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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, which is in modern-day central Germany. 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. 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 line 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 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.
• Sondershausen Palace.
• The Schwarzburg principalities in 1910  Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt  Schwarzburg-Sondershausen

Rulers of Schwarzburg

House of Schwarzburg

Partitions of Schwarzburg under Schwarzburg rule

Note:Below it is presented a simplified organisation of the Schwarzburg lands. Some particularities of certain feuds are explained in footnotes.

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 1223 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	Ruling part	Consort	Death	Notes
Sizzo I		c.1000? Son of Sizzo or Günther	c.1030-1050	County of Schwarzburg	Unknown at least one child	c.1050 aged 49–50?	Probably the founder of the family. Sometimes attributed to his possible father, Günther.
Sizzo II		c.1030? Son of Sizzo I	c.1050-1118	County of Schwarzburg	Unknown at least one child	c.1118 aged 77–78?
Günther I		c.1050? Son of Sizzo II	c.1070-1109	County of Käfernburg	Matilda Yaropolkovna of Turov-Pinsk after 1087 two children	c.1109 aged 58–59?	Cited as Count of Käfernburg, and predeceased his father.
Sizzo III		1093 Son of Günther I and Matilda Yaropolkovna of Turov-Pinsk	1109-1118	County of Käfernburg	Gisela of Berg (d.20 March 1142) c.1133 four children	19 June 1160 aged 66–67	Reunited Schwarzburg after the death of his grandfather, Sizzo II.
			1118 – 19 June 1160	County of Schwarzburg
Henry I		1130 First son of Sizzo III and Gisela of Berg	19 June 1160 – 26 July 1184	County of Schwarzburg	A lady Winzenburg 1170 one child	26 July 1184 aged 53–54	Children of Sizzo III, divided the inheritance. After Henry I's death, his brother reunited Schwarzburg once more.
Günther II		1135 Second son of Sizzo III and Gisela of Berg	19 June 1160 – 26 July 1184	County of Käfernburg	Agnes of Saarbrücken four children Adelaide of Loccum-Hallermund 1178 three children	1197 aged 31–32
			26 July 1184 – 1197	County of Schwarzburg
Henry II the Elder		c.1160 First son of Günther II and Agnes of Saarbrücken	1197 – 20 February 1236	County of Schwarzburg	Irmgard of Weimar-Orlamünde 1211 seven children	20 February 1236 aged 75–76?	Children of Günther II, divided their inheritance. Gunther III co-ruled with his older brother Henry until 1216. Ludolf inherited Hallermund through his mother.
Günther III		c.1160 Second son of Günther II and Agnes of Saarbrücken	1197-1216	County of Schwarzburg	Dietburg of Anhalt (1169-1228) two children	1223 aged 62–63?
			1216-1223	County of Käfernburg
Ludolf II		1180 Son of Günther II and Adelaide of Loccum-Hallermund	1197 – 15 November 1256	County of Hallermund	Unknown four children Kunigunde of Pyrmont one child	15 November 1256 aged 75–76?
Henry III the Younger		1219/20 First son of Henry II and Irmgard of Weimar-Orlamünde	20 February 1236 – 1258/9	County of Schwarzburg	Sophie of Hohnstein c.15 March 1247 one child	1258/59 aged 38–40	Children of Henry II, divided their inheritance, but the childless death of Henry III made possible for Gunther IV to reunite the land once more.
Günther IV		1219/20 Second son of Henry II and Irmgard of Weimar-Orlamünde	20 February 1236 – 1258/9	County of Blankenburg	Sophia nine children	1275/78 aged 38–40
			1258/9-1275/8	County of Schwarzburg
Günther IV		c.1200? First son of Günther III and Dietburg of Anhalt	1223-1268/9	County of Käfernburg	Matilda of Beichlingen before 10 December 1254 two children	1268/9 aged 68–69?	Children of Gunther III of Schwarzburg, divided their inheritance at Kafernburg.
Albert I		c.1200? Second son of Günther III and Dietburg of Anhalt	1223-1255	County of Wiehe	Unknown five children	c.1255 aged 54–55
Albert II		c.1240? First son of Albert I	1255-c.1285	County of Wiehe	Unmarried	c.1285 aged 44–45?	Children of Albert I, divided their inheritance.
Frederick		c.1240? Second son of Albert I	1255-1312		Elisabeth of Neuenburg before 8 July 1280 two children	1312 aged 71–72?
Berthold		c.1240? Third son of Albert I	1255 – 7 August 1312	County of Wiehe (at Rabenswald)	Wilibirg of Helfenstein 1277 no children	7 August 1312 aged 71–72?
Gisela		c.1240? Daughter of Albert I	1255-1278	County of Wiehe (at Hardegg)	Burchard VI, Burgrave of Magdeburg c.1260? at least one child	1278 aged 37–38?
Rabenswald rejoined Wiehe; Hardegg annexed to Magdeburg
Ludolf III		c.1200? Son of Ludolf II and Kunigunde of Pyrmont	15 November 1256 – 1266	County of Hallermund	Jutta of Hoya six children	1266 aged 65–66?	It's possible that, after his death, his children divided the county.
Wilbrand III		1250? First son of Ludolf III and Jutta of Hoya	1266-1280	County of Hallermund (half 1)	Adelaide of Adenoys five children	1280 aged 29–30?	Sons of Ludolf III, possibly divided the county. Ludolf IV became canon at Hildesheim in 1275, possibly abdicating from the co-ruling in that year.
Ludolf IV		1250? Second son of Ludolf III and Jutta of Hoya	1266-1275	County of Hallermund (halves 1 and 2?)	Unmarried	c.1291 aged 40–41?
Gerhard I the Elder		1250? Third son of Ludolf III and Jutta of Hoya	1266-1326	County of Hallermund (half 2)	Unknown seven children Gerburg of Homburg before 14 September 1317 two children	1326 aged 75–76?
Günther V the Elder		c.1230? Son of Günther IV and Matilda of Beichlingen	1269-1273/5	County of Käfernburg	Matilda of Schwarzburg c.1250? four children	1273/5 aged 43–45?
Günther VI the Elder		c.1250? First son of Günther V the Elder and Matilda of Schwarzburg	1273/5 – 1289	County of Käfernburg (with County of Arnstadt (half 1))	Sophia of Lüchow twelve children	February/March 1289 aged 38–39?	Sons of Günther V, divided their inheritance.
Günther VII the Younger		c.1250? Second son of Günther V the Elder and Matilda of Schwarzburg	1273/5 – 10 June 1302	County of Arnstadt (half 2)	Adelaide of Schwarzburg c.1275? two children	10 June 1302 aged 51–52?
Günther V		c.1235 First son of Günther IV and Sophia	1275/8-1292/3	County of Schwarzburg	Irmgard nine children Helena of Saxe-Lauenburg 1283 no children	1292/3 aged 56–57?	Children of Günther IV, divided their inheritance.
Henry IV		c.1235 Second son of Günther IV and Sophia	1275/8-1287	County of Blankenburg	Sofia Daniilovna of Galicia-Volhynia 1259 two children	1287 aged 51–52?
Gerhard II the Younger		c.1270? First son of Wilbrand III and Adelaide of Adenoys	1280-1345/6	County of Hallermund (half 1)	Elisabeth of Everstein-Polle thirteen children	1345/6 aged 75–76?	Children of Wilbrand III, ruled jointly.
Wilbrand IV		c.1270? Second son of Wilbrand III and Adelaide of Adenoys	1280-1301		Unmarried	c.1301 aged 75–76?
Henry VI		c.1270 First son of Henry IV and Sofia Daniilovna of Galicia-Volhynia	1287 – 11 November 1324	County of Blankenburg	Christina of Gleichen-Tonna 1268 seven children Oda of Henneberg-Hartenberg c.1310/20? no children	11 November 1324 aged 53–54	Sons of Henry IV, divided their inheritance.
Günther VII		c.1270 Second son of Henry IV and Sofia Daniilovna of Galicia-Volhynia	1287-1326	County of Blankenburg (at Leutenberg)	Unknown no children Catharina Reuss of Gera two children Matilda (d.1373) no children	10 December 1352 aged 81–82?
Leutenberg is annexed by the main branch of Schwarzburg
Günther VIII		c.1270? First son of Günther VI and Sophia of Lüchow	1289-1318/24	County of Käfernburg	Irmgard of Schwarzburg six children	1318/24 aged 48–54?	Sons of Günther VI. Gunther VIII and Otto divided the inheritance. Gunther IX and Gunther X ruled alongside their brother Gunther VIII. Having left no children of his own, Otto left his part of Arnstadt to the county of Blankenburg.
Günther IX		c.1270? Third son of Günther VI and Sophia of Lüchow	1289-1332/3		Matilda of Regenstein between 5 June and 29 July 1312 four children	1332/3 aged 62–63?
Günther X		c.1270? Fourth son of Günther VI and Sophia of Lüchow	1289-1295		Unmarried	1295 aged 24–25?
Otto		c.1270? Second son of Günther VI and Sophia of Lüchow	1289-1306	County of Arnstadt (half 1)		1306 aged 35–36?
Half 1 of Arnstadt annexed to Blankenburg
Günther VI		c.1250 First son of Günther V and Irmgard	1292/3 – 24 October 1308	County of Schwarzburg	Matilda of Käfernburg before 21 August 1301 eleven children	24 October 1308 aged 57–58?	Sons of Günther V, received jointly their inheritance. It's possible that they co-ruled with their father prior to his death, possibly since c.1270.
Henry V		c.1250 Second son of Günther V and Irmgard	1292/3-1293		Oda of Henneberg-Hartenberg two children	1293 aged 42–43?
John I		c.1250 Third son of Günther V and Irmgard	1292/3-1303		Unmarried	1303 aged 52–53?
Adelaide		c.1275? First daughter of Günther VII and Adelaide of Schwarzburg	10 June 1302 – 1305	County of Arnstadt (half 2.1)	Otto V, Count of Weimar-Orlamunde 1296 one child	1305 aged 29–30	Daughters of Gunther VII, divided their inheritance. Possibly inherited their parts of Arnstadt jointly with their husbands.
Irmgard		1282 Second daughter of Günther VII and Adelaide of Schwarzburg	10 June 1302 – 1315	County of Arnstadt (half 2.2)	Henry II, Count of Hohnstein before 1302 five children	1315 aged 32–33
Arnstadt half 2.1 annexed to the Hohnstein family; Arnstadt half 2.2 annexed to the County of Weimar-Orlamunde
Günther VIII		c.1290 First son of Günther VI and Matilda of Käfernburg	1308-1320	County of Schwarzburg	Unmarried	1320 aged 29–30?	After his childless death, his brothers divided the county.
Matilda		c.1270? Daughter of Frederick and Elisabeth of Neuenburg	1312-1338	County of Wiehe	Herman IV, Count of Weimar-Orlamünde 1290 nine children	1338 aged 67–68?	After her death the county passed to the county of Weimar-Orlamünde.
In 1338 Wiehe was annexed to Weimar-Orlamünde
Henry VIII		c.1290 Second son of Günther VI and Matilda of Käfernburg	1320-1354/5	County of Leutenberg (with Schwarzburg half 1)	Helena of Holstein-Pinneberg ten children Helena of Nuremberg before 27 January 1346 one child	1354/5 aged 64–65	Brothers of Günther VIII, ruled jointly possibly until 1326, when they received Leutenberg from their kin Günther VII. A division of the inheritance is then made.
Günther X		c.1305? Third son of Günther VI and Matilda of Käfernburg	1320-1358	County of Wachsenburg (with Schwarzburg half 2)	Richeza of Schlüsselberg before 24 November 1326 six children	1358 aged 52–53
Henry VII		c.1290 Second son of Henry VI and Christina of Gleichen-Tonna	11 November 1324 – 1338	County of Blankenburg	Elisabeth of Weimar-Orlamünde before 5 June 1321 five children	1338 aged 47–48	Children of Henry VI, ruled jointly until 1326, when they divided their inheritance. It's possible that they had already co-ruled jointly with their father at least since 1320. Gunther IX was also elected in Frankfurt am Main as King of Germany by four Electors who opposed Charles of Luxembourg, who would be later elected as Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor.
Günther IX		1303 Blankenburg Third son of Henry VI and Christina of Gleichen-Tonna	11 November 1324 – 18 June 1349	County of Arnstadt	Elisabeth of Hohnstein before 9 September 1331 five children	18 June 1349 Frankfurt am Main aged 45–46
Ludolf V		c.1290? First son of Gerhard I	1326-1358/61	County of Hallermund (half 2)	Unknown four children	1358/61 aged 68–71?	Children of Gerhard I, ruled jointly. Ludolf V was the only one of this branch who had descendants. Ludolf's children, (Henry II, Gerhard V and Ludolf VI) are only documented in 1366, but are not known as counts. If they did not succeed their father Ludolf V in the co-rulership, the two halves of Hallermund were reunited after Henry I's abdication in 1384.
Gerhard III		c.1290? Second son of Gerhard I	1326-c.1340		Unmarried	c.1340? aged 49–50?
Henry I		c.1315? First son of Gerhard I and Gerburg of Homburg	1326-c.1384			c.1400 aged 84–85?
Otto I		c.1315? Second son of Gerhard I and Gerburg of Homburg	1326-1361			1361 aged 45–46
Günther XI the Elder		c.1300? Son of Günther VIII and Irmgard of Schwarzburg	1332/3-1371	County of Käfernburg	Loretta of Eppstein before 9 November 1341 seven children Irmgard of Weimar-Orlamünde 1364 no children	1371 aged 70–71?	Cousins, ruled jointly.
Günther XII the Younger		c.1300? Son of Günther IX and Matilda of Regenstein	1332/3-1341		Agnes no children	1341 aged 40–41?
Henry IX		1325 First son of Henry VII and Elisabeth of Weimar-Orlamünde	1338-1372/3	County of Blankenburg	Agnes of Hohnstein-Sondershausen 24 February 1338 eight children	1372/3 aged 47–48	Sons of Henry VII, divided their inheritance.
Günther XI		9 September 1331 Second son of Henry VII and Elisabeth of Weimar-Orlamünde	1338 – 6 June 1368	County of Sondershausen	Elisabeth of Hohnstein-Sondershausen before 11 June 1347 three children	6 June 1368 aged 36
Wilbrand V		c.1320? First son of Gerhard II and Elisabeth of Everstein-Polle	c.1340-1375	County of Hallermund (half 1 until 1384; both halves since 1384)	Unmarried	1377 aged 56–57?	Children of Gerhard II, ruled jointly. In 1384, the county of Hallermund was reunited. Wilbrand possibly abdicated to become Archdeacon at Elze.
Otto II		c.1320? Second son of Gerhard II and Elisabeth of Everstein-Polle	1345/6-1392		Adelaide of the Mark 15 March 1332 three children	1392 aged 71–72?
Gerhard IV		c.1320? Third son of Gerhard II and Elisabeth of Everstein-Polle	c.1345-c.1380		Unmarried	c.1380 aged 59–60?
Regency of Elisabeth of Hohnstein (1349-1353)							After his death Arnstadt reverted to Blankenburg.
Henry X		1339 Son of Günther IX and Elisabeth of Hohnstein	18 June 1349 – November 1357	County of Arnstadt	Unmarried	November 1357 aged 17–18
In 1357, Arnstadt rejoined Blankenburg
Günther XII		1322 First son of Henry VIII and Helena of Holstein-Pinneberg	1354/55 – 4 July 1382	County of Schwarzburg (half 1)	Magdalena Reuss of Plauen one child Gertrude of Anhalt-Bernburg before 12 August 1371 two children	4 July 1382 aged 59–60	Sons of Henry VIII, divided their inheritance
Henry XI		c.1340? First son of Henry VIII and Helena of Nuremberg	1354/55-1402	County of Leutenberg	Anna Reuss of Plauen 1373 one child	1402 aged 61–62?
Günther XIII		c.1320? First son of Günther X and Richeza of Schlüsselberg	1358-1362	County of Wachsenburg	Adelaide of Hohenlohe-Uffenheim 1357 two children	1362 aged 41–42?	Children of Günther X, Günther XIII and John II divided their inheritance. Some of John II's children did npt survive him, but as they are counted as rulers, it is possible that they co-ruled with him in his part of the inheritance.
John II		1327 Second son of Günther X and Richeza of Schlüsselberg	1358-1407	County of Schwarzburg (half 2)	Richeza of Henneberg-Hartenberg July 1358 seven children Sophia of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg no children	February/May 1407 aged 79–80
Günther XVII		c.1340 First son of John II and Richeza of Henneberg-Hartenberg	1373-1395/6		Judith of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg 1375 four children	1395/6 aged 54–56
Henry XV		c.1340 Second son of John II and Richeza of Henneberg-Hartenberg	1373-1395		Unmarried	1395 aged 54–55
Balthasar I		c.1340 Fourth son of John II and Richeza of Henneberg-Hartenberg	1373-1396			1396 aged 55–56
Günther XV		c.1340 Son of Günther XIII and Adelaide of Hohenlohe-Uffenheim	1362-1397	County of Wachsenburg	Unmarried	1397 aged 56–57?	As he died childless, he left Wachsenburg to his cousin Henry XVII, son of Gunther XVII.
George		c.1330? First son of Günther XI and Loretta of Eppstein	1371-1376	County of Käfernburg (at Ilmenau)	Sophia of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg 1353 three children	1376 aged 45–46?	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		c.1330? Second son of Günther XI and Loretta of Eppstein	1371-1386	County of Käfernburg (at Hermannstein)	Unmarried	1386 aged 45–46?
In 1386, Hermannstein was possibly annexed by the Margraviate of Meissen
Henry XII		1339 Second son of Henry IX and Agnes of Hohnstein-Sondershausen	1373	County of Blankenburg	Unmarried	1373 aged 33–34	Sons of Henry IX, divided their inheritance after possibly co-ruling with their father. They died without male descendants and were succeeded by their cousins from Sondershausen.
Henry XIII		c.1340 Third son of Henry IX and Agnes of Hohnstein-Sondershausen	1373-c.1390		Unknown no children Agnes Reuss of Gera no children	c.1390 aged 49–50
Günther XIV		c.1340? Fourth son of Henry IX and Agnes of Hohnstein-Sondershausen	1373 – 30 April 1418	County of Arnstadt	Helena of Schwarzburg-Leutenberg two children Margaret of Henneberg-Schleusingen 23 January 1399 no children	30 April 1418 Lake Constance aged 77–78
In 1418, Arnstadt was re-annexed to Blankenburg
Günther XIV the Younger		c.1355 Son of George and Sophia of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg	1376-1385	County of Käfernburg (at Ilmenau)	Matilda of Mansfeld 21 August 1379 no children Agnes of Querfurt no children	1385 Mount Sinai aged 29–30	Died in pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
In 1385, Käfernburg was annexed by the Margraviate of Meissen
Günther XVIII		c.1340? Son of Günther XII and Magdalena Reuss of Plauen	4 July 1382 – 1397/9	County of Schwarzburg (half 1)	Anna of Falkenstein 28 August 1390 two children	1397/9 aged 57–59?	Left no male descendants, and the county was re-annexed to Leutenberg.
Schwarzburg half 1 rejoined Leutenberg
Henry XIV		1350 First son of Günther XI and Elisabeth of Hohnstein-Sondershausen	6 June 1368 – c.1390	County of Sondershausen	Unmarried	1413 aged 62–63	Sons of Günther XI from Sondershausen, Henry XIV and Günther XVI inherited the rule of Blankenburg and integrated Sonderhausen in it. Later Günther XVI associated Henry XVIII to the co-rulership.
			c.1390-1413	County of Blankenburg
Günther XVI		1352 Second son of Günther XI and Elisabeth of Hohnstein-Sondershausen	6 June 1368 – c.1390	County of Sondershausen	Anna of Leuchtenberg (1354-24 January 1423) before 20 January 1375 three children	17 July 1416 Arnstadt aged 63–64
			c.1390 – 17 July 1416	County of Blankenburg
Henry XVIII the Younger		c.1370 First son of Günther XVI and Anna of Leuchtenberg	c.1400 – 10 October 1410		Elisabeth of Weimar-Orlamünde no children	10 October 1410 aged 39–40
Sondershausen rejoined Blankenburg
Otto III		c.1350? Son of Otto II and Adelaide of the Mark	1392-1411	County of Hallermund	Elisabeth no children	1411/2 aged 61–62?	In 1411, endebted, sold the county to the Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, and died not long after.
In 1411 Hallermund was sold to the Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Henry XVII		c.1380 First son of Günther XVII and Judith of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg	1397-1406	County of Wachsenburg	Margaret of Hohenlohe-Brauneck 29 October 1398 no children	1406 aged 25-26	Son of Gunther XVII from Schwarzburg half 1, inherited Wachsenburg from his cousin Gunther XV.
In 1406 Wachsenburg was annexed to Blankenburg
Anna Reuss of Plauen		1354 Daughter of Henry VI, Lord of Reuss-Plauen and Luitgard of Kranichfeld	1402-1410	County of Leutenberg (at Remda)	Henry XI 1373 one child	1410 aged 55–56	Ruled jointly. After Anna's death, Henry XVI (who may have been co-ruling with his father since at least the 1390s), inherited her feud at Remda. Albert I was a canon at Köln and then at Würzburg, and maybe had to abdicate before entering into clergy.
Henry XVI		1375 First son of Henry XI and Anna Reuss of Plauen	1402-1426	County of Leutenberg	Margaret one child Elisabeth of Weimar-Orlamünde one child	1426 aged 50–51
Albert I		c.1375? Second son of Henry XI and Anna Reuss of Plauen	1402-1411		Unmarried	15 July 1421 aged 45–46?
Albert II		c.1375? Fourth son of Henry XI and Anna Reuss of Plauen	1402-1431			1431 aged 55–56?
Günther XIX		c.1380 Second son of Günther XVII and Judith of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg	1407-1450	County of Schwarzburg (half 2)	Matilda of Henneberg-Schleusingen 16 November 1407 three children Catharina of Schönburg-Glauchau 18 February 1453 no children	1450 aged 69–70	Son of Gunther XVII, inherited his half of Schwarzburg directly from his grandfather John II, as his father and uncles predeceased him. After his death, most of his half of Schwarzburg was annexed to Blankenburg.
In 1450 Schwarzburg half 2 (with exceptions) was annexed to Blankenburg
Henry XIX the Bellicose		1388 Blankenburg Second son of Günther XVI and Anna of Leuchtenberg	17 July 1416 – 7 October 1444	County of Blankenburg	Catharina of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 1413 three children	7 October 1444 Arnstadt aged 55–56
Henry XX		1412 Son of Henry XVI and Elisabeth of Weimar-Orlamünde	1431-1462/4	County of Leutenberg	Brigitte Reuss of Gera 1443 three children	1462/4 Leutenberg aged 49–52
Henry XXI		23 October 1418 Son of Henry XIX and Catharina of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel	7 October 1444 – 13 January 1488	County of Blankenburg	Elisabeth of Clèves 15 July 1434 eleven children	13 January 1488 aged 69	Possibly abdicated from Arnstadt and Sondershausen for his eldest children.
Ursula		c.1410 Daughter of Günther XIX and Matilda of Henneberg-Schleusingen	1450-1461	County of Schwarzburg (half 2, at Ehrenstein)	Gebhard V, Count of Mansfeld 1428 two children Louis, Count of Gleichen-Blankenhein 1442 one child	1461 aged 50–51	Inherited Ehrenstein from her father. After her death, Ehrenstein was annexed to Mansfeld.
In 1461 Ehrenstein was annexed to the House of Mansfeld
Regency of Brigitte Reuss of Gera (1462/4-1473)
Balthasar II		1453 Son of Henry XX and Brigitte Reuss of Gera	1462/4 – 18 June 1525	County of Leutenberg	Anna Sack 1494 two children	18 June 1525 aged 71–72
Günther XX the Elder		8 July 1439 First son of Henry XXI and Elisabeth of Clèves	1476 – 30 December 1503	County of Arnstadt	Margaret of Henneberg-Schleusingen 22/29 October 1458 Arnstadt two children	30 December 1503 Rudolstadt aged 64	Elder sons of Henry XXI, possibly ruled in separate feuds created by their father. Gunther XX had no children, and his estate came into possession of his brother. Gunther XXI.
Günther XXI the Middle		1450 Rudolstadt Second son of Henry XXI and Elisabeth of Clèves	1476 – 19 November 1484	County of Sondershausen	Catharina of Querfurt 1470 four children	19 November 1484 Delmenhorst aged 33–34
In 1503 Arnstadt was briefly annexed to Sondershausen
Regency of Günther XX, Count of Arnstadt (1484-1487)
Henry XXII		November 1473 Son of Günther XXI and Catharina of Querfurt	19 November 1484 – 4 August 1526	County of Sondershausen	Magdalena of Hohnstein 1449 four children Anna of Nassau-Idstein 19 August 1506 one child	4 August 1526 Nordhausen aged 52
Günther XXII of Bremen		30 May 1455 Third son of Henry XXI and Elisabeth of Clèves	13 January 1488 – 8 August 1531	County of Blankenburg	Amalia of Mansfeld 3 November 1493 Sondershausen three children	8 August 1531 aged 75–76	Younger son of Henry XXI, inherited his father's main possessions in Blankenburg.
John Henry		1496 Son of Balthasar II and Anna Sack	18 June 1525 – 14 March 1555	County of Leutenberg	Margaret Reuss of Weida 13 January 1527 nine children	14 March 1555 Glauchau aged 58–59
Günther XXIII the Rich		31 October 1499 Sondershausen Son of Henry XXII and Magdalena of Hohnstein	4 August 1526 – 10 November 1552	County of Arnstadt	Elisabeth of Isenburg-Ronneburg 29 November 1528 Sondershausen three children	10 November 1552 Gehren aged 53	Children of Henry XXII, divided their inheritance. In 1537 Gunther inherited his childless brother's possessions in Sondershausen, and in the next year his cousin's at Blankenburg.
Henry XXIV the Younger		7 August 1507 Sondershausen Son of Henry XXII and Anna of Nassau-Idstein	4 August 1526 – 10 January 1537	County of Sondershausen	Margaret of Schönberg 4/17 March 1531 Dresden no children	10 January 1537 Frankenhausen aged 29
In 1537 Sondershausen was annexed to Arnstadt
Henry XXIII The Reformer		23 March 1499 Son of Günther XXII and Amalia of Mansfeld	8 August 1531 – 12 July 1538	County of Blankenburg	Catharina of Henneberg-Schleusingen, the Heroic 14 November 1524 six children	12 July 1538 aged 39	Son of Günther XXII. Left no male descendants, and his possessions were inherited by Arnstadt.
In 1538 Blankenburg was annexed to Arnstadt
Regency of Margaret Reuss of Weida (1555-1559)							His childless death allowed the Arnstadt branch to reunify the remnants of the old county of Schwarzburg.
Philip I		1540 Son of John Henry and Margaret Reuss of Weida	14 March 1555 – 8 October 1564	County of Leutenberg	Catharina of Brunswick-Grubenhagen 4 December 1559 Saalfeld no children	8 October 1564 Leipzig aged 23–24
In 1564 Leutenberg was annexed to Arnstadt
Günther XXIV the Bellicose		25 September 1529 Sondershausen First son of Günther XXIII and Elisabeth of Isenburg-Ronneburg	10 November 1552 – 1564	County of Arnstadt	Catherine of Nassau-Dillenburg 17 November 1560 Arnstadt three children	23 May 1583 Antwerp aged 53	Children of Günther XXIII. Günther XXIV inherited alone his father's possessions centered at Arnstadt. In 1564 briefly reunited Schwarzburg, and seven years later redivided it between himself and his brothers. As Gunther himself left no descendants, his domains were absorbed by Sondershausen. The same happened to William, who inherited Frankenhausen and also left no children. Frankenhausen was absorbed by Rudolstadt
			8 October 1564 – 1571	County of Schwarzburg
			1571 – 23 May 1583	County of Arnstadt
Arnstadt was annexed to Sonderhausen
John Günther I		20 December 1532 Sondershausen Second son of Günther XXIII and Elisabeth of Isenburg-Ronneburg	1571 – 28 October 1586	County of Sondershausen	Anna of Oldenburg 16 February 1566 Sondershausen twelve children	28 October 1586 Arnstadt aged 53
William		4 October 1534 Sondershausen Third son of Günther XXIII and Elisabeth of Isenburg-Ronneburg	1571 – 30 September 1598	County of Frankenhausen	Elisabeth of Schlick 6 April 1567 Frankenhausen no children Clara of Brunswick-Lüneburg 7 March 1593 Frankenhausen no children	30 September 1598 Straussberg aged 63
Frankenhausen was annexed to Rudolstadt
Albert III		16 January 1537 Sondershausen Second son of Günther XXIII and Elisabeth of Isenburg-Ronneburg	1571 – 10 April 1605	County of Rudolstadt	Juliana of Nassau-Siegen 14 June 1575 Rudolstadt ten children Albertine Elisabeth of Leiningen-Westerburg 2 March 1591 Rudolstadt no children	10 April 1605 Rudolstadt aged 68
Günther XXV		7 September 1570 Sondershausen First son of John Günther I and Anna of Oldenburg	28 October 1586 – 7 January 1643	County of Sondershausen	Unmarried	7 January 1643 Sondershausen aged 72	Sons of John Günther I, ruled jointly.
Anton Henry		7 October 1571 Sondershausen Second son of John Günther I and Anna of Oldenburg	28 October 1586 – 10 August 1638			10 August 1638 Sondershausen aged 66
John Günther II		3 May 1577 Sondershausen Third son of John Günther I and Anna of Oldenburg	28 October 1586 – 16 December 1631			16 December 1631 Sondershausen aged 54
Christian Günther I		11 May 1578 Sondershausen Fourth son of John Günther I and Anna of Oldenburg	28 October 1586 – 25 November 1642		Anna Sibylle of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt 15 November 1612 Sondershausen nine children	25 November 1642 Arnstadt aged 64
Charles Günther		6 November 1576 Rudolstadt First son of Albert III and Juliana of Nassau-Siegen	10 April 1605 – 24 September 1630	County of Rudolstadt	Anna Sophie of Anhalt 13 June 1611 Rudolstadt no children	24 September 1630 Kranichfeld aged 53	Sons of Albert III, ruled jointly.
Louis Günther I		27 June 1581 Rudolstadt Second son of Albert III and Juliana of Nassau-Siegen	10 April 1605 – 4 November 1646		Emilie of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst 4 February 1638 Rudolstadt five children	4 November 1646 Rudolstadt aged 65
Albert Günther		8 August 1582 Rudolstadt Third son of Albert III and Juliana of Nassau-Siegen	10 April 1605 – 20 January 1634		Unmarried	20 January 1634 Erfurt aged 52
Christian Günther II the Pious		1 April 1616 Ebeleben Second son of Christian Günther I and Anna Sibylle of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	7 January 1643 – 10 September 1666	County of Arnstadt	Sophia Dorothea of Mörsperg-Beffort 1645 Arnstadt six children	10 September 1666 Arnstadt aged 50	Children of Christian Günther I, divided their inheritance.Ebeleben returned to Sondershausen after Louis Gunther's death.
Anton Günther I		9 January 1620 Ebeleben Third son of Christian Günther I and Anna Sibylle of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	7 January 1643 – 19 August 1666	County of Sondershausen	Maria Magdalene of Palatinate-Birkenfeld 29 October 1644 Sondershausen ten children	19 August 1666 Ebeleben aged 46
Louis Günther II		2 March 1621 Ebeleben Fourth son of Christian Günther I and Anna Sibylle of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	7 January 1643 – 20 July 1681	County of Sondershausen (at Ebeleben)	Concordia of Sayn-Wittgenstein 30 March 1669 Ebeleben two children	20 July 1681 Arnstadt aged 60
In 1681 Ebeleben was annexed again to Sondershausen
Regency of Emilie of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst (1646-1662)							He was elevated twice to an Imperial Prince, but only accepted the second proposal, at the end of his reign (1710). The County evolved into a Principality.
Albert Anton		14 November 1641 Rudolstadt Son of Louis Günther I and Emilie of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst	4 November 1646 – 15 December 1710	County of Rudolstadt (until 1710) Principality of Rudolstadt (from 1710)	Emilie Juliane of Barby-Mühlingen 7 July 1665 Rudolstadt two children	15 December 1710 Rudolstadt aged 69
Regency of Sophia Dorothea of Mörsperg-Beffort (1666-1668)							Died without descendants. The county passed to his cousin, Anton Günther II.
John Günther III		30 June 1654 Son of Christian Günther II and Sophia Dorothea of Mörsperg-Beffort	10 September 1666 – 29 August 1669	County of Arnstadt	Unmarried	29 August 1669 aged 15
Christian William		6 January 1647 Sondershausen First son of Anton Günther I and Maria Magdalene of Palatinate-Birkenfeld	19 August 1666 – 10 May 1721	County of Sondershausen (until 1697) Principality of Sondershausen (from 1697)	Antonia Sybilla of Barby-Mühlingen 22 August 1673 Sondershausen seven children Wilhelmine Christiane of Saxe-Weimar 1684 Sondershausen eight children	10 May 1721 Sondershausen aged 74	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 Sondershausen Second son of Anton Günther I and Maria Magdalene of Palatinate-Birkenfeld	29 August 1669 – 20 December 1716	County of Arnstadt (until 1697) Principality of Arnstadt (from 1697)	Augusta Dorothea of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 7 August 1684 Wolfenbüttel no children	20 December 1716 Arnstadt aged 63	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 Rudolstadt Son of Albert Anton and Emilie Juliane of Barby-Mühlingen	15 December 1710 – 24 June 1718	Principality of Rudolstadt	Anna Sophie of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg 15 October 1691 Gotha thirteen children	24 June 1718 Rudolstadt aged 50
Frederick Anton		14 October 1692 Rudolstadt First son of Louis Frederick I and Anna Sophie of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg	24 June 1718 – 1 September 1744	Principality of Rudolstadt	Sophia Wilhelmina of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld 8 February 1720 Saalfeld three children Sophia Christina of East Frisia 6 January 1729 Rudolstadt no children	1 September 1744 Rudolstadt aged 51
Günther XXVI		13 August 1678 Auleben Third son of Christian William and Antonia Sybilla of Barby-Mühlingen	10 May 1721 – 28 November 1740	Principality of Sondershausen	Elisabeth Albertine of Anhalt-Bernburg 2 October 1712 Sondershausen no children	28 November 1740 Sondershausen aged 62	Left no descendants. The Principality passed to his half-brother, Henry.
Henry XXV the Diamond Prince		8 November 1689 Sondershausen First son of Christian William and Wilhelmine Christiane of Saxe-Weimar	28 November 1740 – 6 November 1758	Principality of Sondershausen	Unmarried	6 November 1758 Frankfurt am Main aged 68	Left no descendants. The Principality passed to his nephew, Christian Günther III, son of his brother August.
John Frederick		8 January 1721 Rudolstadt Son of Frederick Anton and Sophia Wilhelmina of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld	1 September 1744 – 10 July 1767	Principality of Rudolstadt	Bernardina Christina Sophia of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach 19 November 1744 Eisenach six children	10 July 1767 Rudolstadt aged 46	Left no male descendants. The principality passed to his uncle.
Christian Günther III		24 June 1736 Ebeleben Son of August of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen and Charlotte Sophie of Anhalt-Bernburg	6 November 1758 – 14 October 1794	Principality of Sondershausen	Charlotte Wilhelmine of Anhalt-Bernburg 4 February 1760 Sondershausen six children	14 October 1794 Sondershausen aged 58	Nephew of Günther XXVI and Henry XXV.
Louis Günther II		22 October 1708 Rudolstadt Fourth son of Louis Frederick I and Anna Sophie of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg	10 July 1767 – 29 August 1790	Principality of Rudolstadt	Sophie Henrietta Reuss of Greiz 22 October 1733 Greiz four children	29 August 1790 Rudolstadt aged 81	Succeeded his nephew.
Frederick Charles		7 June 1736 Rudolstadt Son of Louis Günther II and Sophie Henrietta Reuss of Greiz	29 August 1790 – 13 April 1793	Principality of 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	13 April 1793 Rudolstadt aged 56
Louis Frederick II		9 August 1767 Rudolstadt Son of Frederick Charles and Frederica Sophie Auguste of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	13 April 1793 – 28 April 1807	Principality of Rudolstadt	Caroline of Hesse-Homburg 21 June 1791 Homburg seven children	28 April 1807 Rudolstadt aged 39
Günther Frederick Charles I		5 December 1760 Sondershausen Son of Christian Günther III and Charlotte Wilhelmine of Anhalt-Bernburg	14 October 1794 – 19 August 1835	Principality of Sondershausen	Caroline of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt 23 June 1799 Sondershausen two children	22 April 1837 Sondershausen aged 76	Abdicated.
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 Rudolstadt First son of Louis Frederick II and Caroline of Hesse-Homburg	28 April 1807 – 28 June 1867	Principality of 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 Rudolstadt no children	28 June 1867 Rudolstadt aged 73
Günther Frederick Charles II		24 September 1801 Sondershausen Son of Günther Frederick Charles I and Caroline of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	19 August 1835 – 17 July 1880	Principality of Sondershausen	Irene Maria of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt 12 March 1827 Sondershausen four children Matilda of Hohenlohe-Öhringen 29 May 1835 Öhringen two children	15 September 1889 Sondershausen aged 87	Abdicated due to an eye condition.
Albert IV		30 April 1798 Rudolstadt Second son of Louis Frederick II and Caroline of Hesse-Homburg	28 June 1867 – 26 November 1869	Principality of Rudolstadt	Augusta Louise of Solms-Braunfels 26 July 1827 Rudolstadt four children	26 November 1869 Rudolstadt aged 71
George Albert		23 November 1838 Rudolstadt Son of Albert IV and Augusta Louise of Solms-Braunfels	28 November 1869 – 19 January 1890	Principality of Rudolstadt	Unmarried	19 January 1890 Rudolstadt aged 51	Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his cousin, George Victor.
Charles Günther		7 August 1830 Arnstadt Son of Günther Frederick Charles II and Irene Maria of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt	17 July 1880 – 28 March 1909	Principality of Sondershausen	Marie Gasparine of Saxe-Altenburg 12 June 1869 Altenburg no children	28 March 1909 Dresden aged 78	Left no descendants. After his death Sondershausen was annexed to Rudolstadt.
In 1909 Sondershausen was annexed to Rudolstadt
Günther Victor		21 August 1852 Rudolstadt Son of Adolph of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and Mathilde of Schönburg-Waldenburg	19 January 1890 – 28 March 1909	Principality of Rudolstadt	Anna Louise of Schönburg-Waldenburg 9 December 1891 Rudolstadt no children	16 April 1925 Sondershausen aged 72	Great-grandson of Frederick Charles. In 1909 reunited the principalities of Rudolstadt and Sonderhausen. In 1918, following the German revolution, abdicated and became Titular Prince.
			28 March 1909 – 22 November 1918	Principality of Schwarzburg

See also

• Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
• Schwarzburg-Sondershausen
• List of consorts of Schwarzburg

References

1. The House of Schwarzburg on Heraldica.org
2. James, John Almanach de Gotha, Volume I, 2013.
3. As it is an inherited land, the counting of the presented rulers respects the one of the land, and not the family's.
4. Leutenberg briefly separated from Blankenburg in 1287-1326 before being inherited by the Leutenberg branch.
5. Arnstadt was ruled by two counts: Gunther VI and Gunther VII. Otto (Gunther VI's son) gave his part to Blankenburg in 1306; Gunther VII died in 1302 and passed it to his two daughters: Irmgard's part went to Hohnstein family; Adelaide's part went to the County of Weimar-Orlamünde; Adelaide's daughter remarries into Schwarzburg family and marries Henry VII, Count of Blankenburg, bringing with her her mother Adelaide's part of Gunther VII's fraction of Arnstadt.
6. From 1223 a different numbering starts from the one at Schwarzburg
7. Leutenberg proper was acquired in 1326.
8. Gunther IX's part of the inheritance possibly corresponded with the original Otto's fraction of Arnstadt, inherited by Blankenburg in 1306.
9. At Ehrenstein, Schwarzburg rule lasted until 1461, and was then annexed to the House of Mansfeld.
10. Briefly reunited with Sondershausen in 1503-1526
11. Arnstadt briefly reunited with Sondershausen in 1583-1643
12. According to Europäische Stammtafeln. Detlev Schwennicke: Europäische Stammtafeln, Neue Folge, Band I.3, Tafel 312, Publisher: Vittorio Klostermann, Frankfurt am Main, 2000.
13. According to Cronica Reinhardsbrunnensis. Cronica Reinhardsbrunnensis 1034, MGH SS XXX.1, p. 517.
14. Despite ruling in Kafernburg, Gunther III is also counted as Count of Schwarzburg.
15. His maternal uncle was Count Ludolf I
16. From Gunther IV on, the alternative counting gives an independent numbering for the Counts of Kafernburg.
17. His great-grandmother's father and brother were respectively Counts Wilbrand I and Wilbrand II.
18. ^ Brothers Gunther VI and Henry V seem to have ascended later than their cousins anad brothers Henry VI and Gunther VII, despite the former pair being elder than the latter. It's possible that Gunther VI and Henry V were already co-ruling with their father (Gunther V) at least c.1270, or at least shortly before their cousins Henry VI and Gunther VII arrived in power (1287).
19. ^ The brothers Henry VIII and Gunther X apparently ascended first than their cousins Henry VII and Gunther IX. It's possible that they were numbered that way because Henry VII and Gunther IX were elder than Henry VIII and Gunther X, or because the former two (Henry VII and Gunther IX) were possibly co-ruling jointly with their father Henry VI in Blankenburg, before dividing their estates in 1326.
20. As said previously, Gunther IX's part was probably from Otto of Arnstadt, and as so part of Blankenburg patrimony since 1306.
21. According to some sources he died in 1362.
22. ^ In the period 1350-1400, there were a lot of co-rulerships of children who did not survive their fathers, which compromised and confused the counting order. Gunther XIV, official ruler from 1373 at Arnstadt, possibly co-ruled with his father Henry IX (and his brothers Henry XII and Henry XIII) since c.1360. Gunther XV, started his rule in 1362 in Wachsenburg. Gunther XVI started his co-rulership in Sondershausen in 1368. Gunther XVII, did not survive his father John II, but co-ruled with him in half 2 of Schwarzburg from 1373. Gunther XVIII ascended in half 1 of Schwarzburg, in 1382.
23. ^ In the period 1350-1400, there were a lot of co-rulerships of children who didn't survive their fathers, which compromised and confused the counting order. Henry XII and Henry XIII, official rulers from 1373 in Blankenburg, possibly co-ruled with their father Henry IX (and their brothers Gunther XIV) since c.1360. Henry XIV started his co-rulership in Sondershausen in 1368. Henry XV did not survive his father John II, but co-ruled with him in half 2 of Schwarzburg from 1373.Henry XVI, despite ascending alone in 1402, probably co-ruled with his father (Henry XI) since c.1390. Henry XVII, ascended in Wachsenburg in 1397. Henry XVIII started his co-rulership in Blankenburg with his father Henry XIV and uncle Gunther XVI in c.1400.
24. ^ Henry XXIII and Henry XXIV were cousins and were numbered according to their birth order, but the latter ascended first than the former.

External links

• House Laws of Schwarzburg (in English)

• House of Schwarzburg
• German noble families