Auf nach Norden!

The establishment of the Dual Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha on 15 November, exactly 200 years ago, was the result of two dynastic events: the extinction of the male line of the House of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg upon the death of Duke Frederick IV on 11 February 1825, and the marriage of Duke Ernest VIII of Coburg-Saalfeld to Princess Luise of Gotha, daughter of Duke August, on 31 July 1817.

Whilst exhibitions, publications and lectures in Gotha and Coburg during the anniversary year of 2026 explored the diverse economic and cultural interconnections of the heterogeneous dual duchy, Dr Wolfgang Steguweit’s richly illustrated lecture focuses on the dynastic connections of Saxe-Gotha since Ernest the Pious. From the mid-18th century onwards, they repeatedly ventured northwards beyond the traditional Central German horizon, and marital alliances between the Ernestines and the Mecklenburgers came into the dynastic spotlight. Three “Luises” came into play in succession: The first Luise, daughter of a brother of Frederick III of Gotha, was chosen in 1775 by Hereditary Prince Frederick Francis, later the first Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Like his father Ludwig before him, he designated the town as his residence, ‘Ludwigslust’. His daughter Luise-Charlotte was married in 1797 to Prince August of Gotha, with whom she had the third Luise, whose short life came to a tragic end in 1831. The lecture on 11 November will cover this and more.

Due to limited capacity, please register by calling 0361/737-5530 or emailing veranstaltungen.fb@uni-erfurt.de.