Christian Günther III of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen (24 June 1736 – 14 October 1794) was the ruling Prince of

Schwarzburg-Sondershausen Schwarzburg-Sondershausen was a small principality in Germany, in the present day state of Thuringia, with its capital at Sondershausen. History Schwarzburg-Sondershausen was a county until 1697. In that year, it became a principality, which ...

from 1758 until his death. Some authors call him Prince Christian Günther I, because he was the first ruler of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen named Christian Günther who held the title of ''Prince''. Others call Christian Günther III, because there were two earlier Counts by that name.

Life

Christian Günther III was the son of Prince

August I of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, and the fifth of seven months to have a length of 31 days. Its zodiac sign is Leo and was originally named ''Sextilis'' in Latin because it was the 6th month in ...

(1691-1750) and his wife Princess Charlotte Sophie (1696-1762), a daughter of Prince Charles Frederick of

Anhalt-Bernburg Anhalt-Bernburg was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire and a duchy of the German Confederation ruled by the House of Ascania with its residence at Bernburg in present-day Saxony-Anhalt. It emerged as a subdivision from the Principality of ...

. He succeeded as the ruling Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen after the death of his uncle Henry XXXV in 1758, because Henry XXXV was unmarried and had no children, and Christian Günther III's father had already died in 1750. He had to deal with a number of problems when he inherited the principality. Some people were abusing their power, and the country suffered from the consequences of the

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754� ...

. Although he was only 22 years old, he managed to solve these problems with unwearying zeal and vigorous energy. He was considered a frugal ruler and father. He used the money he saved to construct some important buildings. He expanded his residence

Sondershausen Palace From an architectural and art historical point of view Sondershausen Palace can be considered one of the most important palace complexes in Thuringia. It is an irregular four-wing complex. With its imposing silhouette the former Schwarzburg residenc ...

by extending the north wing and added the famous "

Blue Hall The Blue Hall ( sv, Blå hallen) is the main hall of the Stockholm City Hall best known as the banquet hall for the annual Nobel Banquet, and also used for state visits, student balls, jubilees and other large events. Description The Hall is lon ...

" to the west wing. He also built very large so-called "domain" buildings in Allmenhausen and

Sondershausen Sondershausen is a town in Thuringia, central Germany, capital of the Kyffhäuserkreis district, situated about 50 km north of Erfurt. On 1 December 2007, the former municipality Schernberg was incorporated by Sondershausen. Until 1918 it ...

and the watchtower on the top of Mount Possen, in the

Hainleite The Hainleite is a Muschelkalk ridge of hills up to in northern Thuringia, Germany. Geography This heavily wooded landscape lies between Bleicherode in Nordhausen district, Sondershausen in Kyffhäuser district, Bad Frankenhausen, Dingelst� ...

range. His favourite castle was Ebeleben Castle, where he grew up. He expanded this castle, and completely overhauled the adjoining park. The statues, waterfalls, fountains and flowers made it a renowned park for a long time. He died in 1794, at the age of 59, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Günther Frederick Charles I.

Marriage and issue

On 4 February 1760, Christian Günther III married Charlotte Wilhelmine (1737-1777), a daughter of Prince Victor Frederick II of Anhalt-Bernburg. They had the following children: * Günther Frederick Charles I (1760-1837), his successor * Catharina Charlotte Friederike Albertine (1761-1801), married in 1790 to Prince Frederick Charles Albert of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen * Günther Albert August (1767-1833) * Caroline Auguste Albertine (1769-1819), Deaness in

Herford Herford (; nds, Hiarwede) is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, located in the lowlands between the hill chains of the Wiehen Hills and the Teutoburg Forest. It is the capital of the district of Herford (district), Herford. Geography ...

* Albertine Wilhelmine Amalie (1771-1829), married in 1795 to Duke Ferdinand Frederick of Württemberg (1763-1834), divorced in 1801 * John Charles Günther (1772-1842)

References

* Friedrich Apfelstedt: ''Das Haus Kevernburg-Schwarzburg von seinem Ursprunge bis auf unsere Zeit'', * Dr. Kamill von Behr: ''Genealogie der in Europa regierenden Fürstenhäuser'', Leipzig, 1870 {{DEFAULTSORT:Christian Gunther 03 Schwarzburg Sondershausen Princes of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen House of Schwarzburg 1736 births 1794 deaths 18th-century German people