German Awards - German States - Schwarzburg-Sondershausen - Principality

The principality arose from the county of Schwarzburg-Arnstadt and existed from 1697 to 1918. The County of Schwarzburg was divided into two main lines after the death of Gunther XLI. In 1584, the Schwarzburg-Arnstadt and Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt lines appeared. In 1815, Schwarzburg-Sondershausen joined the German Union.
Since 1807, the principality was ruled by Napoleon.
Since 1816, the newly independent principality, in 1866 voted against mobilization against Prussia and joined the North German Union. Military sovereignty now belonged to Prussia.
Since 1871, the principality of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen was part of the German Empire.
In 1909, the Sondershausen line with Prince Karl Günther died out. According to the treaty, Günther Victor von Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt took over the administration of both principalities. Despite the efforts made, no single common state was created.
The princes were:

• Christian Wilhelm 1697-1720
• Gunther I 1720-1740
• Henry 1740-1758
• Christian Gunther III. 1758-1794
• Gunther Friedrich Charles I 1794-1835
• Gunther Friedrich Charles II. 1835-1880
• Carl Gunther 1880-1909
• Gunther Victor 1909-1918 (prince in personal union with Rodolstadt)

After the 1 World War, Gunther Victor abdicated in November 1918. After this, Schwarzburg-Sondershausen continued to exist as the Free State.