Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Ernest II was the sovereign duke of the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha from 29 January 1844 to his death.
He was born in Coburg; his father Ernest III, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, became Duke Ernest I of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1826 through an exchange of territories. In 1842, Ernest married Princess Alexandrine of Baden in what was to be a childless marriage.
As reigning Duke, he supported the German Confederation in the Schleswig-Holstein Wars against Denmark, sending thousands of troops and becoming the commander of a German corps; as such, he was instrumental in the 1849 victory at the battle of Eckernf�rde against Danish forces. After King Otto of Greece was deposed in 1862, the British government put Ernest's name forward as a possible successor.
Negotiations concerning this failed for various reasons, not least of which was that he would not give up his beloved duchies in favor of the Greek throne. A supporter of a unified Germany, Ernest watched the various political movements with great interest.
While he initially was a great and outspoken proponent of German liberalism, he surprised many by switching sides and supporting the more conservative Prussians during the Austro-Prussian and Franco-Prussian Wars and subsequent unification of Germany. His support of the conservatives came at a price however, and he was no longer viewed as the possible leader of a political