Karl August of Saxe-Weimar was a German duke who ruled from 1775 until his death in 1828. He is known for his progressive policies and efforts to modernize his duchy, promoting education, culture, and the arts. Under his leadership, Weimar became a center for literature and philosophy, attracting notable figures like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller. Karl August was also a patron of the Weimar Classicism movement, which emphasized harmony and balance in art and literature. His reign is often associated with the flourishing of German culture during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, making a lasting impact on the region's intellectual landscape.