His male-line descendants established ruling houses in Belgium, United Kingdom, Portugal and Bulgaria, while retaining the duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha until 1918. His son Leopold ruled as Leopold I of the Belgians.
The male line of his descendants created ruling families in Belgium, the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Bulgaria, but kept the duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha until 1918. His son, Leopold, became King Leopold I of Belgium.