Who was Ernst Frederick I?
Q: Who was Ernst Frederick I?
A: Ernst Frederick I was the Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen and the oldest son of Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen and Countess Sophie Henriette of Waldeck.
Q: What did he do when he was younger?
A: When he was younger, he served in the Netherlands army. He was wounded in the Spanish Succession War at Höchstädt.
Q: Why did he need money?
A: He wanted his duchy to have the splendor of the court of King Louis XIV of France which caused him to be ruined financially. Because he always needed money, he raised taxes and sold towns.
Q: What did Ernst Frederick I sell in 1720?
A: In 1720, Ernst Frederick I sold the county of Cuylenburg which was the dowry of his wife so that a garden and a channel could be built in his palace.
Q: What did Schalkau have when it was sold to Saxe-Meiningen?
A: When Schalkau was sold to Saxe-Meiningen it had city privileges and the right to hold a market. It also included an administrative division much like a county, only smaller than what is typically considered a county today.
Q: Was it legal for him to sell Schalkau without his wife's agreement?
A: No, it was illegal for him to sell Schalkau without his wife's agreement as she had rights over her dowry property as well as any other property owned by her husband at that time.
Q: What happened after taxes were raised by Ernst Frederick I?
A: After taxes were raised by Ernst Frederick I an open revolt took place in the duchy in 1717 due to how high they were set at that time.
