coburg is about 90 km south of erfurt and about 100 km north of nuremberg. coburg was first mentioned in a document dated 1056, although there was a settlement at the site that before then called trufalistat. following several changes of noble owners, it came into the hands of the house of wettin in 1353 when friedrich iii, the strong, married katherina von henneberg. in 1596, it became the capital of one of the new duchy of saxe-coburg under the leadership of duke johann casimirs (ruled 1596-1633).