ERNST II. (AUGUST KARL JOHANNES LEOPOLD ALEXANDER EDUARD), duke of Saxe Coburg-Gotha, elder brother of the late prince Albert (q.v.), b. at Coburg 21st June, 1818. Both brothers received an admirable literary and scientific education. The family to which he belongs is a branch of the Ernestinian line, having been founded in 1680 by Albrecht, second son of Ernst the pious (q.v.). When E. had completed a university curriculum at Bonn, he entered the military service of the king of Saxony, but left it on the occasion of his marriage with the daughter of the grand-duke of Baden. In 1844, E. succeeded his father as duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. In his opinions and aspirations, imbued with the spirit of his age, he has introduced into his little dominions many beneficial reforms, and allayed not a few long-standing jealousies. Yet one regrets to say, that his enlightened views of his duty as a ruler have not been generally appre ciated by his subjects. During the stormy period of 1848-19, by spontaneous conces
sions on the one hand, and on the other by an energetic repression of the political anarchists, he contrived to save his territories from the perils of revolution. In the Slesvig-Holstein war, E. took a prominent part, and on the 5th April, 1849, won the bat tle of EckenfOrde. E. was a great advocate for the unity of the German nation, and took a prominent part in most of the efforts made in that direction. His leisure hours are devoted to music and the fine arts. His operas, Casilda, Santa Mara, and _Diana von Solanges, are well known in Germany. In 1861, he published a pamphlet vindicat ing his government, and, in 1864, an account of a tour in Egypt.