House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
The House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is a royal house founded in 1826 and named after its original realm the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. It is one of the Ernestine branches of the House of Wettin. The progenitor of the house is the first duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Ernest I, formerly duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.[1]
The House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha provided four reiging dukes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha until the abolition of the monarchy in 1918.
Other members of the family reigned in Portugal (under the name Braganza-Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) from 1853 until 1910, Bulgaria from 1887 until 1946 and the United Kingdom and its dominions from 1901 until 2022, albeit from 1917 under the name of Windsor. The only branch still reigning is that of Belgium under King Philippe of Belgium.
Since 1998 the head of Ducal House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha has been Andreas, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, King Simeon II of Bulgaria has been head of the Bulgarian branch since 1943. The senior descendant by primogeniture of Duke Ernest I is his great great great grandson Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester from the House of Windsor.
Dukes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha[edit]
Reigning (1826-1918)[edit]
- Ernest I (1826–1844)
- Ernest II (1844–1893)
- Alfred (1893–1900)
- Charles Edward (1900–1918)
Non reigning heads of the house (since 1918)[edit]
- Charles Edward 1918–1954
- Friedrich Josias 1954–1998
- Andreas 1998–present
References[edit]
- ↑ Almanach de Gotha (1910). Page 89