Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen was born April 2, 1826. The duchy of Saxe-Meiningen was at the time within the German Empire, itself a state within the Holy Roman Empire. Georg’s father was involved in military campaigns, and following the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, abdicated his title (he had sympathized with the Austrians, who lost). His only son Georg became the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. Georg himself was a military leader--siding with the Prussians--and eventually became a staff member and friend of Kaiser Wilhem’s staff, the first ruler of a unified Germany. His connections with the German court allowed him to pursue his theatrical passions.

In 1850, Georg married Princess Charlotte of Prussia. He deeply loved her, and when she died following the birth of their fourth child in 1855, Georg was devastated (only two of their four children lived to adulthood). In 1858--although he was still mourning the loss of Charlotte--Georg married again, this time to Princess Fedora. She was his second cousin and the niece of England’s Queen Victoria, so it seemed a good match. However, both were miserable. They had two sons that lived to adulthood, and Fedora died in 1872.

Following her death, Georg married Ellen Franz in 1873, who later styled herself as Helene Freifrau von Heldburg. She was an actress, and the unequal class status within the marriage upset many in high social circles, including Kaiser Wilhelm. However, with Ellen, Georg was able to craft the Meiningen Theatre and Court Orchestra. Unfortunately, in his later years, he retired from active public life due to deafness. He died June 25, 1914, and was buried the day World War I broke out.

Key Dates & Events

• 1866 - Georg ascends to the title of Duke and establishes himself within the court of Prussia, which allows him freedom to experiment with his own court theatre
• 1873 - Georg marries for the third time to Ellen Franz, a former actress and someone of lower social rank
• 1874 - The Meiningen Ensemble begins its first touring performances