Editing Saxe-Gotha (section)

==History==
[[File:Schloss Friedenstein Gotha.JPG|thumb|left|Gotha: ''Schloss Friedenstein'']]
The duchy was established in 1640, when Duke [[Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar|Wilhelm von Saxe-Weimar]] created a subdivision for his younger brother 
[[Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha|Ernest I the Pious]]. Duke Ernest took his residence at [[Gotha (town)|Gotha]], where he had ''[[Schloss Friedenstein]]'' built between 1643 and 1654. At the same time, the Duchy of [[Saxe-Eisenach]] was created for the third brother [[Albert IV, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach|Albert IV]].

Nevertheless, Albert died in 1644, and Ernest inherited large parts of his duchy, though not the core territory around the residence at [[Eisenach]] and the [[Wartburg]], which fell to his elder brother Wilhelm of Saxe-Weimar. Ernest could also incorporate several remaining estates of the extinct [[House of Henneberg]] in 1660, which had been vacant since 1583. Finally in 1672 he received the major part of [[Saxe-Altenburg]] through his wife [[Princess Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg|Elisabeth Sophie]], after Altenburg's last duke [[Frederick William III, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg|Frederick William III]] had died without heirs. Ernest would then be called Duke of [[Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg]].

When Ernest died in 1675, he left his seven sons a significantly enlarged territory. The eldest, [[Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg|Frederick I]] at first ruled jointly with his brothers until in 1680 the duchy was divided. The area around Gotha and also [[Altenburg]] passed to Frederick I, who retained the title of a Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.  For later history of the duchy, see [[Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg]].