Ernest I Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Ernest I was born as Ernst Anton Karl Ludwig on 2 January 1784 in Coburg, Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Holy Roman Empire. He was the eldest son of Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, and Countess Augusta of Reuss-Ebersdorf. His reign as Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld began following his father’s death in 1806, and after a territorial rearrangement in 1826, he became the first Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He served as a Prussian general and fought against Napoleon in several battles, including Lützen, Leipzig, and the siege of Mainz. His contributions to the cultural and economic development of his territories included construction projects and the establishment of a court theatre in Coburg. Ernest I was the father of Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, which established the significant international position of the house of Coburg. He died on 29 January 1844 in Gotha, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, German Confederation.