In 1197, Sizzo's grandson Henry II divided the common heritage with his brother Günther III and made Schwarzburg Castle his residence. His territory then also comprised the nearby castle of Blankenburg.
The most famous family member is Günther XXI von Schwarzburg. In 1349, he was elected as German king by the majority of electors. But, due to waning support, he renounced some months later and died shortly after.
Raised to: Principality of Sondershausen (1697-1909)
Principality of Schwarzburg (1909-1918) (Rudolstadt line)
Table of rulers
Note: There are two manners for numbering the rulers of this noble family: birth numbers or regnal numbers. Albeit the birth number is more commonly used, the table uses the sequential regnal numbers presented in Stammliste des Hauses Schwarzburg, to avoid confusion or holes in the counting. According to this alternative numbering, there's a different counting for Schwarzburg, Käfernburg (from 1223 onwards) and Hallermund (as an already existing county which came into the family by marriage). However, even this alternative counting is not perfect: it counts only the ruling members, but by birth order, which means that people with higher count may start to rule first than others. These cases will be pointed out in the table.
Children of Günther II, divided their inheritance. Gunther III co-ruled with his older brother Henry until 1216. Ludolf inherited Hallermund through his mother.
Sons of Günther VI. Gunther VIII and Otto divided the inheritance. Gunther IX and Gunther X ruled alongside their brother Gunther VIII. Having left no children of his own, Otto left his part of Arnstadt to the county of Blankenburg.
Brothers of Günther VIII, ruled jointly possibly until 1326, when they received Leutenberg from their kin Günther VII. A division of the inheritance is then made.
Children of Henry VI, ruled jointly until 1326, when they divided their inheritance. It's possible that they had already co-ruled jointly with their father at least since 1320. Gunther IX was also elected in Frankfurt am Main as King of Germany by four Electors who opposed Charles of Luxembourg, who would be later elected as Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor.
Children of Gerhard I, ruled jointly. Ludolf V was the only one of this branch who had descendants. Ludolf's children, (Henry II, Gerhard V and Ludolf VI) are only documented in 1366, but are not known as counts. If they did not succeed their father Ludolf V in the co-rulership, the two halves of Hallermund were reunited after Henry I's abdication in 1384.
Children of Günther X, Günther XIII and John II divided their inheritance. Some of John II's children did npt survive him, but as they are counted as rulers, it is possible that they co-ruled with him in his part of the inheritance.
Sons of Henry IX, divided their inheritance after possibly co-ruling with their father. They died without male descendants and were succeeded by their cousins from Sondershausen.
Sons of Günther XI from Sondershausen, Henry XIV and Günther XVI inherited the rule of Blankenburg and integrated Sonderhausen in it. Later Günther XVI associated Henry XVIII to the co-rulership.
Ruled jointly. After Anna's death, Henry XVI (who may have been co-ruling with his father since at least the 1390s), inherited her feud at Remda. Albert I was a canon at Köln and then at Würzburg, and maybe had to abdicate before entering into clergy.
Son of Gunther XVII, inherited his half of Schwarzburg directly from his grandfather John II, as his father and uncles predeceased him. After his death, most of his half of Schwarzburg was annexed to Blankenburg.
In 1450 Schwarzburg half 2 (with exceptions) was annexed to Blankenburg
Elder sons of Henry XXI, possibly ruled in separate feuds created by their father. Gunther XX had no children, and his estate came into possession of his brother. Gunther XXI.
Children of Henry XXII, divided their inheritance. In 1537 Gunther inherited his childless brother's possessions in Sondershausen, and in the next year his cousin's at Blankenburg.
Children of Günther XXIII. Günther XXIV inherited alone his father's possessions centered at Arnstadt. In 1564 briefly reunited Schwarzburg, and seven years later redivided it between himself and his brothers. As Gunther himself left no descendants, his domains were absorbed by Sondershausen. The same happened to William, who inherited Frankenhausen and also left no children. Frankenhausen was absorbed by Rudolstadt
He was elevated twice to an Imperial Prince, but only accepted the second proposal, at the end of his reign (1710). The County evolved into a Principality.
Inherited Sondershausen from his father, in 1681 Eberleben from his uncle Louis Günther II, and in 1716, Arnstadt from his brother. In 1697 he was raised to Imperial Prince.
Great-grandson of Frederick Charles. In 1909 reunited the principalities of Rudolstadt and Sonderhausen. In 1918, following the German revolution, abdicated and became Titular Prince.
^As it is an inherited land, the counting of the presented rulers respects the one of the land, and not the family's.
^Leutenberg briefly separated from Blankenburg in 1287-1326 before being inherited by the Leutenberg branch.
^Arnstadt was ruled by two counts: Gunther VI and Gunther VII. Otto (Gunther VI's son) gave his part to Blankenburg in 1306; Gunther VII died in 1302 and passed it to his two daughters: Irmgard's part went to Hohnstein family; Adelaide's part went to the County of Weimar-Orlamünde; Adelaide's daughter remarries into Schwarzburg family and marries Henry VII, Count of Blankenburg, bringing with her her mother Adelaide's part of Gunther VII's fraction of Arnstadt.
^From 1223 a different numbering starts from the one at Schwarzburg
^From Gunther IV on, the alternative counting gives an independent numbering for the Counts of Kafernburg.
^His great-grandmother's father and brother were respectively Counts Wilbrand I and Wilbrand II.
^ abcdBrothers Gunther VI and Henry V seem to have ascended later than their cousins anad brothers Henry VI and Gunther VII, despite the former pair being elder than the latter. It's possible that Gunther VI and Henry V were already co-ruling with their father (Gunther V) at least c.1270, or at least shortly before their cousins Henry VI and Gunther VII arrived in power (1287).
^ abcdThe brothers Henry VIII and Gunther X apparently ascended first than their cousins Henry VII and Gunther IX. It's possible that they were numbered that way because Henry VII and Gunther IX were elder than Henry VIII and Gunther X, or because the former two (Henry VII and Gunther IX) were possibly co-ruling jointly with their father Henry VI in Blankenburg, before dividing their estates in 1326.
^As said previously, Gunther IX's part was probably from Otto of Arnstadt, and as so part of Blankenburg patrimony since 1306.
^ abcdeIn the period 1350-1400, there were a lot of co-rulerships of children who did not survive their fathers, which compromised and confused the counting order. Gunther XIV, official ruler from 1373 at Arnstadt, possibly co-ruled with his father Henry IX (and his brothers Henry XII and Henry XIII) since c.1360. Gunther XV, started his rule in 1362 in Wachsenburg. Gunther XVI started his co-rulership in Sondershausen in 1368. Gunther XVII, did not survive his father John II, but co-ruled with him in half 2 of Schwarzburg from 1373. Gunther XVIII ascended in half 1 of Schwarzburg, in 1382.
^ abcdefgIn the period 1350-1400, there were a lot of co-rulerships of children who didn't survive their fathers, which compromised and confused the counting order. Henry XII and Henry XIII, official rulers from 1373 in Blankenburg, possibly co-ruled with their father Henry IX (and their brothers Gunther XIV) since c.1360. Henry XIV started his co-rulership in Sondershausen in 1368. Henry XV did not survive his father John II, but co-ruled with him in half 2 of Schwarzburg from 1373.Henry XVI, despite ascending alone in 1402, probably co-ruled with his father (Henry XI) since c.1390. Henry XVII, ascended in Wachsenburg in 1397. Henry XVIII started his co-rulership in Blankenburg with his father Henry XIV and uncle Gunther XVI in c.1400.
^ abHenry XXIII and Henry XXIV were cousins and were numbered according to their birth order, but the latter ascended first than the former.
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