Günther von Schwarzburg

Günther XXI, Count of Schwarzburg- Blankenburg ( * 1304 in Blankenburg, † June 14, 1349 in Frankfurt am Main). Was a German nobleman, who in 1349 against King (later Emperor ) Charles IV out of the house Luxembourg was set up as a rival king.

Life

Günther was the son of Count Henry VII of Schwarzburg- Blankenburg and Christine of equals; He was married at least since September 9, 1331 with Elizabeth of Hohenstein, daughter of Count Henry IV, who survived him a good 30 years and died at the April 4, 1380. He and Elizabeth had five children: a son, Heinrich XIII, his ( childless ) successor, and four daughters, Sophia (∞ Friedrich von Orlamünde ), Elizabeth, Agnes and Mechtild, who were all married in the social and physical environment of the count..

Günther von Schwarzburg was a diplomat in the service of the Emperor Louis IV of the House of Wittelsbach and was, as such, two years after the emperor's death on 11 October 1347 after a series of fruitless attempts by the Wittelsbach Party, a successor from within the company to determine IV chosen Luxembourg Karl, persuaded to seek the office itself - against already on July 11, 1346 - at that time as a rival king. On January 30, 1349, he was elected in the Dominican monastery at Frankfurt am Main by the Wittelsbach Party and their supporters; the Margrave of Brandenburg, son of the Emperor Louis Louis V and the Duke of Saxe- Lauenburg, the Count Palatine of the Rhine and the deposed Archbishop of Mainz, Heinrich von Virneburg, voters were enough to carry the election.

Günther justified its legitimacy much so that he - unlike the selected Rhens Karl - had been elected "at the right place ," namely " franc fort in the Velde, because Romische kunge to right ... are Gewelt ". In addition, Charles was not crowned in the right place (not in Aachen, but in Bonn). The city, however, had recognized Charles IV after Ludwig's death, and let Günther wait on the field before the city for a week. It was only on February 6, he moved solemnly into the city, where he was introduced to an old tradition in his office, the privileges of the city confirmed and in turn on the mountain Romans received the homage of the citizens.

Charles IV succeeded rapidly to bring the supporters of this anti-king on his side, and finally to beat Gunther's army at Eltville to flight. Günther waived on May 26, 1349 Treaty of Eltville return for compensation and an amnesty for his followers to all claims. But the return on his resignation he could no longer enjoy, as he died a short time later in the Frankfurt St. John Monastery, probably of the plague. The count pointing to self poisoning, but this is not historically verifiable.

Günther was buried at the behest of Charles IV in Frankfurt Cathedral with royal honors. According to him the Black Castle Road and the Black Castle School are named in Frankfurt.

In 1777, Ignaz Holzbauer opera " Günther von Schwarzburg " premiered in Mannheim with great success. After a long forgotten opera in the late 20th century was repeatedly performed again in concert and for the record.