"Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (Gotha, 10 September 1649 – Meiningen, 27 April 1706) was a duke of Saxe-Meiningen.
He was the sixth but third surviving son of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Altenburg and Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg.
After the death of his father, in 1675, the duchy was jointly governed by him and his brothers; but the duchy was dividedfive years later (in 1680); as a result of this divisionary treaty, Bernhard received Meiningen, Wasungen, Salzungen, Untermassfeld, Frauenbreitungen and Ichtershausen. Bernhard became the founder of the Saxe-Meiningen line.
The building of an official residence in Meiningen began immediately. The residence was finished in 1692 and was called Schloss Elisabethenburg, in honor of Bernhard´s second wife. Like his brother Ernst, Bernhard´s financial stability in his duchy was remarkable. The sales of chamber goods and the additional charge of taxes to the population were the result." - (en.wikipedia.org 31.01.2020)
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