Adolf William, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach

Who was Adolf William, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach?

Adolf Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach, was a duke of Saxe-Eisenach.

He was the fourth but second surviving son of Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau.

When Adolf was nineteen years old, he traveled around several different countries, in particular France. Subsequently, in 1656 entered the service of King Charles X Gustav of Sweden as a Colonel, where Adolf was characterised by his courage and bravery. However, after a meeting in Funen with an imperial ambassador, Adolf transferred to the Imperial Army with the rank of Colonel. In 1661, he traveled again to Sweden, and King Charles Gustav offered him the rank of Major General of the Infantry with a pay of 2000 talents; Adolf declined.

When his father died Adolf, with his older brother Johann Ernst, divided the paternal estates. He received Eisenach and its Schloss Wilhelmsburg, with its large garden, where he made his residence. His two younger brothers, Johann Georg and Bernhard, received only incomes from the duchies of their older brothers.