The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Amalia, Anna

1540192The American Cyclopædia — Amalia, Anna

AMALIA, Anna, duchess of Saxe-Weimar, second daughter of Duke Charles of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, born Oct. 24, 1739, died April 10, 1807. She was married to Duke Ernest of Weimar in 1756. After her husband's death in 1758 she took the reins of government, and held them so well that Saxe-Weimar was able speedily to recover from the effects of the seven years' war, and escaped the famine of 1773. In 1775 she resigned the administration to her son, and devoted herself to the cultivation of literature. For 30 years she lived in the society of Wieland, Goethe, Herder, Schiller, and other men of eminence.