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House of Schwarzburg

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House of Schwarzburg
CountrySchwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Schwarzburg-Sondershausen
Founded12th century
FounderSizzo I, Count of Schwarzburg
Current headFriedrich Magnus VI, Prince of Schwarzburg, Count of Solms-Wildenfels
Final rulerPrince Günther
TitlesCount, Prince
Dissolution1918
The castle at Schwarzburg. The building is being renovated now.
Coat of arms
Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt in brown color, Schwarzburg-Sondershausen in dark grey color (1910)

The House of Schwarzburg is one of the oldest noble families of Thuringia. Upon the death of Prince Friedrich Günther in 1971, the headship of the house passed under Semi-Salic primogeniture to his elder sister, Princess Marie Antoinette of Schwarzburg who married Friedrich Magnus V, Count of Solms-Wildenfels. The House of Schwarzburg subsequently became a personal union with the House of Solms-Wildenfels.[1][2] Reigning over the County of Schwarzburg and founded by Sizzo I of Schwarzburg (died 1160), the family split in the 16th century into the lines of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen and Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, with the Sondershausen dying out in 1909.

Family History

The County of Schwarzburg was a state of the Holy Roman Empire from 1195 to 1595, when it was partitioned into Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and Schwarzburg-Sondershausen. It was ruled by counts from the House of Schwarzburg. Schwarzburg Castle was first mentioned in a 1071 deed. In 1123 Count Sizzo III of Käfernburg (Kevernburg), mentioned by the medieval chronicler Lambert of Hersfeld and according to the Annalista Saxo a grandson of Prince Yaropolk Izyaslavich of Turov by his mother, rebuilt the castle calling himself a "Count of Schwarzburg". Sizzo also established Georgenthal Abbey and in 1157, he accompanied Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa during his campaign against High Duke Bolesław IV the Curly of Poland.

In 1197, Sizzo's grandson Heinrich II divided the common heritage with his brother Günther III and made Schwarzburg Castle his residence. His territory then also comprised the nearby castle of Blankenburg.

The most famous family member is Günther von Schwarzburg. In 1349, he was elected as German king by the majority of electors. But, due to less support, he renounced some month later and died shortly after.

The Schwarzburg lands were again divided among his successors until in 1538 when Count Günther XL the Rich was able to unite the territories including Frankenhausen and Rudolstadt under his rule. He was succeeded by his eldest son Günther XLI. However, after his death in 1583, his younger brothers again divided the county: John Günther I received the territory around Arnstadt, later called Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, while Albrecht VII inherited the lands of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. The partition was finally confirmed by the 1599 Treaty of Stadtilm.

Counts of Schwarzburg and Käfernburg

  • Sizzo I (–1005)
  • Sizzo II (–1075)
  • Günther I (–1109), married Mechthild, daughter of Prince Yaropolk Izyaslavich of Turov
  • Sizzo III (1109–1160)
  • Günther II (1160–1197)
  • Heinrich II (1197–1236), Count of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg
  • Günther VII (1236–1274)
  • Günther IX (1274–1289)
  • Günther XII (1289–1308)
  • Heinrich VII (1308–1324)

County divided

County divided again in 1571

Counts and Princes of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt

The castle Heidecksburg at Rudolstadt

Counts and Princes of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen

Sondershausen Palace

See also

References

  1. ^ The House of Schwarzburg on Heraldica.org
  2. ^ James, John Almanach de Gotha, Volume I, 2013.
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