Emil, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
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Emil Leopold August, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (b. Gotha, 23 November 1772 - d. Gotha, 27 May 1822), was a duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.
He was the second son of Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Charlotte of Saxe-Meiningen.
The death of his older brother Ernst (1779) make him the heir to the duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. In his youth he was outstanding trained.
Emil succeeded his father when he died, in 1804. After his ascension to the ducal throne, he put him and the duchy in the napoleonic wars for the advantage. The duchy joined in 1806 to the Rhine Confederation. Emil was in active correspondence with Jean Paul, Madame de Stäel and Bettina von Arnim. In 1805, he wrote the poetic novel "Kyllenion - one year in Arkadien". Emil was considered as strong protector of art collecting tanks and sonderling. His aversion for the hunt and riding, as well as preference for dance, use silk socks and lady clothes, also that he called himself in his friend circle as "Emilie". Goethe called him "pleasantly and widewarting at the same time".
In Ludwigslust on 21 October 1797, Emil married firstly with Louise Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. They have only one daughter:
- Luise Dorothea Pauline Charlotte Fredericka Auguste (b. Gotha, 21 December 1800 - d. Paris, 30 August 1831), married on 31 July 1817 to Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg, but they divorced in 1826; secondly, she married on 18 October 1826 to Alexander of Hanstein, later created count of Pölzig.
Secondly, Emil married in Kassel on 24 April 1802 to Karoline Amalie of Hesse-Kassel. They have no children.
| Preceded by Ernest II |
Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg 1804–1822 |
Succeeded by Frederick IV |
