How and why did Duke William form his forces ?
The three sons of John Frederick I shared the territory , with John Frederick II becoming head ( and briefly , 1554–56 , holding the electoral title ) with his seats in Eisenach and Coburg , the middle brother John William staying in Weimar ( Saxe - Weimar ) , and the youngest , John Frederick III ( namesake of the eldest brother , which thing has caused innumerable confusion in history writing ) establishing residence in Gotha ( Saxe - Gotha ) .