Ernest Frederick II


Ernst Frederick II, was a duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen.

Early life

Ernst Frederick II was born on 17 December 1707 as the third but eldest surviving son of Ernst Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen and Countess Sophia Albertine of Erbach-Erbach.
The prince was educated in Jena, Geneva, and Utrecht. In 1722, he and his brother Louis Frederick traveled to France, where they took part in the coronation of Louis XV. At the age of 16, he succeeded his father as Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen on 9 March 1724. As a result, his mother, the Dowager Duchess Sophia Albertine, acted as a regent on his behalf until 1728.

Reign

[file:Portrait Herzog Ernst Friedrichs II. von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Portrait of Ernest Frederick II in adulthood]
Ernest Frederick inherited a duchy that was heavily in debt. In 1729, due to lack of funds, he was forced to close the Gymnasuam Illustre, which his grandfather, Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen had founded in 1715. In 1730, at the intercession of his mother, the Jews were granted a special letter of protection that gave them extended rights.
In 1733 he traveled to the court of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor in Vienna, where he was appointed imperial colonel field marshal on the recommendation of his uncle Joseph of Saxe-Hildburghausen. In 1743, he received an Infantry Regiment from Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria as a Lieutenant-General. Later, Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor appointed him Quartermaster-General.
He suffered from physical and mental health issues and was unable to address the duchy’s fiscal crisis. The state’s indebtedness had grown so large that its regular revenues were no longer sufficient to cover interest payments.

Marriage and issue

In Fürstenau on 19 June 1726 Ernst Frederick married Caroline of Erbach-Fürstenau. They had four children:
  1. Ernst Frederick III Karl, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen.
  2. Frederick August Albrecht Died in childhood.
  3. Frederick Wilhelm Eugen, married on 13 March 1778 to his niece Caroline of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Their marriage was childless.
  4. Sophie Amalie Caroline, married in 1749 to Ludwig of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein-Öhringen.

Death and succession

Ernst Frederick II died on 13 August 1745 in Hildburghausen, at the age of 37. He was succeeded by his son, Ernst Frederick III, during his son's minority, his wife Caroline of Erbach-Fürstenau acted as regent on his behalf until 1748.