The County of Schwarzburg was a state of the
Holy Roman Empire from 1195 to 1595, when it was partitioned into
Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and
Schwarzburg-Sondershausen. It was ruled by counts from the House of Schwarzburg.
Schwarzburg Castle was first mentioned in a 1071 deed. In 1123 Count Sizzo III of Käfernburg (Kevernburg), mentioned by the medieval chronicler
Lambert of Hersfeld and according to the
Annalista Saxo a grandson of Prince
Yaropolk Izyaslavich of Turov by his mother, rebuilt the castle calling himself a "Count of Schwarzburg". Sizzo also established
Georgenthal Abbey and in 1157, he accompanied Emperor
Frederick I Barbarossa during his campaign against High Duke
Bolesław IV the Curly of Poland. 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. The Schwarzburg lands were again divided among his successors until in 1538 when Count
Günther XL the Rich was able to unite the territories including
Frankenhausen and
Rudolstadt under his rule. He was succeeded by his eldest son
Günther XLI. However, after his death in 1583, his younger brothers again divided the county:
John Günther I received the territory around
Arnstadt, later called
Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, while
Albrecht VII inherited the lands of
Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. The partition was finally confirmed by the 1599 Treaty of
Stadtilm. File:Schloss Schwarzburg mit Zeughaus.jpg|The castle at
Schwarzburg. The building is being renovated now. File:Aerial image of Schloss Sondershausen (view from the southwest).jpg|
Sondershausen Palace. File:Karte Schwarzburger Fürstentümer.jpg|The Schwarzburg principalities in 1910 ==Rulers of Schwarzburg==