Henry II of Reuss (younger line) (10 June 1572 in Gera – 23 December [O.S. 13 December] 1635 in Gera), nicknamed the Posthumous because his father died two months before he was born, was Lord of Gera, Lord of Lobenstein and Lord of Oberkranichfeld.
Henry II was born posthumously, as the only son of Henry XVI of Reuss-Gera (1530-1572), the founder of the Younger Line, and his wife, Countess Dorothea of Solms-Sonnewalde (1547-1595), daughter of Frederick Magnus I, Count of Solms-Laubach.
Henry successfully promoted education and the economy of his country. In 1608, he founded the Rutheneum Gymnasium in Gera (now the Goethe-Gymnasium/Rutheneum). Against the advice of his theological councillor, he granted asylum to Calvinist refugees from Flanders and housed them in his capital city Gera. This led to an upsurge in wool production and an economic boom. During his reign, Gera also developed into the cultural centre of the Reuss areas. He had a particular fondness for "ring riding", and was a frequent guest at the courts in Vienna and Dresden.
Henry II died on 23 December 1635 and was buried in the Salvator Church in Gera. The composer Heinrich Schütz wrote his Musikalische Exequien for this occasion. His elaborately decorated copper outer coffin, with biblical proverbs and evangelical chorals, was transferred from the Salvator Church to the St. John church in 1995. In 2011, it was displayed in an exhibition about funeral practices in the early modern age in the city museum of Gera. It has also been on display in the Museum for Sepulchral Culture in Kassel.
Marriages and issueedit
In Weikersheim on 7 February 1594, Henry II married firstly Magdalena (28 December 1572 – 2 April 1596), daughter of Wolfgang, Count of Hohenlohe-Weikersheim-Langenburg. They had one daughter:[citation needed]
Dorothea Magdalena (25 February 1595 – 29 October 1647), married in 1620 to Burgrave George of Kirchberg.
In Rudolstadt on 22 May 1597, Henry II married secondly Magdalena (12 Apr 1580 – 22 Apr 1652), daughter of Count Albert VII of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. They had seventeen children:[citation needed]
Juliane Marie (1 February 1598 – 4 January 1650), married in 1614 to Count David of Mansfeld-Schraplau.
Henry I (21 February 1599 – 27 July 1599)
Agnes (17 April 1600 – 1 February 1642), married in 1627 to Count Ernest Louis of Mansfeld-Heldrungen.
Elisabeth Magdalene (8 May 1601 – 4 April 1641).
Henry II (14 August 1602 – 28 May 1670), Lord of Gera and Saalburg.
Henry III (31 Oct 1603 – 12 July 1640), Lord of Schleiz.
Henry IV (21 December 1604 – 3 November 1628).
Henry V (3 November 1606 – 3/7 November 1606), twin with Henry VI.
Henry VI (3 November 1606 – 3/7 November 1606), twin with Henry V.
Sophie Hedwig (24 February 1608 – 22 January 1653).
Dorothea Sibylle (7 October 1609 – 25 November 1631), married in 1627 to Baron Christian Schenk of Tautenburg.
Henry VII (15 October 1610 – 24 July 1611).
Henry VIII (19 June 1613 – 24 September 1613).
Anna Katharina (24 March 1615 – 16 February 1682).
Henry IX (22 May 1616 – 9 January 1666), Lord of Schleiz.
Ernestine (19 March 1618 – 23 February 1650), married in 1639 to Otto Albert of Schönburg-Hartenstein.
Henry X (9 September 1621 – 25 January 1671), Lord of Lobenstein and Ebersdorf.
Honorsedit
Since 2008, the motor car of one of the trams in Gera bears his name.
Referencesedit
Bibliographyedit
Literature by and about Henry II, Count of Reuss-Gera in the German National Library catalogue
Ferdinand Hahn (1880), "Heinrich der Jüngere Postumus", Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 11, Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 579–583
Thomas Gehrlein: Das Haus Reuss. Älterer und Jüngerer Linie, brochure, 2006
Heinrich P. Reuss and Heike Karg: Die Sterbenserinnerung des Heinrich Posthumus Reuss (1572–1635). Konzeption seines Leichenprozesses, 1997
Hagen Enke: Dissertationis de Henrici Posthumi Rutheni vita et regno historicae commentatio. Vorbereitende Überlegungen zu einer Monographie über das Leben und die Regierungszeit des Heinrich Posthumus Reuß (1572/95–1635), in: Jahrbuch des Museums Reichenfels-Hohenleuben, issue 44, 159th annual report of the Vogtländischen Altertumsfor-schenden Vereins zu Hohenleuben e.V., Hohenleuben, 2000, p. 17–34.
Hagen Enke: Heinrich Posthumus Reuß (1572/95–1635) und die Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft, in: Klaus Manger (ed.): Die Fruchtbringer - eine Teutschhertzige Gesellschaft, Jenaer Germanistische Forschungen, new series, vol. 10, p. 39–60
February 08, 2024
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations June 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Henry II of Reuss younger line 10 June 1572 in Gera 23 December O S 13 December 1635 in Gera nicknamed the Posthumous because his father died two months before he was born was Lord of Gera Lord of Lobenstein and Lord of Oberkranichfeld Henry II Count of Reuss GeraHenry II Reuss Count of GeraBorn10 June 1572GeraDied23 December 1635 1635 12 23 aged 63 GeraBuriedSalvator Church in GeraNoble familyHouse of ReussSpouse s Magdalena of Hohenlohe Weikersheim LangenburgMagdalena of Schwarzburg RudolstadtFatherHenry XVI of Reuss GeraMotherDorothea of Solms Sonnewalde Contents 1 Life 2 Marriages and issue 3 Honors 4 References 5 BibliographyLife editHenry II was born posthumously as the only son of Henry XVI of Reuss Gera 1530 1572 the founder of the Younger Line and his wife Countess Dorothea of Solms Sonnewalde 1547 1595 daughter of Frederick Magnus I Count of Solms Laubach Henry successfully promoted education and the economy of his country In 1608 he founded the Rutheneum Gymnasium in Gera now the Goethe Gymnasium Rutheneum Against the advice of his theological councillor he granted asylum to Calvinist refugees from Flanders and housed them in his capital city Gera This led to an upsurge in wool production and an economic boom During his reign Gera also developed into the cultural centre of the Reuss areas He had a particular fondness for ring riding and was a frequent guest at the courts in Vienna and Dresden Henry II died on 23 December 1635 and was buried in the Salvator Church in Gera The composer Heinrich Schutz wrote his Musikalische Exequien for this occasion His elaborately decorated copper outer coffin with biblical proverbs and evangelical chorals was transferred from the Salvator Church to the St John church in 1995 In 2011 it was displayed in an exhibition about funeral practices in the early modern age in the city museum of Gera It has also been on display in the Museum for Sepulchral Culture in Kassel Marriages and issue editIn Weikersheim on 7 February 1594 Henry II married firstly Magdalena 28 December 1572 2 April 1596 daughter of Wolfgang Count of Hohenlohe Weikersheim Langenburg They had one daughter citation needed Dorothea Magdalena 25 February 1595 29 October 1647 married in 1620 to Burgrave George of Kirchberg In Rudolstadt on 22 May 1597 Henry II married secondly Magdalena 12 Apr 1580 22 Apr 1652 daughter of Count Albert VII of Schwarzburg Rudolstadt They had seventeen children citation needed Juliane Marie 1 February 1598 4 January 1650 married in 1614 to Count David of Mansfeld Schraplau Henry I 21 February 1599 27 July 1599 Agnes 17 April 1600 1 February 1642 married in 1627 to Count Ernest Louis of Mansfeld Heldrungen Elisabeth Magdalene 8 May 1601 4 April 1641 Henry II 14 August 1602 28 May 1670 Lord of Gera and Saalburg Henry III 31 Oct 1603 12 July 1640 Lord of Schleiz Henry IV 21 December 1604 3 November 1628 Henry V 3 November 1606 3 7 November 1606 twin with Henry VI Henry VI 3 November 1606 3 7 November 1606 twin with Henry V Sophie Hedwig 24 February 1608 22 January 1653 Dorothea Sibylle 7 October 1609 25 November 1631 married in 1627 to Baron Christian Schenk of Tautenburg Henry VII 15 October 1610 24 July 1611 Henry VIII 19 June 1613 24 September 1613 Anna Katharina 24 March 1615 16 February 1682 Henry IX 22 May 1616 9 January 1666 Lord of Schleiz Ernestine 19 March 1618 23 February 1650 married in 1639 to Otto Albert of Schonburg Hartenstein Henry X 9 September 1621 25 January 1671 Lord of Lobenstein and Ebersdorf Honors editSince 2008 the motor car of one of the trams in Gera bears his name References editBibliography editLiterature by and about Henry II Count of Reuss Gera in the German National Library catalogue Ferdinand Hahn 1880 Heinrich der Jungere Postumus Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie in German vol 11 Leipzig Duncker amp Humblot pp 579 583 Thomas Gehrlein Das Haus Reuss Alterer und Jungerer Linie brochure 2006 Heinrich P Reuss and Heike Karg Die Sterbenserinnerung des Heinrich Posthumus Reuss 1572 1635 Konzeption seines Leichenprozesses 1997 Hagen Enke Dissertationis de Henrici Posthumi Rutheni vita et regno historicae commentatio Vorbereitende Uberlegungen zu einer Monographie uber das Leben und die Regierungszeit des Heinrich Posthumus Reuss 1572 95 1635 in Jahrbuch des Museums Reichenfels Hohenleuben issue 44 159th annual report of the Vogtlandischen Altertumsfor schenden Vereins zu Hohenleuben e V Hohenleuben 2000 p 17 34 Hagen Enke Heinrich Posthumus Reuss 1572 95 1635 und die Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft in Klaus Manger ed Die Fruchtbringer eine Teutschhertzige Gesellschaft Jenaer Germanistische Forschungen new series vol 10 p 39 60 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry II Count of Reuss Gera amp 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