukes and kings) were abolished. In 1920, Saxe-Gotha became part of the newly formed state of Thuringia in Germany.
Images for kids
-
Gotha: Schloss Friedenstein was a ducal palace.
See also
In Spanish: Ducado de Sajonia-Gotha para niños
