Schwarzburg-Sondershausen

Schwarzburg-Sondershausen was a small principality in Germany, in the present day state of Thuringia, with its capital at Sondershausen.

County (Principality) of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen Grafschaft (Fürstentum) Schwarzburg-Sondershausen (German)
1599–1918
Flag Coat of arms
Schwarzburg-Sondershausen within the German Empire
Schwarzburg-Sondershausen within Thuringia
Status	State of the Holy Roman Empire, State of the Confederation of the Rhine, State of the German Confederation, State of the North German Confederation, State of the German Empire, State of the Weimar Republic
Capital	Sondershausen
Government	Principality
Prince
• 1697–1716	Anton Günther II (first)
• 1909–1918	Günther Victor (last)
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Partitioned from     Schwarzburg	1599
• Raised to Principality	1697
• German Revolution	1918
• Merged into Thuringia	1920
Preceded by Succeeded by County of Schwarzburg Thuringia

Karl Günther, the last Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen

The castle at Sondershausen

History

Schwarzburg-Sondershausen was a county (earldom) until 1697. In that year, it became a principality, which lasted until the fall of the German monarchies in 1918, during the German Revolution of 1918–1919. After the German Revolution, it became a republic and joined the Weimar Republic as a constituent state. In 1920, it joined with other small states in the area to form the new state of Thuringia.

Schwarzburg-Sondershausen had an area of 862 km² (333 sq. mi.) and a population of 85,000 (1905). Towns placed in the state were: Arnstadt, Sondershausen, Gehren, Langewiesen, Großbreitenbach, Ebeleben, Großenehrich, Greußen and Plaue.

Rulers of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, 1552–1918

Further information: House of Schwarzburg § Rulers of Schwarzburg

Counts of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen

• 1552–1586 John Günther I
• 1586–1631 Günther XLII, with Anton Henry, John Günther II and Christian Günther I
• 1631–1638 Günther XLII, with Anton Henry and Christian Günther I
• 1638–1642 Günther XLII, with Christian Günther I
• 1642–1643 Günther XLII, with Anton Günther I
• 1643–1666 Anton Günther I
• 1666–1697 Christian William, with Anton Günther II

Raised to Principality in 1697

Princes of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen

• 1697–1716: Anton Günther II
• 1697 – 10 May 1721: Christian William
• 10 May 1721 – 28 November 1740: Günther XLIII
• 28 November 1740 – 6 November 1758: Henry XXXV
• 6 November 1758 – 14 October 1794: Christian Günther III
• 14 October 1794 – 19 August 1835: Günther Friedrich Karl I
• 19 August 1835 – 17 July 1880: Günther Friedrich Karl II
• 17 July 1880 – 28 March 1909: Karl Günther

United under Prince Günther Victor of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt

• 28 March 1909 – November 1918: Günther Victor

Villages with more than 2000 people

Village	Inhabitants December 1, 1910
Arnstadt	17,841
Sondershausen	7759
Langewiesen	3814
Greußen	3348
Großbreitenbach	3255
Gehren	2917
Geschwenda	2291

See also

• House of Schwarzburg