Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
| Frederick I | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg | |
 |
|
| Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg | |
| Reign | 1675–1691 |
| Predecessor | New creation |
| Successor | Frederick II |
| Born |
15 July 1646 Gotha, Duchy of Saxe-Gotha |
| Died | 2 August 1691 (aged 45) Friedrichswerth |
| Spouse |
Magdalena Sibylle of Saxe-Weissenfels Christine of Baden-Durlach |
| Issue among others... |
Anna Sophie, Princess of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt Dorothea Marie, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen Frederick II |
| House | House of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg |
| Father | Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Altenburg |
| Mother | Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (15 July 1646 Gotha, Duchy of Saxe-Gotha – 2 August 1691 Friedrichswerth), was a duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. He was the fourth but eldest surviving son of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Altenburg and Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg.
When Ernst inherited the duchy of Saxe-Altenburg (1672), he made Frederick the regent of that duchy. In 1674 Ernst, who was already ill, made Frederick the regent of his entire lands.
After the death of his father (1675) Frederick assumed the throne of both duchies. However, on the basis of his family's house law, he had to allow his six younger brothers to take part in the government. At first, they agreed to a common household of all seven brothers in the Schloss Friedenstein, though this arrangement endured only until 1676.
Afterwards, negotiations began for the division of the paternal inheritance. This was finally accomplished on 24 February 1680; Frederick kept Gotha, Tenneberg, Wachsenburg, Ichtershausen, Georgenthal, Schwarzwald, Reinhardsbrunn, Volkenrode, Oberkranichfeld, Orlamünde, Altenburg and Tonna. These towns virtually formed the old duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. They consisted of three large and coherent areas around Gotha, Kahla and Altenburg, as well as six smaller enclaves.
Frederick continued the work of his father. In order to prevent future disputes between his descendants, he established primogeniture for his house in 1685 (with Imperial assent granted in 1688). Around 1680 he established himself in the Lustschloss Friedrichswerth, near the village of Erffa, approximately 20 km of Gotha, which was renamed in his honour Friedrichswerth.
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