Christian Ernest of Stolberg-Wernigerode
Encyclopedia
Count Christian Ernest of Stolberg-Wernigerode (2 April 1691, Gedern
– 25 October 1771, Wernigerode
) was a German politician. He ruled the County of Wernigerode
in the Harz mountains
, which in 1714 became a dependency of Brandenburg-Prussia
, from 1710 to 1771.
. His mother was Princess Christine von Mecklenburg-Güstrow, daughter of Gustav Adolf von Mecklenburg-Güstrow
.
In accordance with his father's Last Will and Testament from 23 January 1699, Christian Ernest was to inherit the County of Wernigerode
, which until that point had been ruled by his uncle, Count Ernest of Stolberg, the Hohnstein Forest south of Benneckenstein
, and the claim for the mortgaged District (Amt) Elbingerode (Harz). After his father's death in 1710 Christian Ernest entered into his inheritance under the regency of his mother and called himself from then on Graf zu Stolberg-Wernigerode. He moved the county seat from Ilsenburg
back to Wernigerode
, arranging to have Wernigerode Castle
renovated and modernized.
In a 1714 settlement (Rezess), Count Christian Ernest of Stolberg-Wernigerode was forced to recognize the sovereignty of Brandenburg-Prussia
over the County of Wernigerode
.
On 21 May 1738, he issued a primogeniture
edict which limited the rights of inheritance to male descendants and disallowed future divisions of the County of Wernigerode.
When his brother Heinrich August died in 1748, Christian Ernest inherited the territory of Schwarza, Thuringia
.
Christian Ernest was a Knight of the Royal Prussian Order of the Black Eagle
and the Royal Danish Ordre de l'Union Parfaite
. From 1735 to 1745 he served his cousin on his mother's side, King Christian VI of Denmark
, as Secret Councillor (Geheimrat).
Under the reign of Count Christian Ernest there was a lot of building activity in the County of Wernigerode. He had the Lustgarten (Pleasure Garden) in Wernigerode refashioned in the French style and installed an Orangery
. He also is responsible for building the still preserved "Wolkenhäuschen" (Cabin in the Clouds) on the Brocken, the highest mountain in the Harz
mountain ridge.
Gedern
Gedern is a town in the Wetteraukreis district in Hesse, Germany, and historically belongs to Oberhessen. It is located northeast of Hanau at the foot of the Vogelsberg, once one of the largest inactive volcanoes in Europe.-Neighboring towns:...
– 25 October 1771, Wernigerode
Wernigerode
Wernigerode is a town in the district of Harz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Until 2007, it was the capital of the district of Wernigerode. Its population was 35,500 in 1999....
) was a German politician. He ruled the County of Wernigerode
County of Wernigerode
The County of Wernigerode was a county of the Holy Roman Empire, located in the Harzgau region of the former Duchy of Saxony, at the northern foot of the Harz mountain range...
in the Harz mountains
Harz
The Harz is the highest mountain range in northern Germany and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The name Harz derives from the Middle High German word Hardt or Hart , latinized as Hercynia. The legendary Brocken is the highest summit in the Harz...
, which in 1714 became a dependency of Brandenburg-Prussia
Brandenburg-Prussia
Brandenburg-Prussia is the historiographic denomination for the Early Modern realm of the Brandenburgian Hohenzollerns between 1618 and 1701. Based in the Electorate of Brandenburg, the main branch of the Hohenzollern intermarried with the branch ruling the Duchy of Prussia, and secured succession...
, from 1710 to 1771.
Life
Christian Ernest was the tenth child from the second marriage of Count (Graf) Ludwig Christian zu StolbergCounty of Stolberg
The County of Stolberg was a county of the Holy Roman Empire located in the Harz mountain range in present-day Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.The town of Stolberg was probably founded in the 12th century as a mining settlement. The Counts of Stolberg probably derived from a branch of the counts of...
. His mother was Princess Christine von Mecklenburg-Güstrow, daughter of Gustav Adolf von Mecklenburg-Güstrow
Mecklenburg-Güstrow
Mecklenburg-Güstrow was a state of the Holy Roman Empire in Northern Germany, that existed on three separate occasions ruled by the House of Mecklenburg at Güstrow.-History:...
.
In accordance with his father's Last Will and Testament from 23 January 1699, Christian Ernest was to inherit the County of Wernigerode
County of Wernigerode
The County of Wernigerode was a county of the Holy Roman Empire, located in the Harzgau region of the former Duchy of Saxony, at the northern foot of the Harz mountain range...
, which until that point had been ruled by his uncle, Count Ernest of Stolberg, the Hohnstein Forest south of Benneckenstein
Benneckenstein
Benneckenstein is a town in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it has been part of the town Oberharz am Brocken. Benneckenstein is in the eastern Harz, 14 km southeast of Braunlage, and 24 km south of Wernigerode....
, and the claim for the mortgaged District (Amt) Elbingerode (Harz). After his father's death in 1710 Christian Ernest entered into his inheritance under the regency of his mother and called himself from then on Graf zu Stolberg-Wernigerode. He moved the county seat from Ilsenburg
Ilsenburg
Ilsenburg is a town in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt in Germany. It is situated under the north foot of the Harz Mountains, at the entrance to the Ilsetal valley of the small Ilse river, a tributary of the Oker, about six north-west of the town of Wernigerode. It received town privileges...
back to Wernigerode
Wernigerode
Wernigerode is a town in the district of Harz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Until 2007, it was the capital of the district of Wernigerode. Its population was 35,500 in 1999....
, arranging to have Wernigerode Castle
Wernigerode Castle
Wernigerode Castle is a castle located in the Harz mountains above the town of Wernigerode in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The present-day building, finished in the late 19th century, is similar in style to Neuschwanstein Castle, though its foundations are much older...
renovated and modernized.
In a 1714 settlement (Rezess), Count Christian Ernest of Stolberg-Wernigerode was forced to recognize the sovereignty of Brandenburg-Prussia
Brandenburg-Prussia
Brandenburg-Prussia is the historiographic denomination for the Early Modern realm of the Brandenburgian Hohenzollerns between 1618 and 1701. Based in the Electorate of Brandenburg, the main branch of the Hohenzollern intermarried with the branch ruling the Duchy of Prussia, and secured succession...
over the County of Wernigerode
County of Wernigerode
The County of Wernigerode was a county of the Holy Roman Empire, located in the Harzgau region of the former Duchy of Saxony, at the northern foot of the Harz mountain range...
.
On 21 May 1738, he issued a primogeniture
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
edict which limited the rights of inheritance to male descendants and disallowed future divisions of the County of Wernigerode.
When his brother Heinrich August died in 1748, Christian Ernest inherited the territory of Schwarza, Thuringia
Schwarza, Thuringia
Schwarza is a municipality in the Landkreis Schmalkalden-Meiningen, Thuringia. It lies between Zella-Mehlis and Meiningen....
.
Christian Ernest was a Knight of the Royal Prussian Order of the Black Eagle
Order of the Black Eagle
The Order of the Black Eagle was the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia. The order was founded on 17 January 1701 by Elector Friedrich III of Brandenburg . In his Dutch exile after WWI, deposed Emperor Wilhelm II continued to award the order to his family...
and the Royal Danish Ordre de l'Union Parfaite
Ordre de l'Union Parfaite
The Ordre de l'Union Parfaite was created by Queen consort Sophie Magdalene of Denmark and Norway on August 7, 1732, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of her happy marriage with King Christian VI of Denmark and Norway. Given to both men and women, L'Union Parfaite was the first Dano-Norwegian order...
. From 1735 to 1745 he served his cousin on his mother's side, King Christian VI of Denmark
Christian VI of Denmark
Christian VI was King of Denmark and Norway from 1730 to 1746.He was the son of King Frederick IV of Denmark and Norway and Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. He married Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach and fathered Frederick V.-The reign and personality of Christian VI:To posterity Christian...
, as Secret Councillor (Geheimrat).
Under the reign of Count Christian Ernest there was a lot of building activity in the County of Wernigerode. He had the Lustgarten (Pleasure Garden) in Wernigerode refashioned in the French style and installed an Orangery
Orangery
An orangery was a building in the grounds of fashionable residences from the 17th to the 19th centuries and given a classicising architectural form. The orangery was similar to a greenhouse or conservatory...
. He also is responsible for building the still preserved "Wolkenhäuschen" (Cabin in the Clouds) on the Brocken, the highest mountain in the Harz
Harz
The Harz is the highest mountain range in northern Germany and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The name Harz derives from the Middle High German word Hardt or Hart , latinized as Hercynia. The legendary Brocken is the highest summit in the Harz...
mountain ridge.
Descendants
On 31 March 1712, Christian Ernest married Sophie Charlotte, Countess of Leiningen-Westerburg (*22 February 1695; † 10 December 1762). She was the daughter of Johann Anton Graf zu Leiningen-Westerburg in Schadeck and Christine Luise Gräfin zu Sayn-Wittgenstein. A son issued from the marriage.- Henry Ernest of Stolberg-Wernigerode (1716–1778) 2.∞ Christiane Anne of Anhalt-Köthen (1726–1790), daughter of Augustus of Anhalt-Köthen (1697–1755)
Literature
- Ernst FörstemannErnst FörstemannErnst Wilhelm Förstemann was a German historian, archivist and librarian, director of the Sächsische Landesbibliothek in Dresden...
: Graf Christian Ernst zu Stolberg-Wernigerode, Hannover 1886.