Princely Houses of Schwarzburg

[Marengo]

Arms of the Princely Houses of Schwarzburg

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From wikipedia:

The House of Schwarzburg was one of the oldest noble families of Thuringia, until its extinction in 1971 with the death of Prince Friedrich Günther. Reigning over the County of Schwarzburg and founded by Sizzo I of Schwarzburg (died 1160), the family split in the 16th century into the lines of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen and Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, which were not reunified until 1909.

[MBGGfvB]

Who is the current ''Fuerst' of the Princely family?

[fearghas]

The family is extinct

[Warren]

The last Head of the Princely House was Friedrich Günther (II) (1901-1971).
From March 1938 until his divorce in November 1938 he was married to Princess Sophie of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.
The Prince spent some time in a Nazi concentration camp.
On his death in 1971 the Princely House of Schwarzburg became extinct in the male line. The last surviving member of the family was Friedrich Günther's sister Princess Marie Antoinette, Countess zu Solms-Wildenfels, who died in 1984.

[MBGGfvB]

Thanks all. It's a shame. Our ancestors have some history with Guenther K(C)arl in the mid-1800s (actually also Joseph II...HREin the late 1700's) and it would have been interesting to have known if an existing descendant was around. Who has inherited their properties and achives?

[Next Star]

When the male line dies out so does the house according to the laws of the house.
Yes it is sad but that is what happen the last head of the house did not married or
had any children.I still wonder if his sister which did marry have any childeren? hmm.

[MBGGfvB]

Yes Next Star, I guess that's the question. I wonder who the decendants are even after the male lines of the house had gone 'extinct'...

[Warren]

From Wiki

Death and succession

Following the death in 1971 of Prince Friedrich Günther in Munich the House of Schwarzburg became extinct. However the Schwarzburg principalities operated under Semi-Salic primogeniture which means that in the event of the extinction of all male dynasts, as happened with the death of Prince Friedrich Günther, females can inherit. Therefore if Semi-Salic law is applied then the current heir to the principalities of Schwarzburg is Count Friedrich Magnus zu Solms-Wildenfels (born 1927) the son of Princess Marie Antoinette of Schwarzburg (1898-1984), sister of Prince Friedrich Günther.

Alternatively another claimant could be Prince Philip zu Stolberg-Wernigerode (born 1967). Prince Philip's claim is based on a pact made by Count Heinrich of Schwarzburg and his son whereby if his male line became extinct then Count Botho of Stolberg and the Counts of Hohenstein should share the majority of his territories with the Counts of Stolberg inheriting Kelbra and Heringen alone and not share them with the Counts of Hohenstein. With the extinction of the House of Hohenstein the house's of Schwarzburg and Stolberg renewed the pact on January 28 1594. Therefore if the pact is still valid then Prince Philip as senior male line descendant of Count Botho could be seen as the rightful heir.

[MBGGfvB]

Thanks Warren. That's wonderful information and news!