Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg

Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg (German: Ernst I. Friedrich Paul Georg Nikolaus von Sachsen-Altenburg) (16 September 1826 in Hildburghausen – 7 February 1908 in Altenburg), was a duke of Saxe-Altenburg. He was the first son of Georg, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg and Marie Luise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. In 1853, he succeeded his father as Duke of Saxe-Altenburg. He was of a retiring disposition and he took little active part in running the country. After a reign that lasted 55 years, he died without a living direct male heir; because of this, he was succeeded by his nephew, Ernst.

Marriage He was married in Dessau on 28 April 1853 to Agnes of Anhalt-Dessau (1824–1897). Agnes was a sister of Friedrich I, Duke of Anhalt.

They had two children: Marie (b. Eisenberg, 2 August 1854 – d. Camenz, 8 October 1898), married on 19 April 1873 to Albrecht of Prussia. Georg (b. Altenburg, 1 February 1856 – d. Altenburg, 29 February 1856) died in infancy.

Honours and decorations German honours

Foreign honours Grand Cordon of the Royal Order of Leopold Knight of the Elephant, 28 October 1882 Grand Cross of the Netherlands Lion Order of Osmanieh, 1st Class in Diamonds Grand Cross of the Star of Romania Knight of St. Andrew Knight of St. George, 4th Class Grand Cross of the Cross of Takovo Sweden-Norway: Knight of the Seraphim, 24 February 1864 Grand Duchy of Tuscany: Grand Cross of the Military Order of St. Stephen

Ancestry