In the redistribution of land among the Ernestine duchies that followed the death of Frederick IV, the last duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, on 11 February 1825, the late duke's nephew-in-law, Duke Ernst III of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, received Gotha, while he ceded Saalfeld to the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. On 12 November 1826 he thus became Ernst I of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The duchies of Saxe-Coburg and Saxe-Gotha remained in personal union until 1852, when a political union was effected.
This article is a list of those men who were heir-apparent or heir-presumptive to Saxe-Coburg and Gotha from 1826 until the abolition of the monarchy on 14 November 1918.
| Person
|
Name
|
Status
|
Relation
|
Became
Hereditary Prince
|
Reason
|
Ceased to be
Hereditary Prince
|
Reason
|
Next in succession, relation to heir
|
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|
Hereditary Prince Ernest
|
Heir apparent
|
Eldest son
|
12 November 1826
|
Father acceded to throne
|
29 January 1844
|
Acceded to throne as Ernest II
|
Prince Albert, brother
|
| Person
|
Name
|
Status
|
Relation
|
Became
Hereditary Prince
|
Reason
|
Ceased to be
Hereditary Prince
|
Reason
|
Next in succession, relation to heir
|
|
Albert, Prince Consort
|
Heir presumptive
|
Younger brother
|
29 July 1844
|
Elder brother acceded to throne
|
14 December 1861
|
Died
|
Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, son
|
|
Albert Edward, Prince of Wales
|
Nephew
|
14 December 1861
|
Father died
|
19 April 1863
|
Renounced succession rights
|
Prince Alfred, brother
|
|
Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh
|
19 April 1863
|
Elder brother renounced succession rights
|
22 August 1893
|
Acceded to throne as Alfred I
|
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, 1863–1874, brother
|
| Prince Alfred of Edinburgh, 1874–1893, son
|
Sources
