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Augusta Reuss-Ebersdorf

Countess Augusta Reuss of Ebersdorf
Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Artemisia Prepares to Drink the Ashes of her Husband, Mausolus.jpg
Tenure 1800–1806
Born (1757-01-19)19 January 1757
Saalburg-Ebersdorf
Died 16 November 1831(1831-11-16) (aged 74)
Coburg
Spouse Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Issue
More
Princess Sophie, Countess von Mensdorff-Pouilly
Princess Antoinette, Duchess Alexander of Württemberg
Grand Duchess Anna Feodorovna of Russia
Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Prince Ferdinand
Princess Victoria, Duchess of Kent and Strathearn
Leopold I of Belgium
Full name
Augusta Caroline Sophie
House Reuss
Father Heinrich XXIV, Count Reuss of Ebersdorf
Mother Karoline Ernestine of Erbach-Schönberg
Full name
Augusta Caroline Sophie

Countess (later Princess) Augusta Caroline Sophie Reuss of Ebersdorf (German: Gräfin Reuß zu Ebersdorf) (19 January 1757 – 16 November 1831), was by marriage a duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. She was born in Saalburg-Ebersdorf. She was the maternal grandmother of Queen Victoria and the paternal grandmother of Albert, Prince Consort.

She was the second of seven children of Heinrich XXIV, Count Reuss of Ebersdorf and his wife Karoline Ernestine of Erbach-Schönberg. Her birthplace, Ebersdorf, was a center of Pietism in Thuringia and Augusta's grandparents were ardent admirers of this religious movement. Augusta's great-aunt Countess Erdmuthe Dorothea, by marriage Countess of Zinzendorf, was married to the founder of the Moravian Church. This background explains the deep religious feelings of Princess Augusta in later years.

Augusta was one of the most beautiful women of her time. Her father commissioned a portrait of Augusta as Artemisia by the painter Johann Heinrich Tischbein. Count Heinrich XXIV showed this painting during the Perpetual Diet so potential marriage candidates were aware of his beautiful daughter.

In Ebersdorf on 13 June 1777 Augusta married Franz Frederick Anton, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. Duke Franz previously acquired the Artemisia painting for four times the original price because he was deeply in love with Augusta, but he had to marry a relative, Princess Sophie of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Princess Sophie died seven months after the wedding, so the Duke was free to pursue the hand of his beloved.


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