Bernhard III Friedrich Wilhelm Albrecht Georg, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (b. Meiningen, 1 April 1851 – d. Meiningen, 16 January 1928), was the last reigning duke of Saxe-Meiningen.

Bernhard was born on 1 April 1851 at Meiningen in what was then theGerman Confederation, as the eldest son of Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and his first wife Princess Charlotte of Prussia.

He had one full sister, Princess Marie Elisabeth, and several half-brothers by his father's second marriage.

From 1860 Berhnard was schooled by a Prof. Rossmann before he went to study at Heidelberg University in 1869. For the war against France he interrupted his studies and served as Ordonnanz-Offizier. After the war ended he resumed his studies at Leipzig. From 1873 he again served in the military and rose into the highest echelons: By 1905 he was Generaloberst and Generalinspekteur der 2. Armeeinspektion (Mitteldeutschland). In 1909, he became Generalfeldmarschall and in 1912 left military service with that rank.

He married in Berlin on 18 February 1878 Princess Charlotte of Prussia, his second cousin, daughter of Frederick III, German Emperor and granddaughter of the Queen Victoria. They had one daughter: Princess Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen (b. Potsdam, 12 May 1879 - d. Schloß Neuhoff, 26 August 1945), married on 24 September 1898 to Heinrich XXX of Reuss-Köstritz.

Bernhard assumed the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen after the death of his father in 1914. With the start of World War I Bernhard hoped to be assigned command over an army but was disappointed. In reaction he also withdrew from his role in the Duchy's government.

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