Christiane Emilie of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen

Christiane Emilie of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen
Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Portrait of Christiane Emilie
Coat of arms
Born	13 March 1681 Sondershausen
Died	1 November 1751 Mirow
Noble family	House of Schwarzburg
Spouse(s)	Adolphus Frederick II
Issue	Duchess Sophie Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg
Father	Christian William I, Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen
Mother	Antonie Sybille of Barby-Mühlingen

Christiane Emilie Antonie of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen (13 March 1681 – 1 November 1751) was a German noblewoman who became Duchess consort of Mecklenburg-Strelitz through her marriage to Adolphus Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.^[1]

Early Life and Family

Christiane Emilie was born on 13 March 1681 in Sondershausen. She was the daughter of Christian William I, Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen,^[2] and his first wife, Antonie Sybille of Barby-Mühlingen. Her paternal grandparents were Anton Günther I, Count of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, and Countess Palatine Maria Magdalene of Birkenfeld. Christiane Emilie had several siblings, including Günther XLIII and Henry XXXV, both of whom held the title of Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen.^[3][4][5]

Marriage and Issue

On 10 June 1705, Christiane Emilie married Adolphus Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, in Strelitz. This was Frederick II's third marriage, following the death of his second wife, Princess Johanna of Saxe-Gotha. Christiane Emilie and Adolphus Frederick II had the following children together:

• Duchess Sophie Christiane Luise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (12 October 1706 – 22 December 1708).^[6]
• Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg (23 February 1708 – 5 June 1752): Succeeded his father as Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz; married Princess Elisabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen.^[7]

Later Life and Death

Christiane Emilie served as Duchess consort of Mecklenburg-Strelitz from her marriage in 1705 until her husband's death in 1708. Following her husband's passing, she resided in Mirow, where she raised her son, Charles Louis Frederick, who would later become the Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Christiane Emilie passed away on 1 November 1751 in Mirow and was interred in the local church.^[8]

Titles and styles

• 30 March 1681 - 10 June 1705: Her Serene Highness Princess Emilie of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen.
• 10 June 1705 - 12 May 1708: Her Serene Highness The Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
• 12 May 1708 - 1 November 1751: The Dowager Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

References

1. Borth, Helmut (2015-06-03). Herzoghaus Mecklenburg-Strelitz: Von gekrönten Häuptern, blaublütigen Kuckuckskindern und der Mirower Fürstengruft (in German). Steffen Verlag. ISBN 978-3-942477-95-6.
2. Burke, Bernard (1858). Royal Descents and Pedigrees of Founders' Kin. Harrison.
3. Bernhard Anemüller (1876), "Christian Wilhelm I.", Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 4, Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 211–212
4. Friedrich Apfelstedt: Heimathskunde für die Bewohner des Fürstenthums Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, Part 3: Geschichte des Fürstlich-Schwarzburgischen Hauses, Eupel, Sondershausen, 1856 (reprinted: Donhof, Arnstadt, 1998, ISBN 3-86162-025-1)
5. Friedrich Apfelstedt: Das Haus Kevernburg-Schwarzburg von seinem Ursprunge bis auf unsere Zeit, Bertram, Sondershausen, 1890 (reprinted: Thüringer Chronik-Verl. Müllerott, Arnstadt, 1996, ISBN 3-910132-29-4)
6. Mecklenburgische Jahrbücher (in German). 1904.
7. Carlyle, Thomas (1866). History of Friedrich the Second Called Frederick the Great. Harper & Brothers. pp. 477, 478.
8. Zander, D. (1889). Stoff zur landeskunde von Mecklenburg-Strelitz ... (in German). Verlag der Barnewitzschen hofbuchhandlung.