John Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar

John Ernest II (11 September 1627, in Weimar – 15 May 1683, in Weimar), was a duke of Saxe-Weimar. He was the second but eldest surviving son of William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, and Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau.

Johann Ernst II
Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Reign	1662–1683
Predecessor	William
Successor	William Ernest
Born	11 September 1627 Weimar
Died	15 May 1683 (aged 55) Weimar
Spouse	Christine Elisabeth of Holstein-Sonderburg
Issue	Anna Dorothea, Abbess of Quedlinburg Wilhelmine Christine, Countess of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen Eleonore Sophie, Duchess of Saxe-Merseburg-Lauchstädt William Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Weimar John Ernest III, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
House	Wettin
Father	William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
Mother	Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau
Religion	Lutheran

Life

After the death of his father on 1662, he became reigning duke. In 1672 John Ernest divided his possessions with his younger brothers. He retained Weimar, his brother John George I received Eisenach, and his other brother, Bernhard, received Jena. Eventually, the partitioned lands, Saxe-Weimar, Saxe-Eisenach (1741) and Saxe-Jena (1690) were re-combined.

Like his father, John Ernest was particularly interested in the arts (see Fruitbearing Society). He was also an avid hunter. Given his overriding interest in these pursuits, John Ernest entrusted the reigns of government to his chancellor.

In Weimar on 14 August 1656, John Ernest married Christine Elisabeth, (23 June 1638 – 7 June 1679), a daughter of John Christian, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (26 April 1607 – 28 June 1653).[1] They had five children:[2]

1. Anna Dorothea (b. Weimar, 12 November 1657 - d. Quedlinburg, 23 June 1704), Abbess of Quedlinburg (1685–1704).
2. Wilhelmine Christine (b. Weimar, 26 January 1658 - d. Sondershausen, 30 June 1712), married on 25 September 1684 to Christian William of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen.
3. Eleonore Sophie (b. Weimar, 22 March 1660 - d. Lauchstädt, 4 February 1687), married on 9 July 1684 to Philipp of Saxe-Merseburg-Lauchstädt.
4. William Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Weimar (b. Weimar, 19 October 1662 - d. Weimar, 26 August 1728).
5. John Ernest III, Duke of Saxe-Weimar (b. Weimar, 22 June 1664 - d. Weimar, 10 May 1707).

Ancestors

Ancestors of John Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar

16. John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony 8. John William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar 17. Sybille of Cleves 4. John II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar 18. Frederick III, Elector Palatine (= 28) 9. Dorothea Susanne of Simmern 19. Marie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (= 29) 2. William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar 20. John V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst (= 24) 10. Joachim Ernest, Prince of Anhalt (= 12) 21. Margaret of Brandenburg (= 25) 5. Dorothea Maria of Anhalt 22. Christoph, Duke of Württemberg 11. Eleonore of Württemberg 23. Anna Maria of Brandenburg-Ansbach 1. John Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar 24. John V, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst (= 20) 12. Joachim Ernest, Prince of Anhalt (= 10) 25. Margaret of Brandenburg (= 21) 6. John George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau 26. Wolfgang I, Count of Barby-Mühlingen 13. Agnes of Barby-Mühlingen 27. Agnes of Mansfeld-Mittelort 3. Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau 28. Frederick III, Elector Palatine (= 18) 14. John Casimir of the Palatinate-Simmern 29. Marie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (= 19) 7. Countess Palatine Dorothea of Simmern 30. August, Elector of Saxony 15. Elisabeth of Saxony 31. Anne of Denmark

References

1. hull.ac.uk
2. Genealogical database by Herbert Stoyan

Bibliography

• Ernst Wülcker: Johann Ernst, Herzog von Sachsen-Weimar. In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Band 14, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1881, S. 360–362.
• Karl Helmrich: Geschichte des Grossherzogthums Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach, Weimar 1852, S. 102 (Digitalisat)