John George I, Duke Of Saxe-Eisenach

Johann Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach, was born on 12 July 1634 in Weimar. He was the fifth son of William, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, and Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau. His family belonged to the Wettin dynasty, which held significant territorial holdings within the Holy Roman Empire.

Following the death of his father in 1662, the duchy of Saxe-Weimar was divided among William's sons. Johann Georg's elder brother, Johann Ernst II, inherited Weimar, while another brother, Adolf Wilhelm, received Eisenach. Johann Georg was allotted an income from the newly established duchy of Saxe-Eisenach and established his residence in the small town of Marksuhl.

In 1668, Adolf Wilhelm died, leaving behind a son, Wilhelm August, who was born eight days after Adolf Wilhelm's death. Wilhelm August was declared duke immediately upon birth, with Johann Georg serving as regent and guardian. Wilhelm August died in 1671 at the age of two, and Johann Georg inherited the ducal title.

In 1672, the death of Duke Frederick Wilhelm III of Saxe-Altenburg without heirs prompted a new territorial division among the surviving lines of the Wettin family. As a result, Johann Georg was confirmed in possession of Eisenach, while his younger brother Bernhard received Jena. That same year, Johann Georg moved his residence from Marksuhl to Eisenach, a transition marked by an Easter church service featuring music composed by Ambrosius Bach. This move reaffirmed Eisenach’s status as the principal city of the duchy.

Johann Georg I became the progenitor of the most recent line of Saxe-Eisenach dukes, a lineage that continued until 1741. He was the ruling duke in 1685, the year when Johann Sebastian Bach was born within the duchy.

Johann Georg married Countess Johannetta of Sayn-Wittgenstein on 29 May 1661 in Wallau. Johannetta was the heiress of Sayn-Altenkirchen. The couple had eight children:

1. Eleonore Erdmuthe Luise (13 April 1662 – 19 September 1696), born in Friedewald; married first to Johann Friedrich, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, and second to Johann Georg IV, Elector of Saxony; she was the mother of Queen Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach, wife of King George II of Great Britain.

2. Frederick August, Hereditary Duke of Saxe-Eisenach (30 October 1663 – 19 September 1684), born in Friedewald; died in battle in Pressburg.

3. Johann Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach (24 July 1665 – 10 November 1698), born in Friedewald; died of smallpox in Eisenach.

4. Johann Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach (17 October 1666 – 14 January 1729), born in Friedewald.

5. Maximilian Heinrich (17 October 1666 – 23 July 1668), twin of Johann Wilhelm; born in Friedewald.

6. Louise (18 April 1668 – 26 June 1669), born in Friedewald.

7. Fredericka Elisabeth (5 May 1669 – 12 November 1730), born in Altenkirchen; married Johann Georg, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels.

8. Ernst Gustav (28 August 1672 – 16 November 1672), born in Friedewald.

Johann Georg I died on 19 September 1686 in Eckhartshausen, Marksuhl, as the result of a hunting accident.