Günther XL, Count of Schwarzburg nicknamed the Rich or Günther with the fat mouth (31 October 1499 in Sondershausen – 10 November 1552 in Gehren), was a ruling Count of Schwarzburg.
Guenther was the eldest son of Henry XXXI, Count of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg (1473–1526) and his first wife Magdalena of Hohnstein (1480–1504). His paternal grandparents were Guenther XXI. (XXXVIII.) von Schwarzburg-Blankenburg (1450–1484) and Katharina von Querfurt (1452–1521). Over time, Günther united all but one of the Schwarzburg possessions in one hand. He introduced Protestantism in his country and fought on the Protestant side against the emperor in the Schmalkaldic War. Günther benefitted considerably from the political downfall of the Ernestine branch of the House of Wettin.
In feudal matters, he came into conflict with Elector Johann Frederick I, Elector of Saxony. The Elector invaded Schwarzburg and torched the city of Sondershausen. Günther had to flee, and was only able to return after the battle of Mühlberg in 1547.
To demonstrate his accumulated wealth and power, he largely demolished the existing castle in Sondershausen in 1533 and built a new Renaissance château on the site. This château forms the old North, East and South wings of the current Sondershausen Palace.
On 29 November 1528, Günther XL married Elisabeth (d. 14 May 1572), the daughter of Count Philip of Isenburg-Büdingen-Ronneburg. They had the following children:
Horst Fleischer et al.: Die Grafen von Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt: Albrecht VII. bis Albert Anton, in: Kleine kulturgeschichtliche Reihe vol. 3, 2nd ed., Rudolstadt, 2004, ISBN3-910013-40-6
Friedrich Apfelstedt: Das Haus Kevernburg-Schwarzburg von seinem Ursprunge bis auf unsere Zeit, Arnstadt, 1890, ISBN3-910132-29-4
Johann Christian August Junghans: Geschichte der schwarzburgischen Regenten, Leipzig, 1821, Online
Kurt Hermann: Die Erbteilungen im Hause Schwarzburg, Halle, 1919
Dr. Kamill von Behr: Genealogie der in Europa regierenden Fürstenhäuser, Leipzig, 1870
December 18, 2023
günther, count, schwarzburg, nicknamed, rich, günther, with, mouth, october, 1499, sondershausen, november, 1552, gehren, ruling, count, schwarzburg, count, günther, xlborn31, october, 1499sondershausendied10, november, 1552, 1552, aged, gehrennoble, familyhou. Gunther XL Count of Schwarzburg nicknamed the Rich or Gunther with the fat mouth 31 October 1499 in Sondershausen 10 November 1552 in Gehren was a ruling Count of Schwarzburg Gunther XL Count of SchwarzburgCount Gunther XLBorn31 October 1499SondershausenDied10 November 1552 1552 11 10 aged 53 GehrenNoble familyHouse of SchwarzburgSpouse s Elisabeth of Isenburg Budingen RonneburgFatherHenry XXXI Count of Schwarzburg BlankenburgMotherMagdalena of HohnsteinLife editGuenther was the eldest son of Henry XXXI Count of Schwarzburg Blankenburg 1473 1526 and his first wife Magdalena of Hohnstein 1480 1504 His paternal grandparents were Guenther XXI XXXVIII von Schwarzburg Blankenburg 1450 1484 and Katharina von Querfurt 1452 1521 Over time Gunther united all but one of the Schwarzburg possessions in one hand He introduced Protestantism in his country and fought on the Protestant side against the emperor in the Schmalkaldic War Gunther benefitted considerably from the political downfall of the Ernestine branch of the House of Wettin In feudal matters he came into conflict with Elector Johann Frederick I Elector of Saxony The Elector invaded Schwarzburg and torched the city of Sondershausen Gunther had to flee and was only able to return after the battle of Muhlberg in 1547 To demonstrate his accumulated wealth and power he largely demolished the existing castle in Sondershausen in 1533 and built a new Renaissance chateau on the site This chateau forms the old North East and South wings of the current Sondershausen Palace After his death the County of Schwarzburg was divided among his four sons Thus he became the ancestor of the two lines of the House of Schwarzburg that survived until the 20th century Schwarzburg Sondershausen and Schwarzburg Rudolstadt Marriage and issue editOn 29 November 1528 Gunther XL married Elisabeth d 14 May 1572 the daughter of Count Philip of Isenburg Budingen Ronneburg They had the following children Gunther XLI Count of Schwarzburg Arnstadt 1529 1583 nicknamed the Bellicose Count of Schwarzburg Arnstadt Magdalena 1530 1565 married in 1552 to Count John Albert VI of Mansfeld Arnstein Amalie 1531 1542 John Gunther I Count of Schwarzburg Sondershausen 1532 1586 Count of Schwarzburg Sondershausen William I Count of Schwarzburg Frankenhausen 1534 1597 Count of Schwarzburg Frankenhausen Philip 1536 1536 Albert VII Count of Schwarzburg Rudolstadt 1537 1605 Count of Schwarzburg Rudolstadt Otto Henry 1538 1539 or Ottilie Sybilla Anna 1540 1578 married in 1571 to Count Louis III of Isenburg Birstein Budingen Elisabeth 1541 1612 married in 1576 to John VII Count of OldenburgReferences editHorst Fleischer et al Die Grafen von Schwarzburg Rudolstadt Albrecht VII bis Albert Anton in Kleine kulturgeschichtliche Reihe vol 3 2nd ed Rudolstadt 2004 ISBN 3 910013 40 6 Friedrich Apfelstedt Das Haus Kevernburg Schwarzburg von seinem Ursprunge bis auf unsere Zeit Arnstadt 1890 ISBN 3 910132 29 4 Johann Christian August Junghans Geschichte der schwarzburgischen Regenten Leipzig 1821 Online Kurt Hermann Die Erbteilungen im Hause Schwarzburg Halle 1919 Dr Kamill von Behr Genealogie der in Europa regierenden Furstenhauser Leipzig 1870 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gunther XL Count of Schwarzburg amp oldid 1145070035, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
