George II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen
| Georg II | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Duke of Saxe-Meiningen | |
| Reign | 20 September 1866 – 25 June 1914 |
| Predecessor | Bernhard II |
| Successor | Bernhard III |
| Born |
2 April 1826 Meiningen |
| Died | 25 June 1914 (aged 88) Bad Wildungen |
| Spouse |
Princess Charlotte of Prussia (m. 1850; d. 1855) Princess Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (m. 1858; d. 1872) Ellen Franz (m. 1873) |
| Issue |
Bernhard III, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen Prince Georg Albrecht Princess Marie Elisabeth Ernst, Prince of Saxe-Meiningen Prince Frederick John Prince Viktor |
| House | Saxe-Meiningen |
| Father | Bernhard II |
| Mother | Marie Frederica of Hesse-Kassel |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (2 April 1826 – 25 June 1914), was the penultimate Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, reigning from 1866 to 1914. For his support for his successful court theatre he was also known as the Theaterherzog (theatre duke).
Georg was the only son of Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and his wife Princess Marie Frederica of Hesse-Kassel. His birth on 2 April 1826 was met with great relief by his father's subjects, as the succession to the duchy was in jeopardy due to a lack of male heirs in the family. Georg would remain an only child for seventeen years, until the birth of his sister Princess Augusta in 1843.
Georg spent his first few years under the supervision of his parents and grandmother the Dowager Duchess Luise Eleonore. It was the latter who instilled upon Georg the patriotic virtues of his heritage, as well as the sense of duty needed to rule a duchy.
In 1862, his only sister married Prince Moritz of Saxe-Altenburg, a younger son of Georg, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg. They would be the parents of Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg, the last reigning Duke of Saxe-Altenburg.
Georg succeeded his father as Duke of Saxe-Meiningen on 20 September 1866, when Bernhard was forced to abdicate in favor of his son following the defeat of Austria in the Austro-Prussian War. Unlike his father, Georg had remained loyal to the Prussians during the war and was rewarded with a position of Lieutenant General of the Prussian army. Also unlike his parents, the young duke was familiar enough with Prussian politics to regard their attitudes as impractical. During the Franco-Prussian War, Georg led two regiments of soldiers from Meiningen and had the honor of capturing the first French flags at the Battle of Froeschweiler. Notably, he fought in nearly every battle during the war. Georg was a member of Wilhelm I's staff when he entered Paris and would remain a close friend of the Emperor until his death in 1888.
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