938 GERMAN EMPIRE: — SAXE MEININGEN
SAXE MEININGEN. (Herzogtum Sachsen Meiningen.)
The reigning Duke is Georg II., born April 2, 1826 ; the son of Duke Bernhard 1. Succeeded, on the abdication of his father, September 20, 1866. Married, (1) May 18, 1850, to Princess Charlotte of Prussia, who died March 30, 1855 ; (2) October 23, 1858, to Princess Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, who died February 10, 1872 ; (3) niorganatically, March 18, 1873, to Helene Fianz, Baroness von Heldburg, Offi^pring (first marriage): — I. Prince Bernhard, born April 1, 1851 ; married February 18, 1878, to Princess Charlotte, eldest daughter of the late German Emperor Friedrich III. ; offspring : Feodora, born May 12, 1879 ; married September 24, 1898, to Prince Henry XXX. of Reuss, Younger Branch. II. Princess Marie Elisabeth, born September 23, 1853. (Second marriage) III. Prince Ernst, born September 27, 1859 ; married niorganatically Sept. 20, 1892, to Katharina Jensen, Baroness von Saalfeld. IV. Prince Friedrich, born October 12, 1861 ; married April 25, 1889, to Princess Adelheid of Lippe ; offspring three daughters and three sons, Georg, born October 11, 1892 ; Ernst, born September 23, 1895, and Bernhard, born June 30, 1901.
The line of Saxe Meiningen was founded by Duke Bernhard, third son of Ernst I. of Saxony, surnamed the Pious, the friend and companion in arms of King Gustaf Adolf of Sweden. The Duchy was only one-third its present size up to the year 1826, when, by the extinction of the ancient family of Saxe Gotha, the territories of Hildburghausen and Saalfeld fell to the father of the present Duke. The Duke has a civil list of 394,286 marks paid out of the produce of the State domains. Besides these he receives the half of ^ the surplus revenue, which is estimated for each of the three financial years 1912-14 at 40,738^.
There is a legislative organization, consisting of one Chamber of twenty- four representatives ; four elected by those who pay the highest land and property tax, and four by those who pay income tax on an income of 150Z, or more ; sixteen by all other inhabitants. There are new elections every six years.
Budget for the 3 financial years 1912-14, revenue, 527,316Z. ; expen- diture, 445,840/.; 81,476Z. of the revenue are drawn from State domains. Chief expenditure, Matrikularbeitrage (or contributions) for the Empire, the interest of the public debt, the expenses for the administration of the State domains and of the State, and the civil list for the Ducal family. Debt in 1911, 319,288Z., largely covered by productive State capital.
Population, 278,762 in 1910. In 1910, 271,433 Protestants; 5, 233 Catholics ; 1,137 Jews. The capital, Meiningen, had, in 1910, 17,186 inhabitants. In 1911 there were 2,244 marriages ; 7,854 births alive ; 4,389 deaths ; surplus of births, 3,464. Of the births 250 (2*9 per cent.) were stillborn, and 976 (12 '0 per cent.) illegitimate.
In 1912 there were 319 public elementary schools with 903 teachers (785 male, 118 female) and 48,923 (]8*0 per cent, of the inhabitants) pupils.
British Vice-Consul. — R. M. Turner (resides in Xicipzig).
Reference.
Statistik des Herzogtums Sachsen Meiningen. Meiningen, 1882-1912. Goecl-eL, Das Staatsrecht des Herzogt. Sachsen Meiningen. Jena, 1904. Oberhmder, Verfassung und Verwaltiuig des Herzogtums Sachsen Meiningen. Hannover 1912.
