House of Schwarzburg

Schwarzburg
Schwarzburg
Country	Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Schwarzburg-Sondershausen
Founded	12th century
Founder	Sizzo I, Count of Schwarzburg
Final ruler	Prince Günther Victor
Titles	Count, Prince
Deposition	1918

The House of Schwarzburg was one of the oldest noble families of Thuringia. Upon the death of Prince Friedrich Günther in 1971, a claim to 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.[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.

Coat of arms of the Schwarzburg family

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 Henry 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 XXI von Schwarzburg. In 1349, he was elected as German king by the majority of electors. But, due to waning support, he renounced some months 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.

The castle at Schwarzburg. The building is being renovated now.
The Schwarzburg principalities in 1910
Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
Schwarzburg-Sondershausen

Counts of Schwarzburg and Käfernburg

Partitions of Schwarzburg under Schwarzburg rule



County of Käfernburg 1st creation: 1070-1118 2nd creation: 1160-1184			County of Schwarzburg (1030-1275/8)

County of Hallermund (1197-1411) (inherited)
	County of Wiehe (1223-1319)	County of Käfernburg (3rd creation) (1197-1386)
			County of Wachsenburg (1275/8-1450)			County of Blankenburg (1275/8-1444) renamed County of Arnstadt (1st creation) (1444-1564)

			County of Leutenberg (1333-1564)
	Annexed to Meissen
Sold to Brunswick- Wolfenbüttel

			County of Schwarzburg (1564-1571) (Arnstadt line)
			County of Frankenhausen (1571-1597)	County of Rudolstadt (1571-1710) raised to: Principality of Rudolstadt (1710-1909)	County of Sondershausen (1571-1666) raised to: Principality of Sondershausen (1666-1909)		County of Arnstadt 2nd creation: 1571-1583 3rd creation: 1643-1716



			Principality of Schwarzburg (1909-1918) (Rudolstadt line)

Table of rulers

Note: There are two manners for numbering the rulers of this noble family: birth numbers or regnal numbers. Albeit the birth number is more commonly used, the table uses the sequential regnal numbers presented in Stammliste des Hauses Schwarzburg, to avoid confusion or holes in the counting. According to this alternative numbering, there's a different counting for Schwarzburg, Käfernburg (from 1197 onwards) and Hallermund (as an already existing county which came into the family by marriage). However, even this alternative counting is not perfect: it counts only the ruling members, but by birth order, which means that people with higher count may start to rule first than others. These cases will be pointed out in the table.

Ruler	Born	Reign	Death	Ruling part	Consort	Notes
Sizzo I	?	c.1030-1050	c.1050	County of Schwarzburg	Unknown at least one child	Probably the founder of the family. Sometimes attributed to his possible father, Günther.
Sizzo II	?	c.1050-1118	c.1118	County of Schwarzburg	Unknown at least one child
Günther I	?	c.1070-1109	c.1109	County of Käfernburg	Matilda Yaropolkovna of Turov-Pinsk after 1087 two children	Cited as Count of Käfernburg, and predeceased his father.
Sizzo III	?	1109-1118	19 June 1160	County of Käfernburg	Gisela of Berg c.1133 four children	Reunited Schwarzburg after the death of his grandfather, Sizzo II.
Sizzo III	?	1118-1160	19 June 1160	County of Schwarzburg	Gisela of Berg c.1133 four children
Henry I	1130	1160-1184	26 July 1184	County of Schwarzburg	A lady Winzenburg 1170 one child	Received the county of Schwarzburg.
Günther II	1135	1160-1184	After 15 January 1197	County of Käfernburg	Agnes of Saarbrücken four children Adelaide of Loccum-Hallermund 1178 three children	Reunited Schwarzburg after the death of his grandfather, Sizzo II.
Günther II	1135	1184-1197	After 15 January 1197	County of Schwarzburg
Henry II the Elder	?	1197-1236	20 February 1236	County of Schwarzburg	Irmgard of Weimar-Orlamünde 1211 at least one child
Günther III	1150	1197-1223	After 31 March 1223	County of Käfernburg	Dietburg of Anhalt (1169-1228) two children
Ludolf II[3]	1180	1197-1226	15 November 1256	County of Hallermund	Unknown four children Kunigunde of Pyrmont one child	Son of Günther II, inherited the County of Hallermund from his mother.
Ludolf III	?	1256-1266	c.1266	County of Hallermund	Jutta of Hoya six children
Henry III the Younger	1219/20	1236-1258/9	Between 11 June 1258 and 24 October 1259	County of Schwarzburg	Sophie of Hohnstein c.15 March 1247 one child	Left no male descendants and the county passed to his brother.
Günther IV	?	1223-1269	Between 7 March 1268 and 20 November 1269	County of Käfernburg	Matilda of Beichlingen before 10 December 1254 two children
Albert I	?	1223-1255	After 27 July 1255	Käfernburg-Wiehe	Unknown five children
Albert II	?	1255-1283	After 1283	Käfernburg-Wiehe	Unmarried	Left no descendants. After his death the county waa inherited by his brother Frederick.
Günther IV	1219/20	1258/9-1275/8	Between 19 September 1275 and 25 September 1278	County of Schwarzburg	Sofia Daniilovna of Galicia-Volhynia (d. before 28 July 1287) nine children
Wilbrand III[4]	1180	1266-1280	Before 13 December 1280	County of Hallermund	Adelaide of Adenoys five children	Sons of Ludolf III, ruled jointly. Ludolf IV became canon at Hildesheim in 1275, possibly abdicating from the co-ruling in that year.
Ludolf IV[5]	1180	1266-1275	15 November 1226	County of Hallermund	Unmarried
Gerhard I the Elder	1180	1266-1326	After 17 May 1326	County of Hallermund	Unknown seven children Gerburg of Homburg before 14 September 1317 two children
Wilbrand IV	?	c.1300-1301	After 1301?	County of Hallermund	Unmarried	Possibly co-ruled with his father, Gerhard I.
Günther V the Elder	?	1269-1273/5	Between 10 April 1273 and 18 April 1275	County of Käfernburg	Matilda of Schwarzburg before 1269 four children
Günther VI the Elder	?	1273/5-1289	Between 23 February and 30 March 1289	County of Käfernburg	Sophia of Lüchow twelve children	Sons of Günther V, ruled jointly. Gunther VII ruled at Arnstadt, which passed then to his daughter.
Günther VII	?	1273/5-1302	10 June 1302	County of Käfernburg (at Arnstadt)	Adelaide of Schwarzburg before 1280 two children
Henry IV	?	1275/8-1287	Before 2 May 1287	Schwarzburg-Blankenburg	Unknown two children	Son of Günther IV, received Blankenburg and made it his capital.
Günther V	?	1275/8-1292/3	Between 1 October 1292 and 19 September 1293	Schwarzburg-Wachsenburg	Irmgard no children Helena of Saxe-Lauenburg 1283 nine children	Sons of Günther IV, received jointly Wachsenberg and made it his capital.
Henry V	?	1275/8-1293	Before 19 September 1293	Schwarzburg-Wachsenburg	Oda of Henneberg-Hartenberg two children
Frederick I	Before 1259	1283-1312	Before 11 August 1312	Käfernburg-Wiehe	Elisabeth of Neuenburg before 8 July 1280 two children
Günther VI	?	1292/3-1308	24 October 1308	Schwarzburg-Wachsenburg	Matilda of Käfernburg before 21 August 1301 eleven children	Son of Günther V.
John I	?	1292/3-1301	1303	Schwarzburg-Wachsenburg	Unmarried	Brother of Günther V and Henry V, probably ruled with his nephew, as he is cited as ruler only after 1293.
Henry VI	Before 1285	1287-1324	11 November 1324	Schwarzburg-Blankenburg	Christina of Gleichen-Tona three children Oda of Henneberg-Hartenberg no children	Sons of Henry IV, ruled jointly.
Günther VII	c.1270	1287-1326	10 December 1352	Schwarzburg-Blankenburg	Unknown no children Katharina of Gera two children Oda of Henneberg-Hartenberg no children	Sons of Henry IV, ruled jointly.
Günther VIII	?	c.1290-1318/24	Between 23 August 1318 and 22 August 1324	County of Käfernburg	Irmgard of Schwarzburg six children	Sons of Günther VI, ruled jointly. They wera probably already co-ruling with their uncle Günther VII before 1332/3.
Günther IX	?	c.1290-1332/3	Between 8 April 1332 and 4 April 1333	County of Käfernburg	Matilda of Regentstein between 5 June and 29 July 1312 four children
Günther X	?	c.1290-1295	1295	County of Käfernburg	Unmarried
Irmgard	1282	1302-c.1305	c.1305	County of Käfernburg (at Arnstadt)	Henry II, Count of Hohnstein before 1302 five children	Daughter of Gunther VII. Possbily inherited Arnstadt jointly with her husband; Arnstadt went to the Hohnstein family.
Arnstadt annexed to the Hohnstein family
Günther VIII	Before 1289	1308-1320	1320	Schwarzburg-Wachsenburg	Matilda of Käfernburg before 21 August 1301 eleven children
Matilda	c.1270?	1312-1338	1338	Käfernburg-Wiehe	Herman IV, Count of Weimar-Orlamünde 1290 nine children	After her death the county passed to the county of Weimar-Orlamünde.
In 1338 Wiehe was annexed to Weimar-Orlamünde
Günther IX	1303/4	1326-1349	14/18 June 1349	Schwarzburg-Blankenburg	Elisabeth of Hohnstein before 9 September 1331 five children	Sons of Henry VI, ruled jointly.
Henry VII	Before 1285	1326-1338	Before 4 March 1338	Schwarzburg-Blankenburg	Elisabeth of Weimar-Orlamünde before 5 June 1321 five children	Sons of Henry VI, ruled jointly.
Henry VIII	c.1300	c.1320-1333	Between 4 October 1354 and 29 September 1355	Schwarzburg-Wachsenburg	Helena of Holstein-Pinnberg ten children Helena of Nuremberg before 27 January 1346 one child	In 1333 exchanged his seat to Leutenberg and left Wachsenberg to his brother, Günther X.
Henry VIII	c.1300	1333-1354/55	Between 4 October 1354 and 29 September 1355	Schwarzburg-Leutenberg
Gerhard II the Younger	?	1326-1346	Between 25 July 1345 and 16 July 1346	County of Hallermund	Elisabeth of Everstein-Polle thirteen children	Sons of Wilibrand III and Gerhard I, ruled jointly, and some of them may even have co-ruled with their father and uncle.
Ludolf V	?	1326-1358/61	Between 10 February 1358 and 6 January 1361	County of Hallermund	Unknown four children
Gerhard III	?	1326-1338	After 1338	County of Hallermund	Unmarried
Henry I	?	1326-c.1384	Before 1402	County of Hallermund	Unmarried
Otto I	?	1326-1361	After 17 May 1326	County of Hallermund	Unmarried
Günther X	c.1300	1333-1358	Before 11 June 1358	Schwarzburg-Wachsenburg	Richeza of Schlüsselberg before 24 November 1326 six children	Brother of Henry VIII, receive Wachsenburg from his brother.
Günther XI	?	1332/3-1371	After 27 June 1371	County of Käfernburg	Loretta of Eppstein before 9 November 1341 seven children Irmgard of Weimar-Orlamünde 1364 no children	Cousins, ruled jointly. Günther XI was son of Günther VIII and Günther XII a son of Günther IX
Günther XII	?	1332/3-1341	After 28 April 1341	County of Käfernburg	Agnes no children
Henry IX	1325	1338-1373	November 1357	Schwarzburg-Blankenburg	Agnes of Hohnstein-Sondershausen 24 February 1338 eight children	Sons of Henry VII, co-ruling with his uncle since 1338. Possibly associated their cousin Henry X (son of Günther IX) to rule, but the latter died early with no descendants.
Günther XI	9 September 1331	1338-1368	6 June 1368	Schwarzburg-Blankenburg	Elisabeth of Hohnstein-Sondershausen before 11 June 1347 three children
Henry X	1339	1349-1357	November 1357	Schwarzburg-Blankenburg	Unmarried
Wilbrand V	?	c.1340-1345?	After 17 May 1326	County of Hallermund	Unmarried	Son of Gerhard II, probably co-ruled with him before becoming canon at Hildesheim.
Gerhard IV	?	c.1345-1368?	Before 15 April 1384	County of Hallermund	Unmarried	Son of Gerhard II, probably co-ruled with him.
Henry II	?	c.1366?	After 1366	County of Hallermund	Unmarried	Sons of Ludolf V, probably co-ruled with their father, uncles and cousins.
Gerhard V	?	c.1366?	After 1366	County of Hallermund	Unmarried
Ludolf VI	?	c.1366?	After 1366	County of Hallermund	Unmarried
Günther XII	1322	1354/55-1382	4 July 1382	Schwarzburg-Leutenberg	Magdalena Reuss of Plauen one child Gertrude of Anhalt-Bernburg before 12 August 1371 two children	Sons of Henry VIII, ruled jointly.
Henry XI	1322	1354/55-c.1390?	1402	Schwarzburg-Leutenberg	Anna Reuss of Plauen 1373 one child	Sons of Henry VIII, ruled jointly.
Günther XIII	?	1358-1362	1362	Schwarzburg-Wachsenburg	Richeza of Schlüsselberg before 24 November 1326 six children
John	1327	1362-c.1390?	Between 21 February 1395 and 21 July 1396	Schwarzburg-Wachsenburg	Richeza of Henneberg-Hartenberg before 16 July 1358 seven children Sophia of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg no children
Günther XIV	1362	c.1360/70-1390?	30 April 1418	Schwarzburg-Blankenburg	Helena of Schwarzburg-Leutenberg two children Margaret of Henneberg-Schleusingen 23 January 1399 no children	Probably already ruling in 1360 or 1370, in co-rulership with Henry IX and Günther XI. He left no male descendants.
George I	?	1371-1376	Between 23 August 1318 and 22 August 1324	County of Käfernburg	Sophia of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg 1353 three children	George and Günther XIII ruled jointly at first, and after George's death, his son Günther XIV replaced his role in the co-rulership.
Günther XIII	?	1371-1386	Before 26 July 1386	County of Käfernburg	Unmarried
Günther XIV the Younger	?	1376-1386	Between 25 July 1385 and 26 July 1386	County of Käfernburg	Matilda of Mansfeld 21 August 1379 no children Agnes of Querfurt no children
In 1386, Käfernburg was annexed by the Margraviate of Meissen
Henry XII	1339	c.1372/73	before 1374	Schwarzburg-Blankenburg	Unmarried	Sons of Henry IX, possibly co-ruling with his father and then probably his uncle. They both died without descendants and was succeeded by his brothers.
Henry XIII	1339	1373-c.1390	Between 19 April 1387 and 8 March 1400	Schwarzburg-Blankenburg	Unknown no children Agnes of Gera no children
Günther XV	Before 1365	c.1370-c.1390	c.1390	Schwarzburg-Wachsenburg	Unmarried
Otto II	?	c.1381-1392	Before 11 November 1392	County of Hallermund	Adelaide of the Mark 15 March 1332 three children	Son of Gerhard II, possibly already co-ruling earlier with his father, uncles and cousins.
Günther XVI	1352	c.1390-1416	7 July 1416	Schwarzburg-Blankenburg	Anna of Leuchtenberg before 20 January 1375 three children	Sons of Günther XI, ruled jointly with their uncle.
Henry XIV	1350	c.1390-1413	before 29 September 1413	Schwarzburg-Blankenburg	Unmarried	Sons of Günther XI, ruled jointly with their uncle.
Günther XVII	?	c.1390?-1395/6	Between 21 February 1395 and 21 July 1396	Schwarzburg-Wachsenburg	Anna of Falkenstein 28 August 1390 two children	Sons of John, possibly ruled jointly. Henry was canon at Köln and Mainz.
Henry XV	?	c.1390?-1395	1395	Schwarzburg-Wachsenburg	Unmarried
Balthasar I	?	c.1390?-1396	1396	Schwarzburg-Wachsenburg	Unmarried
Günther XVIII	?	c.1390?-1397/9	Between 13 June 1397 and 10 December 1399	Schwarzburg-Leutenberg	Anna of Falkenstein 28 August 1390 two children	Cousins, possibly ruled jointly. Günther was a son of Günther XII, while Henry XVI, Albert I and Albert II were sons of Henry XI. Albert I was a canon at Köln and then at Würzburg, and maybe had to abdicate before entering into clergy.
Henry XVI	1375	c.1390?-1426	After 2 May 1426	Schwarzburg-Leutenberg	Margaret one child Elisabeth of Weimar-Orlamünde one child
Albert I	?	c.1390?-1411	15 July 1421	Schwarzburg-Leutenberg	Unmarried
Albert II	?	1404-1429	After 7 November 1431	Schwarzburg-Leutenberg	Unmarried
Otto III	?	c.1381-1392	Before 11 November 1392	County of Hallermund	Elisabeth no children	Son of Otto II. In 1411, endebted, sold the county to the Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
In 1411 Hallermund was sold to the Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Günther XIX	c.1380	c.1395/6-1406	After 10 April 1406	Schwarzburg-Wachsenburg	Matilda of Henneberg-Schleusingen 16 November 1407 three children Katharina of Schönburg-Glauchau 18 February 1453 no children	Sons of Günther XVII, ruled jointly, but left no descendants. The county was then probably annexed to the county of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg.
Henry XVII	c.1380	c.1390?-1450	Before 6 February 1450	Schwarzburg-Wachsenburg	Margaret of Hohenlohe-Brauneck 29 October 1398 no children
In 1450 Schwarzburg-Wachsenburg was annexed by Schwarzburg-Blankenburg/Arnstadt
Henry XVIII	?	c.1400-1410	10 October 1410	Schwarzburg-Blankenburg	Elisabeth of Weimar-Orlamünde no children	Son of Günther XVI, Probably co-ruled with his father.
Henry XIX	1388	c.1416-1444	7 October 1444	Schwarzburg-Blankenburg	Katharina of Brunswick-Lüneburg 1413 three children
Henry XX	1412	1426-1462/4	Between 15 September 1462 and 27 June 1464	Schwarzburg-Leutenberg	Brigitte of Gera 1443 three children
Henry XXI	23 October 1418	1444-1488	13 January 1488	Schwarzburg-Blankenburg Schwarzburg-Arnstadt	Elisabeth of Clèves 15 July 1434 eleven children	He exchanged seat to Arnstadt, and his descendants line changed its name as well.
Balthasar II	1453	1462/4-1525	18 June 1525	Schwarzburg-Leutenberg	Anna Sack 1494 two children
Günther XX the Elder	8 July 1439	1476-1503	30 December 1503	Schwarzburg-Arnstadt	Margaret of Henneberg-Schleusingen 22/29 October 1458 Arnstadt two children	Sons of Henry XXI, probably co-ruled with their father jointly. After Günther XXI's death, his son, Henry XXII, may have been associated with his uncles.
Günther XXI the Middle	1450	1476-1484	19 November 1484	Schwarzburg-Arnstadt	Katharina of Querfurt 1470 four children
Günther XXII of Bremen	30 May 1455	1476-1531	8 August 1531	Schwarzburg-Arnstadt	Amalia of Mansfeld 3 November 1493 Sondershausen three children
Henry XXII	November 1473	1484-1526	4 August 1526	Schwarzburg-Arnstadt	Magdalena of Hohnstein 1449 four children Anna of Nassau-Idstein 19 August 1506 one child
John Henry	1496	1525-1555	14 March 1555	Schwarzburg-Leutenberg	Margaret Reuss of Weida 1494 two children
Henry XXIII The Reformer	23 March 1499	1531-1538	12 July 1538	Schwarzburg-Arnstadt	Katharina of Henneberg-Schleusingen 14 November 1524 six children	Son of Günther XXII. He may have co-ruled with his father, uncles and cousin before 1531. Left no male descendants.
Günther XXIII the Rich	31 October 1499	1538-1552	10 November 1552	Schwarzburg-Arnstadt	Elisabeth of Isenburg-Büdingen-Ronneburg 29 November 1528 Sondershausen three children	Son of Henry XXII, he was co-ruling with his uncles and cousins since his father's death in 1526.
Philip I	1540	1555-1564	8 October 1564	Schwarzburg-Leutenberg	Katharina of Brunswick-Grubenhagen 4 December 1559 Saalfeld no children
In 1564 Schwarzburg-Leutenberg was annexed to Schwarzburg-Arnstadt
Günther XXIV the Bellicose	25 September 1529	1552-1564	23 May 1583	Schwarzburg-Arnstadt	Katharina of Nassau-Dillenburg 17 November 1560 Arnstadt three children	Son of Günther XXIII, he briefly reunited Schwarzburg in 1564, but in 1571 redivided it between himself and his younger brothers. As he left no descendants, his domains were absorbed by Schwarzburg-Sondershausen.
		1564-1571		County of Schwarzburg
		1571-1582		Schwarzburg-Arnstadt
Schwarzburg-Arnstadt was annexed to Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen
William I	4 October 1534	1571-1597	30 November 1597	Schwarzburg-Frankenhausen	Elisabeth of Schlick 6 April 1567 Frankenhausen no children Clara of Brunswick-Lüneburg 7 March 1593 Frankenhausen no children	Son of Günther XXIII, received Frankenhausen. As he left no descendants, his domains were absorbed by Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt.
Schwarzburg-Frankenhausen was annexed to Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
John Günther I	20 December 1532	1571-1586	28 October 1586	Schwarzburg-Sondershausen	Anna of Oldenburg 16 February 1566 Sondershausen twelve children	Son of Günther XXIII, received Sondershausen. In 1583 absorbed Schwarzburg-Arnstadt.
Albert III	16 January 1537	1571-1605	10 April 1605	Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	Juliana of Nassau-Dillenburg 14 June 1575 Rudolstadt ten children Albertine Elisabeth of Leiningen-Westerburg 2 March 1591 Rudolstadt no children	Son of Günther XXIII, received Rudolstadt. In 1583 absorbed Schwarzburg-Frankenhausen.
Günther XXV	7 September 1570	1586-1643	7 January 1643	Schwarzburg-Sondershausen	Unmarried	Sons of John Günther I, ruled jointly.
Christian Günther	11 May 1578	1586-1642	25 November 1642	Schwarzburg-Sondershausen	Anna Sibylle of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt 15 November 1612 Sondershausen nine children
Anton Henry	7 October 1571	1586-1638	10 August 1638	Schwarzburg-Sondershausen	Unmarried
John Günther II	3 May 1577	1586-1631	16 December 1631	Schwarzburg-Sondershausen	Unmarried
Charles Günther	6 November 1576	1605-1630	24 September 1630	Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	Anna Sophie of Anhalt 13 June 1611 Rudolstadt no children	Sons of Albert III, ruled jointly.
Louis Günther I	27 June 1581	1612-1646	4 November 1646	Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	Emilie of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst 4 February 1638 Rudolstadt five children
Albert Günther	8 August 1582	1612-1634	20 January 1634	Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	Unmarried
Christian Günther II the Pious	1 April 1616	1643-1666	10 September 1666	Schwarzburg-Arnstadt	Sophia Dorothea of Mörsperg-Beffort 1645 Arnstadt six children	Son of Christian Günther I, received Arnstadt, which became once more independent.
Anton Günther I	9 January 1620	1643-1666	19 August 1666	Schwarzburg-Sondershausen	Maria Magdalene of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld 29 October 1644 Sondershausen ten children	Sons of Christian Günther I, received Sondershausen together. In 1651 Louis changed his seat to Ebeleben, which returned to Sondershausen after his death.
Louis Günther II	9 January 1620	1643-1681	19 August 1666	Schwarzburg-Sondershausen (at Ebeleben)	Concordia of Sayn-Wittgenstein 30 March 1669 Ebeleben two children
In 1681 Ebeleben was annexed again to Sondershausen
Regency of Emilie of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst (1646-1662)						He was elevated to an Imperial Prince at the end of his reign, dignity that was kept by his descendants. The County evolved into a Principality.
Albert Anton	14 November 1641	1646-1710	15 December 1710	Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	Emilie Juliane of Barby-Mühlingen 7 July 1665 Rudolstadt two children
John Günther III	30 June 1654	1666-1669	29 August 1669	Schwarzburg-Arnstadt	Unmarried	Died without descendants. The county passed to his cousin, Anton Günther II.
Christian William	6 January 1647	1666-1721	10 May 1721	Schwarzburg-Sondershausen	Antonia Sybilla of Barby-Mühlingen 22 August 1673 Sondershausen seven children Wilhelmine Christiane of Saxe-Weimar 1684 Sondershausen eight children	Son of Anton Günther I, inherited Sondershausen from his father, in 1681 Eberleben from his uncle Louis Günther II, and in 1716, Arnstadt from his brother. In 1697 he was raised to Imperial Prince.
Anton Günther II	10 October 1653	1669-1716	20 December 1716	Schwarzburg-Sondershausen	Augusta Dorothea of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 7 August 1684 Wolfenbüttel no children	Son of Anton Günther I, inherited Arnstadt from his cousin. In 1697 he was raised to Imperial Prince. However, left no descendants. The Principality returned to Sondershausen
In 1716 Arnstadt was annexed again to Sondershausen
Louis Frederick I	25 October 1667	1710-1718	24 June 1718	Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	Anna Sophie of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg 15 October 1691 Gotha thirteen children
Frederick Anton	14 October 1692	1718-1744	1 September 1744	Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	Sophia Wilhelmina of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld 8 February 1720 Saalfeld three children Sophia Christina of East Frisia 6 January 1729 Rudolstadt no children
Günther XXVI	13 August 1678	1721-1740	28 November 1740	Schwarzburg-Sondershausen	Elisabeth Albertine of Anhalt-Bernburg 2 October 1712 Sondershausen no children	Left no descendants. The Principality passed to his half-brother, Henry.
Henry XXIV	8 November 1689	1740-1758	6 November 1758	Schwarzburg-Sondershausen	Unmarried	Left no descendants. The Principality passed to his nephew, Christian Günther III, son of his brother August.
John Frederick	8 January 1721	1744-1767	10 July 1767	Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	Bernardina Christina Sophia of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach 19 November 1744 Eisenach six children	Left no surviving descendants. The principality passed to his uncle.
Christian Günther III	24 June 1736	1758-1794	14 October 1794	Schwarzburg-Sondershausen	Charlotte Wilhelmine of Anhalt-Bernburg 4 February 1760 Sondershausen six children
Louis Günther II	22 October 1708	1767-1790	29 August 1790	Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	Sophie Henrietta Reuss-Untergreiz 22 October 1733 Greiz four children	Son of Louis Frederick I, succeeded his nephew.
Frederick Charles	7 June 1736	1790-1793	13 April 1793	Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	Frederica Sophie Auguste of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt 21 October 1763 Rudolstadt six children Auguste Louise Frederica of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg 28 November 1780 Rudolstadt no children
Louis Frederick II	9 August 1767	1790-1807	28 April 1807	Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	Caroline of Hesse-Homburg 21 June 1791 Homburg seven children
Günther Frederick Charles I	5 December 1760	1794-1835	22 April 1837	Schwarzburg-Sondershausen	Caroline of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt 23 June 1799 Sondershausen two children	Abdicated 19 August 1835.
Regency of Caroline of Hesse-Homburg (1807-1814)						He left no surviving legitimate children. The principality passed to his brother Albert.
Frederick Günther	6 November 1793	1807-1867	28 June 1867	Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	Auguste of Anhalt-Dessau 15 April 1816 Dessau three children Helene of Reina (morganatic) 7 August 1855 Dresden two children Maria Schultze (morganatic) 24 September 1861 Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt no children
Günther Frederick Charles II	24 September 1801	1835-1880	15 September 1889	Schwarzburg-Sondershausen	Irene Maria of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt 12 March 1827 Sondershausen four children Matilda of Hohenlohe-Öhringen 29 May 1835 Öhringen two children	Abdicated 17 July 1880, due to an eye condition.
Albert (IV)	30 April 1798	1867-1869	26 November 1869	Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	Augusta Louise of Solms-Braunfels 26 July 1827 Rudolstadt four children	Brother of the predecessor.
George Albert	23 November 1838	1869-1890	19 January 1890	Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	Unmarried	Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his cousin, George Victor.
Charles Günther	7 August 1830	1880-1909	28 March 1909	Schwarzburg-Sondershausen	Marie Gasparine of Saxe-Altenburg 12 June 1869 Altenburg no children	Left no descendants. After his death Sondershausen
Günther Victor	21 August 1852	1890-1909	16 April 1925	Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	Anna Louise of Schönburg-Waldenburg 9 December 1891 Rudolstadt no children	Son of Prince Adolf, who was grandson of Prince Frederick Charles. In 1909 reunited the principalities of Rudolstadt and Sonderhausen. After 1918 became Titular Prince.
Günther Victor	21 August 1852	1909-1918	16 April 1925	Principality of Schwarzburg

Counts and Princes of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen

Sondershausen Palace

1552–1586: John Günther I
1586–1631: Günther XLII, with Anton Henry, John Günther II and Christian Günther I
1631–1638: Günther XLII, with Anton Henry and Christian Günther I
1638–1642: Günther XLII, with Christian Günther I
1642–1643: Günther XLII, with Anton Günther I
1643–1666: Anton Günther I
1666–1697: Christian William, with Anton Günther II
1697–1716: Anton Günther II
1697 – 10 May 1721: Christian William
10 May 1721 – 28 November 1740: Günther XLIII
28 November 1740 – 6 November 1758: Henry XXXV
6 November 1758 – 14 October 1794: Christian Günther III
14 October 1794 – 19 August 1835: Günther Friedrich Karl I
19 August 1835 – 17 July 1880: Günther Friedrich Karl II
17 July 1880 – 28 March 1909: Karl Günther
28 March 1909 – November 1918: Günther Victor

References

The House of Schwarzburg on Heraldica.org
James, John Almanach de Gotha, Volume I, 2013.
His maternal uncle was Count Ludolf I
His great-grandmother's father and brother were respectively Counts Wilibrand I and Wilibrand II.
His maternal uncle was Count Ludolf I

External links

House Laws of Schwarzburg (in English)

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[1] The House of Schwarzburg on Heraldica.org

[2] James, John Almanach de Gotha, Volume I, 2013.

[3] His maternal uncle was Count Ludolf I

[4] His great-grandmother's father and brother were respectively Counts Wilibrand I and Wilibrand II.

[5] His maternal uncle was Count Ludolf I

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