Bernhard III, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

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Bernhard III Frederick Wilhelm Albrecht Georg, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (b. Meiningen, 1 April 1851 - d. Meiningen, 16 January 1928), was the last reigning duke of Saxe-Meiningen.

He was the eldest son of Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Fredericka Charlotte of Prussia, his first wife.

Bernhard assumed the duchy of Saxe-Meiningen after the death of his father, in 1914. His short reign was affected by World War I. When Germany lost the war, all the German princes lost their titles and states. Bernhard was forced to abdicate as duke on 10 November 1918, and spent the rest of his life in his former country as a private citizen.

He married in Berlin on 18 February 1878 Princess Charlotte of Prussia, daughter of the Frederick III, German Emperor and granddaughter of the Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. They had one daughter:

• Feodora Victoria Auguste Marie Marianne (b. Potsdam, 12 May 1879 - d. Schloß Neuhoff, 26 August 1945), married on 24 September 1898 to Heinrich XXX of Reuss-Köstritz.

[edit] Ancestry

Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

Luise Eleonore of Hohenloe-Langenburg

Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

William II, Elector of Hesse

Marie Fredericka of Hesse-Kassel

Princess Augusta of Prussia

Bernhard III, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

Frederick William III of Prussia

Prince Albert of Prussia

Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Fredericka Charlotte of Prussia

William I of the Netherlands

Princess Marianne of the Netherlands

Wilhelmine of Prussia

Bernhard III, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen House of Wettin Born: 1 April 1851 Died: 16 January 1928
Regnal titles
Preceded by Georg II	Duke of Saxe-Meiningen June 25, 1914 – November 10, 1918	Duchy abolished German Revolution
Titles in pretence
Loss of title Republic declared	— TITULAR — Duke of Saxe-Meiningen November 10, 1918 – January 16, 1928	Succeeded by Prince Ernst