Ernest Augustus II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach

Ernst August II Konstantin's father, a splendor-loving ruler with a passion for hunting, had moved his court to Eisenach. The duke neglected his son and heir, so that Ernst August II Konstantin spent his early years under the supervision of the Hofmarschall of Schloss Belvedere in Weimar.

Duke Ernest Augustus II Constantine on horseback by Johann Friedrich Löber, ca. 1756, National Museum in Warsaw. The young duke was depicted accompanied by his chancellor Heinrich von Bünau before his main residence - Weimar City Castle.

Ernst August I died in 1748, when Ernst August II Konstantin was eleven years old. Since he was still a minor, the dukes Frederick III of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Franz Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld assumed the regency of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach on Ernst August II Konstantin's behalf. The young duke came to live with Duke Frederick in Gotha, who made sure that Ernst August II Konstantin received an appropriate education.

In 1755 Ernst August II Konstantin assumed the reins of government. He appointed his former tutor, the Imperial Count (Reichsgräf) Heinrich von Bünau, as his new chancellor. Because the young duke had been a sickly child, he was encouraged to marry quickly in order to ensure an heir for the duchy.

In Brunswick on 16 March 1756, Ernst August II Konstantin married Anna Amalia of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. They had two sons:

Karl August, Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Grand Duke from 21 April 1815 (b. Weimar, 3 September 1757 – d. Graditz, 14 June 1828).
Frederick Ferdinand Constantine (b. posthumously, Weimar, 8 September 1758 – d. Wiebelskirchen, 6 September 1793) who died unmarried.

When Ernst August II Konstantin died, the hereditary prince Karl August was still an infant. Ernst August Konstantin's widow, the duchess Anna Amalia, presided as regent over an excellent tutelary government which propelled Weimar into the classical period.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Ernest Augustus II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach

16. William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar

8. John Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar

17. Princess Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau

4. John Ernest III, Duke of Saxe-Weimar

18. John Christian, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg

9. Princess Christine Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg

19. Anna of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst

2. Ernest Augustus I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach

20. Rudolph, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst

10. John VI, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst

21. Countess Magdalene of Oldenburg

5. Princess Sophie Auguste of Anhalt-Zerbst

22. Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp

11. Princess Sophie Augusta of Holstein-Gottorp

23. Duchess Marie Elisabeth of Saxony

1. Ernest Augustus II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach

24. Georg Albrecht, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth-Kulmbach

12. Christian Heinrich, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth-Kulmbach

25. Princess Marie Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg

6. George Frederick Charles, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth

26. Albrecht Friedrich, Count of Wolfstein zu Sulzbürg

13. Countess Sophie Christiane of Wolfstein

27. Countess Sophia Luise of Castell-Remlingen

3. Margravine Sophie Charlotte of Brandenburg-Bayreuth

28. August Philipp, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck

14. Frederick Louis, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck

29. Countess Marie Sibylle of Nassau-Saarbrücken

7. Princess Dorothea of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck

30. Ernest Günther, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg

15. Princess Louise Charlotte of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg

31. Princess Auguste of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg

Preceded by Ernst August I	Duke of Saxe-Weimar 1748-1758	Succeeded by Karl August
	Duke of Saxe-Eisenach 1748-1758

Authority control	WorldCat Identities VIAF: 15201324 GND: 104176008

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