Karl August, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar, was a prominent German ruler born on September 3, 1757. He reigned from 1775 until his death in 1828, overseeing significant cultural and political developments in the region. His leadership is noted for fostering the arts and education, making Saxe-Weimar a center of German culture during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Under his rule, the Grand Duchy became associated with influential figures such as the writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and the philosopher Friedrich Schiller. Karl August's support for the arts and intellectual pursuits helped establish a legacy that contributed to the broader Weimar Classicism movement.