When his father died in 1683, he succeeded him as duke; however, he was compelled to rule jointly with his younger brother Johann Ernst III.
Because John Ernest III was alcoholic, William Ernest took full control of the government of the duchy and permitted John Ernest the nominal title of co-duke (Mitherr) until his death in 1707. After the death of his brother he made John Ernest's son, Ernest August I, co-duke, but with no real power.
Six months after the death of his father (2 November 1683), William Ernest married in Eisenach with Charlotte Marie, his cousin and eldest surviving daughter of his uncle Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Jena, in order to secure the family lands. At that time, the guardian of Charlotte and his younger brother, the duke Johann William of Saxe-Jena, was the duke John George I of Saxe-Eisenach, their only surviving uncle. When he died in 1686, the guardianship of the duke of Saxe-Jena was taken by William Ernest, his cousin and brother-in-law.
William Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
William Ernest was a strict Lutheran and commanded that only men who could read and comment on Lutheran theological writings be admitted to his armed forces. The composer Johann Sebastian Bach worked for the duke from 1708, first as organist, then as Konzertmeister (leader of the orchestra) in Weimar. When Johann Samuel Drese died in 1716, Bach solicited his post of Kapellmeister (head of the court musical establishment), but William Ernest appointed Drese's incompetent son for the post instead; furious, Bach solicited his dismissal from the Duke's service. Annoyed at Bach's impertinence, William Ernest had Bach jailed for four weeks in a fortress before he accepted his dismissal.
On 23 August 1690, William Ernest and Charlotte Marie were divorced after seven years of childless and extremely unhappy union. Two months later, on 4 November, duke John William of Saxe-Jena (Charlotte Marie's brother), died without heirs, and Wilhelm Ernst took possession of part of his duchy after a treaty was signed with the Saxe-Eisenach branch of his family.
William Ernest never remarried and died at Weimar without heirs; his nephew Ernest August I became his successor.
william, ernest, duke, saxe, weimar, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, april, . This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations April 2015 Learn how and when to remove this message William Ernest Duke of Saxe Weimar 19 October 1662 26 August 1728 was a duke of Saxe Weimar William ErnestDuke of Saxe WeimarReign1683 1728PredecessorJohann Ernst IISuccessorErnst August IBorn 1662 10 19 19 October 1662WeimarDied26 August 1728 1728 08 26 aged 65 WeimarSpouseCharlotte Marie of Saxe JenaHouseHouse of WettinFatherJohann Ernst II Duke of Saxe WeimarMotherPrincess Christine Elisabeth of Schleswig Holstein SonderburgReligionLutheranLife editHe was born in Weimar the eldest son of Johann Ernst II Duke of Saxe Weimar and Princess Christine Elisabeth of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg When his father died in 1683 he succeeded him as duke however he was compelled to rule jointly with his younger brother Johann Ernst III Because John Ernest III was alcoholic William Ernest took full control of the government of the duchy and permitted John Ernest the nominal title of co duke Mitherr until his death in 1707 After the death of his brother he made John Ernest s son Ernest August I co duke but with no real power Six months after the death of his father 2 November 1683 William Ernest married in Eisenach with Charlotte Marie his cousin and eldest surviving daughter of his uncle Bernhard II Duke of Saxe Jena in order to secure the family lands At that time the guardian of Charlotte and his younger brother the duke Johann William of Saxe Jena was the duke John George I of Saxe Eisenach their only surviving uncle When he died in 1686 the guardianship of the duke of Saxe Jena was taken by William Ernest his cousin and brother in law nbsp William Ernest Duke of Saxe Weimar William Ernest was a strict Lutheran and commanded that only men who could read and comment on Lutheran theological writings be admitted to his armed forces The composer Johann Sebastian Bach worked for the duke from 1708 first as organist then as Konzertmeister leader of the orchestra in Weimar When Johann Samuel Drese died in 1716 Bach solicited his post of Kapellmeister head of the court musical establishment but William Ernest appointed Drese s incompetent son for the post instead furious Bach solicited his dismissal from the Duke s service Annoyed at Bach s impertinence William Ernest had Bach jailed for four weeks in a fortress before he accepted his dismissal On 23 August 1690 William Ernest and Charlotte Marie were divorced after seven years of childless and extremely unhappy union Two months later on 4 November duke John William of Saxe Jena Charlotte Marie s brother died without heirs and Wilhelm Ernst took possession of part of his duchy after a treaty was signed with the Saxe Eisenach branch of his family William Ernest never remarried and died at Weimar without heirs his nephew Ernest August I became his successor Ancestry editAncestors of William Ernest Duke of Saxe Weimar8 John II Duke of Saxe Weimar4 William Duke of Saxe Weimar9 Dorothea Maria of Anhalt2 John Ernest II Duke of Saxe Weimar10 John George I Prince of Anhalt Dessau5 Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt Dessau11 Countess Palatine Dorothea of Simmern1 William Ernest Duke of Saxe Weimar12 Alexander Duke of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg6 John Christian Duke of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg13 Dorothea of Schwarzburg Sondershausen3 Princess Christine Elisabeth of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg14 Anthony II Count of Oldenburg Delmenhorst7 Anna of Oldenburg Delmenhorst15 Sibylle Elisabeth of Brunswick DannenbergReferences editG Lammerhirt Wilhelm Ernst In Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie ADB Band 43 Duncker amp Humblot Leipzig 1898 S 195 201 William Ernest Duke of Saxe WeimarHouse of WettinBorn 19 October 1662 Died 26 August 1728 Regnal titles Preceded byJohn Ernest II Duke of Saxe Weimarwith Johann Ernst III1683 1728 Succeeded byErnest August I Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Ernest Duke of Saxe Weimar amp oldid 1119342676, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
