George Albert I, Count of Erbach-Schönberg

George Albert I, Count of Erbach-Schönberg (16 December 1597 – 25 November 1647), was a German prince member of the House of Erbach and ruler over Schönberg, Seeheim, Reichenberg, Fürstenau and since 1643 over all the Erbach family lands.

Born in Erbach, he was the fourth child and second (but eldest surviving) son of George III, Count of Erbach-Breuberg and his fourth wife Maria, a daughter of Count Albert X of Barby-Mühlingen.

Life

After the death of their father, George Albert I and his surviving elder half-brothers divided the Erbach domains in 1606: he received the districts of Schönberg and Seeheim. In 1623, after the death of his eldest half-brother Frederick Magnus without surviving issue, the remaining brothers divided his domains: George Albert I received the district of Reichenberg.

In 1627, with the death of another half-brother, John Casimir, unmarried and without issue, was made another land division; this time George Albert I received Fürstenau. Finally, the death of his last surviving half-brother Louis I in 1643 without living sons, allowed George Albert I to reunited all the Erbach family possesions.

George Albert I died in Erbach aged 49 and was buried in Michelstadt.

Marriages and Issue

In Erbach on 29 May 1624 George Albert I married firstly with Magdalena (13 November 1595 – 31 July 1633), a daughter of Johann VI, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg and his third wife Johannetta of Sayn-Wittgenstein. They had six children:

• Ernest Louis Albert (6 October 1626 – 10 May 1627).
• Louise Albertine (5 October 1628 – 20 October 1645).
• George Ernest, Count of Erbach-Wildenstein (7 October 1629 – 25 August 1669).
• Maria Charlotte (24 March 1631 – 8 June 1693), married on 15 June 1650 to Count Johann Ernest of Isenburg-Büdingen in Wächtersbach.
• Anna Philippina (15 July 1632 – 16 March 1633).
• Stillborn son (31 July 1633).

On 23 February 1634 George Albert I married secondly with Anna Dorothea Schenkin of Limpurg-Gaildorf (1612 – 23 June 1634). They had no children.

In Frankfurt am Main on 26 July 1635 George Albert I married thirdly with Elisabeth Dorothea (27 August 1617 – 12 November 1655), a daughter of George Frederick II, Count of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg in Schillingsfürst and his wife Dorothea Sophie of Solms-Hohensolms. They had nine children:

• George Frederick, Count of Erbach-Breuberg (6 October 1636 – 23 April 1653).
• Stillborn son (7 December 1637).
• Sophie Elisabeth (13 May 1640 – 18 June 1641).
• Juliana Christina Elisabeth (10 September 1641 – 26 November 1692), married on 12 December 1660 to Count Salentin Ernst of Manderscheid in Blankenheim.
• George Louis I, Count of Erbach-Erbach (8 May 1643 – 30 April 1693).
• George Albert (14 May 1644 – 27 March 1645).
• Mauritia Susanna (30 March 1645 – 17 November 1645).
• George IV, Count of Erbach-Fürstenau (12 May 1646 – 20 June 1678).
• George Albert II, Count of Erbach-Schönberg (posthumously 26 February 1648 – 23 March 1717).