William I, Count of Schwarzburg-Frankenhausen

William I of Schwarzburg- Frankenhausen ( born October 4, 1534 Special Hausen, † September 30, 1598 in Straußberg ) was since 1571 Graf von Schwarzburg- Frankenhausen. He was the founder of the line Frankenhausen.

Life

Count William was a son of Count Günther XL. of Schwarzburg (1499-1552), which " the rich " or "the one with the fat Maule " was called, and his wife Countess Elisabeth ( † May 14, 1572 ), a daughter of Count Philipp of Isenburg - Büdingen to Ronneburg.

He was a Christian upbringing and became a pious, God-fearing, strictly Lutheran man.

After the death of Günther XL. 1552 ruled the four sons of the land initially jointly. Wilhelm chose the city Frankenhausen to his residence, according to which part of the country received the name of Schwarzburg- Frankenhausen.

Before he turned to the government's work, he studied for several years in Erfurt, Jena, lions and Padua. After that he stayed some years at the Jülich yard. From 1563 to 1565 he was in Danish service and fought against the Turks in 1566 with.

In 1571, the brothers decided to divide their county and thus Wilhelm received in the sub- rule, the rule of Frankenhausen. These included the same city, the offices Straußberg, herring and Kelbra, later the Office Schernberg.

After the meet -less death of the brothers Count Günther XLI. of Schwarzburg- Arnstadt and Count Wilhelm of Schwarzburg- Frankenhausen Johann Günther shared with his brother Albert VII their territories. Johann Günther received at Arnstadt areas and special Hausen and is the founder of the line Black -Sonderhausen. Albert VII got possession to Rudolstadt and Frankenhausen and founded the line of Schwarzburg- Rudolstadt.

William I signed the Formula of Concord of 1577 and the Book of Concord of in 1580.

Marriages

Both marriages were childless.