The House of Saxe-Hildburghausen was a German noble family that emerged in the 17th century. It was a branch of the larger House of Saxe and was established in the town of Hildburghausen in Thuringia. The family played a significant role in the politics of the region and had connections to various European royal families through marriage. The most notable member of the House was Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen, who ruled from 1745 to 1772. The duchy was eventually absorbed into the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen in the 19th century, leading to the decline of the family's prominence.