Charles and the remainder of his army fled back to France. They banded together to form the League of Venice and defeated Charles at the Battle of Fornovo. [63] A lifelong sportsman, his last words were apparently "Let the drive commence! New evidence has now revealed that, at the time of his death, Prince had a very high level of fenantyl, an opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin. While Ivan the Terrible was a relatively sane and just ruler at the beginning of his reign in Russia, he became increasingly insane and cruel in his later years. In an age before antibiotics, contact tracing and the NHS, a diagnosis of venereal disease (VD) had devastating consequences. But a variety of secondary-stage symptoms would eventually appear and it is at this stage that we find Ernest. As a result of Columbuss voyage, he had unwittingly released in Europe one of the worst diseases in history. Published: Monday, 15th April 2019 at 1:34 am. His sudden death 150 years ago this week propelled his adoring wife, Queen Victoria, into life-long mourning. His big black eyes are full of spirit and vivacity. In addition, a naval career was chosen for Alfred, a common profession for a British prince but almost unheard of for a German prince. In real life, Ernest likely never met the Duchess; he was already married at the time, and the Duchess was twelve years older than him.[66]. Terms of Use: PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. 1500-1524. Ernest II and Princess Alexandrine of Baden had a childless marriage (opens in new tab), though he did have several illegitimate children that were not identified. Syphilis began to spread rapidly after Columbus returned. [16] Later that year, Albert counselled his brother against finding a wife until his 'condition' was fully recovered. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Zeepvat, p. 2 and Coit Gilman et al, p. 841. Profile. Its interesting to believe so. Theres evidence to discount the theory that Beethoven had the disease, such as the fact that no mercury was found in his hair when mercury was a common syphilis treatment. [56] Despite their disputes, Ernest still met with Victoria and her family occasionally. [24] Ernest had been so visibly deteriorating in appearance as a result that Sarah Lyttelton, a lady-in-waiting of Queen Victoria, observed at Windsor Castle in 1839 that he was "very thin and hollow-cheeked and pale, and no likeness to his brother, nor much beauty. He also published his memoirs in three volumes: Aus meinem Leben und aus meiner Zeit (18881890). So she makes a grand and risky gesture to demonstrate how much she wants him "and then once again he completely breaks her heart.". At 36, Shakespeares handwriting, including his signature, became noticeably different, showing evidence of a tremor in his hand. Its a glimpse of the pernicious gender inequalities that shaped medical, moral and state reactions to VD, most notoriously the Contagious Diseases Acts. Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Volume 1, p. 48. Things seemed to be looking up for van Gogh as critics started to recognize his work. Victoria wrote in 1873, "The accounts of Uncle Ernest's conduct are too distressing", and two weeks later to her Vicky, "What you say about Uncle E. alas! [43] He grew tired of the advice he received from Albert on the subject however; as Ernest "was by no means inclined to consent to an energetic rule such as I adopted immediately afterwards for the perfection of the constitutional system", according to Albert's letters. Wholly reliant upon charitable donation, they were beholden to their benefactors, many of whom still viewed syphilis and gonorrhoea as punishment for vice. When he was fourteen months old, a servant commented that Ernest "runs around like a weasel. When an autopsy was performed, her brain showed signs of nerve deterioration, which may have been related to syphilis. Ernest subsequently made a few concessions, but his position remained sound, not counting the increasing problem of his debts. Traill is also the ancestor of Victoria writer Daisy Goodwin! [7] Perhaps the aforementioned "sorrows" related to their parents' marriage; it was not happy, and Duke Ernest I was continually unfaithful. So when Ivan the Terribles body was tested by forensic scientists centuries after his death, they put two and two together when they found high levels of mercury in Ivans corpse. You can unsubscribe at any time. In Episode 4, Albert's brother Ernest began a series of treatments using mercury. She entered a state of mourning and wore black for the remainder of her life. [43], Ernest was fortunate in his support of victorious Prussia; for his services he received the forest of Schmalkalden. Prince's death: New photos, video show singer on the day before he died. They continued using it only because there were no better options until the development of salvarsan and neo-salvarsan in the early twentieth century. Lord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill, father of Sir Winston Churchill and a major political figure in his own right, died at home in Grosvenor Square, London, on Thursday 24 January 1895. [45], Ernest, like his brother, was in favor of a German unified, federal state. The first day you receive treatment, you may experience what's known as the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. Mary Todd also developed blindness and had extreme weight loss, other possible symptoms of syphilis. It is far more likely, the study authors conclude, that the famed Prince whose chance to become king . Albert, Prince Consort/Fathers. He is inaccurately depicted as having an affair with Harriet Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland. How, then, to deliver a safe but sufficient dose? During this time, he started the most productive period of his life, but he also became increasingly plagued with seizures and delusions. He also had a tragic personal life because of his romantic view of love. The Greeks were eager to have someone close to Britain and Queen Victoria replace Otto; some desired to allow Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (her second son) to succeed as King of Greece. Instead, he shifts blame by lamenting that the women who carry this disease are often asymptomatic. Most historians long ago concluded that Edward of Woodstock, also known as Edward the Black Prince , the heir apparent to the English throne who died at the age of 45 in 1376, fell victim to chronic dysentery.But new research appearing in the journal BMJ Military Health disputes this notion. is what I have heard from but too many and is most painful and humiliating. Most of these records still survive, providing modern historians with a portrait of Hitlers private life. The Victorians feared the moral and physical implications of venereal disease, but the problems of untreatable infection and inadequate health provision are all too familiar to modern viewers. Soon after writing these letters, Prince Albert died on 14 December 1861. Mercury was regularly used in 19th-Century medicine, especially for the treatment of syphilis. He was a first cousin of King George V of the United Kingdom, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and brother of Queen Marie of Romania. CNN reported that the pain-killing substance was found on Prince while the Star Tribune in Minneapolis reported that prescription pills were found where the musician died at the age of 57 last week at his home in suburban Minneapolis. She died in 1868 at the age of 62. . Of course, mercury poisoning could have also actually caused many of Ivan the Terribles psychological symptoms, rather than the other way around. Get the superfan scoop on the final season with exclusive cast interviews, videos and more. Alfred died two weeks later, on 6 February aged but twenty-four. Viewers accustomed to the tightly regulated treatments available on the NHS might find this shocking. However, van Gogh went to a field and shot himself. The Duke took his sons to sample the "pleasures" of Paris and Berlin, something which horrified Albert but appealed a great deal to his older brother. Photo credit: Ilya Repin. At the end of series two there was a heartbreaking moment for Harriet but will the truth about Albert's wayward brother (David Oakes) and his "condition" finally come out just in time for Christmas? Without treatment, the disease would lie dormant (sometimes for many years), only to reappear. Rather, the problems of untreatable infection and inadequate health provision that were all too familiar to the Victorians are again very real. the Late Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha William Adolphus Baillie-Grohman. As such, he often had sexual relations with prostitutes and may have caught syphilis because of this. For Queen Elizabeth, the relation to Queen Victoria is through her fathers side. Many medical researchers who have read the documents have stated that many of his symptoms match those of tertiary syphilis. did prince ernest die of syphilis 16 did prince ernest die of syphilis. Marriage [ edit] In 1889, he checked himself into an asylum in Saint Remy where he seemed to partially recover. He also was a keen sportsman. Treatment follow-up After you're treated for syphilis, your doctor will ask you to: As mentioned earlier, mercury was a common treatment for syphilis before there was an effective cure. This reaction usually doesn't last more than one day. In 1852 he gave Gotha a new constitution, which in part coordinated the administration of his two duchies. In 1839 they went back to England to visit Victoria, who had now become Queen. Why didnt Victorias daughter became Queen? Coit Gilman et al, p. 841 and Alden, Berry, Bogart et al, p. 481. Today, confirmed cases of, syphilis are at their highest in England since 1949, gonorrhoea are resistant to last-line antibiotics, ending sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as a major public health concern, Medicine, Knowledge and Venereal Diseases in England, 18861916. Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Throughout his life, Beethoven composed some of the greatest symphonies of all time, but he also had to deal with several handicaps. [44] He also stipulated that if he accepted the throne, it should be subject to certain guarantees by the other powers. The doctor offers no rebuke.. In the prudish Victorian imagination, syphilis was inextricable from the other great social evil, prostitution, and represented physical and moral decay. "And hilariously in real life, Harriet Sutherland had a famously happy marriage with the Duke of Sutherland and they had these 11 children and lived happily ever after. 4 Doi No 11.2021-47955651. Ernest was the eldest son of Duke Ernest I and his first wife, Louise of Saxe-Gotha. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Ernest Hendon, the last surviving participant in the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study, the U.S. government's 40-year study of the effects of untreated syphilis on a group of black men in rural . As they began to have sexual relations with the natives, some of the crew caught the dreaded sickness. A mummified ancestor of Boris Johnson didn't die of syphilis, shocked scientists have revealed - and the true culprit is something we've never seen before.. Ernest was succeeded by his nephew Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh. Prince was adopted by a family called the Andersons. Alexandrine of Baden (Alexandrine Luise Amalie Friederike Elisabeth Sophie; 6 December 1820 - 20 December 1904) was Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha from 29 January 1844 to 22 August 1893 as the wife of Duke Ernest II. Britain's Prince Philip, a stalwart supporter of his wife, Queen Elizabeth II, for over seven decades, died Friday. "It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh," Buckingham Palace said in a statement Friday. But why would Ivans physicians have given him mercury in the first place? Alleged portrait of Cesare Borgia by Altobello Melone. [44] As negotiations continued however, she began to lose enthusiasm for the idea. Patients were treated using mercury as an elixir or in an ointment, often while enclosed in a metal chamber. Instead, he shifts blame by lamenting that the women who carry this disease are often asymptomatic. We are far from meeting the WHOs goal of ending sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as a major public health concern. "[3] In May 1820, his mother described Ernest as "very big for his age, as well as intelligent. [22], During the 1848 turmoil in Germany, Albert had been constructing his own liberal reform plan, under which a single monarch, chancellor, and parliament would unite the German states; in addition, each state would retain its own current ruling dynasty. She was married to an extremely wealthy Whig MP, but became an important figure in London high society in her own right and served as Mistress of the Robes under several Whig administrations. [23] One possibility was Princess Clmentine of Orlans, a daughter of Louis Philippe I, whom he met while visiting the court at the Tuileries. Although he left Antwerp in 1886 to live with his brother in Paris, van Gogh would have a lasting reminder of his time in Belgium: syphilis. How did they treat syphilis in the 1800s? The syphilis experiment, called the Tuskegee Study, began in 1932 in Tuskegee, Ala., an area which had the highest syphilis rate in the nation at that time. Ernest sent 8,000 men initially, adding to the army sent by the German Confederation. There is also considerable evidence that he gave the disease to his wife. In 1842, Ernest married Princess Alexandrine of Baden in what was to be a childless marriage. One-third of the group was free of syphilis; two-thirds showed evidence of the disease. CNN reported that the pain-killing substance was found on Prince while the Star Tribune in Minneapolis reported that prescription pills were found where the musician died at the age of 57 last week at his home in suburban Minneapolis. But wholesale experimentation was part of an ambitious nineteenth-century doctors repertoire some even tried inoculating patients with syphilitic pus in imitation of Jenners smallpox vaccine. Historically, as the famine of 1845-1921 devastated Ireland, real-life rector Robert Traill led efforts to fundraise and feed the hungry. Ernest and his only full sibling, his younger brother Prince Albert (consort to Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom), were born 14 months apart and raised as though twins. [22] Ernest also wanted Alfred to be educated in Coburg, but his brother refused. This majority was sparked to rebellion after Frederick VII of Denmark announced on 27 March 1848 the duchies would become an integral part of Denmark under his new liberal constitution. The Duke took his sons to sample the "pleasures" of Paris and Berlin, something which horrified Albert but appealed a great deal to his older brother. When Columbus returned to Europe, he presented many interesting gifts and other curiosities. Prussian conservatives would soon turn against him, and in particular he was opposed by Prussian Minister President Otto von Bismarck. Its also known that Wilde had regular mercury treatments, a common therapy for those with syphilis. Anne Hanley is a historian of medicine at Birkbeck, University of London and acted as a historical consultant on Victoria. In 1863, the Greek throne was accepted by another member of a royal family: the Princess of Wales' younger brother Prince William of Denmark. Will he finally admit the truth? While he initially was a great and outspoken proponent of German liberalism, he surprised many by switching sides and supporting the more conservative (and eventually victorious) Prussians during the Austro-Prussian and Franco-Prussian Wars and subsequent unification of Germany. Ernest was the eldest son of Duke Ernest I and his first wife, Louise of Saxe-Gotha. "If I were asked which is the most destructive of all diseases I should unhesitatingly reply, it is that which for some years has been raging with impunity . Her parents were only a a minor Grand Duke and the daughter of the deposed King of Sweden, not an ideal match as far as Ernst's ambitious family was concerned but two years later, Ernst's father died and he himself became Duke. He was born in Coburg to Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, and Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. His support of the conservatives came at a price however, and he was no longer viewed as the possible leader of a political movement. [26], In Karlsruhe on 3 May 1842, Ernest married 21-year-old Princess Alexandrine of Baden. During their retreat, Charles and his army caused an epidemic of syphilis throughout Europe. After King Otto of Greece was deposed in 1862, the British government put Ernest's name forward as a possible successor. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Based on her ongoing research, she believed that syphilis caused the death of the late medieval King Edward IV in 1483. She had insomnia, impaired coordination, migraines, and chronic pain. Venus' case is part of an unsettling trend: Rates of syphilis in babies are rising at an alarming rate in the United States. However, it isnt known what caused his insanity. Posted at 02:28h in current fishing report: lake havasu by edward guinness wife. The democratic leanings of the Coburg court seriously embarrassed Prussian Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck, whose policy was further hampered when Coburg became the headquarters of the party in favour of Frederick, duke of Augustenburg (later Frederick VIII), during the Schleswig-Holstein crisis. Though neither man names the disease, the subtext is clear: Ernest contracted syphilis during a wild night in Paris - a misfortune that could befall anyone, really. Many of his psychological and physical symptoms, such as frequent migraines, could also be attributed to syphilis. After his ineligibility was confirmed however, the Greeks began looking for other possible candidates, which included Duke Ernest at the British government's suggestion. Victoria series 3 will be released in the US before airing in the UK and fans are in a right royal fury, Victoria creator Daisy Goodwin on how a German prince dreamt up the classic English Christmas, Victoria series 3 confirmed with Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes both returning. At the age of 17 she married her cousin Earl Gower (aka the Duke of Sutherland), an MP who had been elected for a "rotten borough" in Cornwall. Omissions? Incensed at the return of someone they cordially disliked, die-hard Tories attempted to blacken his name, calling him a drunkard and saying that he was infected with syphilis. Over the years, many of his former friends came to believe that he had syphilis, some even claiming that he had inherited the disease from his father. ITV's Victoria may have killed off Harriet's husband in the 1840s but he actually stuck around for a couple more decades, living until the ripe old age of 75. Ernest grew up at Kew, housed with his younger brothers, Augustus and Adolphus. He is not pretty now, except his beautiful black eyes. He has been a guest speaker on numerous national radio and television stations and is a five time published author. He and Albert were brought up and educated together as if they were twins. They became closer upon the separation and divorce of their parents as well as the eventual death of their mother. Prince Ernest, Duke of Cumberland and King of Hanover (5 June 1771 - 18 November 1851) was the the fifth son of George III and Queen Charlotte and a younger brother of George IV. He also showed the psychological signsmental instability, delusions, mood fluctuations, and depression. For that, he needed to live in hi Continue Reading 2 [35] Albert agreed there were going to be problems with the match, but as he could find no alternative bride, he wrote to Ernest that keeping the affair a private matter (and outside the realm of government) was "the only way to prevent a break with Prussia and the only way to keep the game in our own hands, impose the conditions that we think necessary, and as far as we can, take off its political edge". [33] Also at this time, Ernest took an interest in the Frankfurt Parliament and may have hoped to be chosen German Emperor, but instead he urged King Frederick of Prussia to take that position, albeit unsuccessfully. [59] One of his operas, Diana von Solange (1858), prompted Franz Liszt the following year to write an orchestral Festmarsch nach Motiven von E. H. z. S.-C.-G., S.116 (E. H. z. S.-C.-G. was short for Ernst Herzog zu Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha). The two German princes had to endure their parents' separation and divorce and their mother's banishment: they never saw her again before her death, which came only a few years later. Throughout all of this, van Goghs paintings became darker and more bizarre. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Signs and symptoms include a fever, chills, nausea, achy pain and a headache. [2] Consequently, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, his brother's second eldest son, was designated the childless Ernest's heir presumptive, when his older brother, the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII of the United Kingdom), renounced his succession rights. By 1842 his symptoms had presumably improved because he tied the knot with Princess Alexandrine of Baden. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that is on the rise in Canada. Just before midnight on January 20, 1936, King George V died at Sandringham, in Norfolk, England. [56] He put on weight and though on paper his wealth was large, he was still constantly in debt. In fact, it would prove to be one of the most aggressive diseases of all time. Ironically, some say he caught it from a Jewish prostitute. Finally, in 1495, he marched into Naples without opposition and received the crown. Ernest urged Prussian leaders against the impending war, and was an active advocate of the Austrian cause. Why last night's VD-laced episode of Victoria should worry When Charles and his army occupied the kingdom, they had sexual relations with people in Naples and subsequently contracted the disease. [2] Special arrangements were made by a combination of constitutional clauses and renunciations to pass Ernest's throne to a son of Albert while preventing a personal union. Bergamo, Accademia Carrara. Theres certainly no question that Ivan had ample opportunity to contract syphilis. He managed a last meeting with his privy council and secretary before he grew too weak to continue. Ernst suffered from venereal disease in his late teens and early 20s, Harriet, yet Edward did have reported problems teething, 1892, but some believe he died of syphilis and might have committed the murders while in the throes of syphilitic insanity. As rumors of an impending marriage between her and Albert interfered with their studies, the two brothers left on 28 August 1837 at the close of the term to travel around Europe. This was partly because Alfred was second-in-line to the United Kingdom until the birth of his nephew Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, in 1864. In 1836, Ernest and Albert visited their matrimonially eligible cousin Princess Victoria of Kent, spending a few weeks at Windsor Castle. Prince's death has been blamed on typhoid until now. Although as a suicide Rudolf did not even have . The doctor offers no rebuke. Updates? For a time, Oscar Wilde was one of the biggest celebrities of 19th-century England with his sharp wit, whimsical behavior, and curious personality. 204-05. Theories range from alcoholism to mental disorders, but one theory has enough evidence to possibly be accepted as fact: John Wilkes Booth had late-stage syphilis. She still doesn't know the truth that Ernest has been hiding: his venereal disease and the syphilitic rash that decorates his torso and causes him such shame. Patients were. Ernest's eldest brother George, Prince of Wales had become Prince Regent in 1811 due to the incapacitation of King George III, and so he gave his official permission for the marriage. When did Prince Alberts brother Prince Ernst get married? The two brothers had always been close, whatever their disagreements, and Albert's death left Ernest "wretched", noted Victoria in a letter to her eldest daughter. In the 1880s, van Gogh left his childhood home and went to the city of Antwerp in Belgium where he engaged in a libertine lifestyle. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. How old was Prince at the time of his death? His paranoia, mood swings, and poor health could all have been caused by tertiary syphilis. [16] In April 1837, Ernest and Albert and their household moved to the University of Bonn. Syphilis produces a variety of psychological symptoms that cause insanity: Mary Todd Lincoln most certainly had those. Mercury was regularly used in 19th-Century medicine, especially for the treatment of syphilis. Victoria: Who was the real Harriet Duchess of Sutherland and did she fall in love with Prince Ernst? Site Management did prince ernest die of syphilis Gordon Gora is a struggling author who is desperately trying to make it. freakin' unbelievable burgers nutrition facts. Ernest and Frederica became engaged in August of 1814. Syphilis was a capricious mistress and the Victorians were intolerant of those who crossed her path. Harriet and the Queen shared an enduring friendship. [65]:47. His recommendations having been turned down, Ernest in turn refused. Despite all this hand-wringing over methods of administration, doctors were beginning to lose faith in mercury. But few famous people who died of syphilis are as follows: Christopher Columbus: Christopher Columbus (better known as the explorer of America) was born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy. 234. [54], An excellent musician[29] and amateur composer all his life, Ernest was a great patron of the arts and sciences in Coburg,[58] often giving awards and titles to members of the artistic and scientific world, such as Paul Kalisch[citation needed], a German opera singer and the English chemist William Ernest Bush. Sometimes I can't believe she keeps going back! In 2021, more than 200 infants in the US with congenital syphilis died. [23] He further warned that continued promiscuity could leave Ernest incapable of fathering children. 10 Historical Figures Who Disappeared And Have Never, 10 Historical Figures Remembered For The Wrong Thing, Top 10 Fascinating Things Done By Dead Historical Figures, 10 Offbeat Stories You Might Have Missed This Week (6/9/18), 10 Offbeat Stories You Might Have Missed This Week (6/17/18), 10 Offbeat Stories You Might Have Missed This Week (6/23/18), 10 Offbeat Stories You Might Have Missed Last Week (7/2/18), 10 Offbeat Stories You Might Have Missed This Week (7/8/18), 10 Offbeat Stories You Might Have Missed (7/14/18), Ten Absolutely Vicious Fights over Inherited Fortunes, 10 Female Film Pioneers Who Shaped the Movies, Ten True Tales from Americas Toughest Prison, 10 Times Members of Secretive Societies and Organizations Spilled the Beans, 10 Common Idioms with Unexpectedly Dark Origins, 10 North American Animals with Misplaced Reputations, Top 10 Creepiest and Strangest Homes on Zillow, Top Ten Worst Book to Movie Adaptations Ever Filmed, Top 10 Blunders That Will Go Down In History 2020, 10 Reasons 19th Century Paris Was As Miserable As Les Mis, 10 Holiday Traditions Started Because of Poverty, 10 Gunslinging Outlaws of the American Wild West. Syphilis was a capricious mistress and the Victorians were intolerant of those who crossed her path. RadioTimes. [43] Some influence came from Bismarck, who explained his policy and tactics in a letter to Ernest. 3 Why didnt Victorias daughter became Queen? In addition to rashes and ulcers, secondary syphilis could produce disfiguring pustules, swollen glands and foul-smelling discharge. Prince had a troubled relationship with his step-father which lead him to run away from home. There, he started to drink absinthe and regularly hired prostitutes. Ernest supported the German Confederation in the Schleswig-Holstein Wars against Denmark, sending thousands of troops and becoming the commander of a German corps; he was instrumental in the 1849 victory at the battle of Eckernfrde against Danish forces. But in the 19th century, it was common. cerner health reset password . Although less common, it can also be transmitted through sharing . He believed that such a match flew in the face of German interests. Near two years old, Alfred became ill after his inoculation against the smallpox virus; his early death at the age of nearly two, along with the demise of his brother Prince Octavius six months later, was a complete shock to their parents as both children were healthy. The experiment, called the Tuskegee Study began in 1932 with about 600 black men mostly poor and uneducated, from Tuskegee, Ala., an area that had the highest syphilis rate in the nation at the time. Two years later, he became Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha when his father died. They lacked the basic nutrition and sanitation that would have aided recovery. Engaging in the same pursuits, sharing the same joys and the same sorrows, they were bound to each other by no common feelings of mutual love". However, he accepted Albert's second son, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, as his heir-presumptive. He was 99. When two of his brothers died without male heirs, Johann Ernst took possession of Coburg (in 1699) and Rmhild (in 1714). A letter written to him by his servant Von Stein states that while there were many candidates who could take command of parts of the army, there was only one Duke, hinting that Ernest was needed to continue promulgating the German Constitution in his duchy. Temperamentally, Victoria was much more like Ernest, for both were lively and sociable with a love for dancing, gossip, and late nights; conversely, this fast pace made Albert physically ill.[16] Victoria believed Ernest had a "most kind, honest, and intelligent expression in his countenance", while Albert "seemed full of goodness and sweetness, and very clever and intelligent.