Frederick Magnus, Count of Erbach-Fürstenau

Frederick Magnus, Count of Erbach-Fürstenau (18 April 1575 – 26 March 1618), was a German count, member of the House of Erbach that ruler over Fürstenau and Reichenberg.

Epitaph of Frederick Magnus, Count of Erbach-Fürstenau, Michelstadt

Early life and ancestry

Born in Erbach, he was the third child and second (but eldest surviving) son of George III, Count of Erbach-Breuberg by his second wife Countess Anna of Solms-Laubach (1557-1586), a daughter of Frederick Magnus, Count of Solms-Laubach-Sonnenwalde. He was, most probably, named after his maternal grandfather.

Life

After the death of their father, Frederick Magnus and his surviving brothers divided the Erbach domains in 1606: he received the districts of Fürstenau and Reichenberg. Because he died without surviving male issue, his brothers divided his domains between them.

Marriages and issue

He mariried firslty Landgravine Christine of Hesse-Darmstadt (1578-1596), the eldest daughter of George I, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt by his wife, Countess Magdalena of Lippe.^[1] The marriage remained childless.

He married secondly Countess Johanna Henriette of Oettingen-Oettingen (1578-1619), youngest daughter of Count Gottfried, Count of Oettingen-Oettingen (1554-1622) by his first wife, Countess Johanna of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg (1557-1585).^[2] Together, they had one surviving child:

• Countess Anna Maria of Erbach-Fürstenau (1603-1663), married Johann Georg II, Count of Solms-Baruth (1591-1632) and had issue

Death

Frederick Magnus died in Reichenberg aged 42 and was buried in Michelstadt.^[3]