Henry Ernest of Stolberg-Wernigerode
Encyclopedia
Henry Ernest of Stolberg-Wernigerode ' onMouseout='HidePop("89801")' href="/topics/Wernigerode">Wernigerode
– 24 October 1778, Halberstadt
) was a German politician, canon
, dean
and author
of many hymns. He also published some poetry and collections of songs. He was Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode
from 1771 until his death.
. His mother, Sophie Charlotte was born Countess of Leiningen-Westerburg was heavily influenced by Pietism
and raised her son in this spirit. Henry Ernest studied at the universities in Halle and Göttingen
and already in 1739, he received a prebend at the cathedral chapter at Halberstadt; this appointment was confirmed by King Frederick II of Prussia
. He was awarded the Order of the Dannebrog
by King Christian IV of Denmark
, also in 1739.
He was involved by his father into the ruling of the county at a young age and after 1742 he consistently attended meetings of the Chamber of Wernigerode. He was involved, for example, in the development of the peat
industry on Mount Brocken. In 1743, he established a peat works named Heinrichshöhe
on Mount Brocken.
During his father's lifetime he enlarged the hymnologists department of the count's library, and collected and composed himself almost 400 (!) hymns. He also supported the popular poet Anna Louisa Karsch
. In 1763, he ordered Johann Georg Ziesenis to make him a painting showing King Frederick II of Prussia down to the knee.
After his father's death on 25 October 1771 the 55-year-old Henry Ernest took up the government in the county of Wernigerode, where he promoted the most pietistic form of religious life.
. She died from the effects of the birth of her second daughter on 29 July 1741 in Wernigerode.
After a year of mourning, he married a second time, in Köthen, with Princess Christiane Anna of Anhalt-Köthen, daughter of Prince Augustus Louis
and his second wife, Emilie Countess of Promnitz. His son and heir, Christian Frederick, was born from this marriage.
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....
– 24 October 1778, Halberstadt
Halberstadt
Halberstadt is a town in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and the capital of the district of Harz. It is located on the German Half-Timbered House Road and the Magdeburg–Thale railway....
) was a German politician, canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
, dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of many hymns. He also published some poetry and collections of songs. He was Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode
Stolberg-Wernigerode
The Principality of Stolberg-Wernigerode was a county of the Holy Roman Empire located in the Harz region around Wernigerode, now part of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.-History:...
from 1771 until his death.
Life
Henry Ernest was the eldest surviving son of Count Christian Ernest of Stolberg-WernigerodeChristian Ernest of Stolberg-Wernigerode
Count Christian Ernest of Stolberg-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.- Life :Christian Ernest was the tenth child from the second marriage of Count Ludwig...
. His mother, Sophie Charlotte was born Countess of Leiningen-Westerburg was heavily influenced by Pietism
Pietism
Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later. It proved to be very influential throughout Protestantism and Anabaptism, inspiring not only Anglican priest John Wesley to begin the Methodist movement, but also Alexander Mack to...
and raised her son in this spirit. Henry Ernest studied at the universities in Halle and Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
and already in 1739, he received a prebend at the cathedral chapter at Halberstadt; this appointment was confirmed by King Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II was a King in Prussia and a King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty. In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he was also Elector of Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
. He was awarded the Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
by King Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
, also in 1739.
He was involved by his father into the ruling of the county at a young age and after 1742 he consistently attended meetings of the Chamber of Wernigerode. He was involved, for example, in the development of the peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
industry on Mount Brocken. In 1743, he established a peat works named Heinrichshöhe
Heinrichshöhe
The Heinrichshöhe is a subsidiary peak of the Brocken and, at , the second highest elevation in the Harz Mountains. The summit lies about 1.4 km southeast of the top of the Brocken near the Brocken Road in the Harz National Park....
on Mount Brocken.
During his father's lifetime he enlarged the hymnologists department of the count's library, and collected and composed himself almost 400 (!) hymns. He also supported the popular poet Anna Louisa Karsch
Anna Louisa Karsch
Anna Louisa Karsch was a German autodidact and poet from the Silesia region, known to her contemporaries as “Die Karschin”.-Life:...
. In 1763, he ordered Johann Georg Ziesenis to make him a painting showing King Frederick II of Prussia down to the knee.
After his father's death on 25 October 1771 the 55-year-old Henry Ernest took up the government in the county of Wernigerode, where he promoted the most pietistic form of religious life.
Works
- Religious Poems, edited by Siegmund Jakob Baumgarten, 4 vols, Halle, 1748-52.
- Der sel. u. sichere Glaubensweg eines ev. Christen in gebundene Rede gebracht, Wernigerode 1747
- Neue Sammlung geistlicher Lieder, Wernigerode, 1752 [editor], including his song:Fort, fort, mein Herz, du mußt stets aufwärts steigen
Marriage and issue
Henry Ernest married on 11 December 1738 in Sorau to Marie Elizabeth, the daughter of Count Erdmann II of PromnitzErdmann II of Promnitz
Erdmann II, Count von Promnitz was Lord of Zary and Trzebiel in Lower Lusatia, and Pszczyna in Upper Silesia....
. She died from the effects of the birth of her second daughter on 29 July 1741 in Wernigerode.
- Charlotte Auguste (born: 9 October 1740, died: 20 September 1741)
- Daughter (1741-1741)
After a year of mourning, he married a second time, in Köthen, with Princess Christiane Anna of Anhalt-Köthen, daughter of Prince Augustus Louis
Augustus Louis, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen
Augustus Louis of Anhalt-Köthen , was a German prince of the House of Ascania and ruler of the principality of Anhalt-Köthen....
and his second wife, Emilie Countess of Promnitz. His son and heir, Christian Frederick, was born from this marriage.
- Christian FrederickChristian Frederick of Stolberg-WernigerodeCount Friedrich Christian of Stolberg-Wernigerode succeeded his father as ruler of the County of Wernigerode in 1778.- Life :Count Christian Frederick was the only son of Count Henry Ernest of Stolberg-Wernigerode and Princess Anna of Anhalt-Köthen. He was a member of the noble family...
(1746-1824)
- married Auguste Eleonore of Stolberg-Stolberg (1748-1821)
- Auguste Friederike (born: 4 September 1743; died: 9 January 1783)
- married firstly on 5 December 1767 Gustav Frederick of Isenburg and Büdingen (born: 7 August 1715, died: 12 February 1768)
- married secondly on 24 September 1768 Louis Casimir of Isenburg and Büdingen (born: 25 August 1710; died: 15 December 1775)
- married thirdly on 26 June 1777 Friedrich von Wendt († September 24, 1818)
- Louise Ferdinand (born: 30 September 1744; died: 3 February 1784)
- married on 13 June 1766 Frederick Erdmann von Anhalt-Köthen (1731-1797)