Christian Heinrich zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg

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Christian Heinrich zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (* December 12, 1753 at Berleburg Castle ; † October 4, 1800 at Jagdhaus Röspe ) was the first prince of this line, from 1773 to 1800 sovereign of the northern county and was considered the most important musician of the aristocratic family Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg .

Live and act

Christian Heinrich was born on December 12, 1753 in Berleburg as the second eldest son of the ruling Count Ludwig Ferdinand zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (1712–1773) and his wife Friederike Christiane zu Ysenburg-Büdingen (1721–1772).

He became hereditary count at the age of seven after his older brother Wilhelm Ludwig (1751–1760) died. In addition to his school education, Christian Heinrich received piano and singing lessons from the concertmaster and music director of the count's court, Bernhard Hupfeld, on the initiative of his parents who were enthusiastic about music . His diligence and talent enabled the young count to achieve a high level of virtuosity in both subjects. At the age of 13 he was already singing his first aria in front of foreign audiences. Up to the age of 16 it should have been possible for him to reach the pitch of the treble , also known as the boy soprano . He also received flute and violoncello lessons in Berleburg .

In 1771 Christian Heinrich started his two-year studies (law and camera studies ) in Göttingen , accompanied by Hofmeister Bode . During his student days he took further cello lessons from the academic concertmaster Georg Philip Kress and took part in concerts. In Göttingen he maintained contacts with the philosopher Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–1799).

His mother's cancer caused Christian Heinrich to return to Berleburg, where he arrived on August 4, 1772, twelve days before her death. After the funeral, the father, who was also seriously ill, sought to be close to his son and moved with him to the Röspe hunting lodge for several weeks . On October 26th, Christian Heinrich returned to Göttingen. Several messengers from Berleburg sought him out to persuade him to return to the county. To take over the reign there, however, he still lacked a certificate of maturity (Venia aetatis) in order to be able to succeed his father at the age of 19. With the support of the Göttingen lawyers and professors Johann Stephan Pütter (1725–1807) and Georg Ludwig Böhmer (1715–1797), as well as a certificate from the law faculty of the University of Göttingen , the desired certificate could be obtained. When Christian Heinrich arrived in Berleburg on February 19, 1773, his father had already died. After the age of majority of the young count was recognized at the imperial court in April 1773, Christian Heinrich succeeded his father in the government of the county of Wittgenstein-Berleburg.

On September 4, 1792 Graf Christian Heinrich was built by Emperor Francis II. In the Imperial Prince collected. On January 14, 1793, the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm II awarded him the Order of the Red Eagle .

Christian Heinrich was particularly able to live out his musical talent and passion as a sovereign. He played the piano, cello, flute and timpani and also composed. He dissolved his father's old court orchestra and founded a new one, which he promoted intensively. It consisted of a changing cast of young professional musicians, employees of the court administration and servants, members of the princely family and guests of the house. Concerts were given weekly. In addition, there were individual oratorios as well as festival and dance music for family or representative occasions.

During his reign he initiated the construction of the Marstall at Berleburg Castle and a new hunting lodge in the Homrighäuser Tal (today: Forsthaus Homrighausen). His building activity, the lively musical activities at court and his expensive court management led to the impoverishment of the territory. Christian Heinrich's attempts to boost the country through economic policy (copper mining in Diedenshausen or iron ore extraction in Aue and Wingeshausen , a smelter there) were ultimately unsuccessful.

family

Christian Heinrich married 16- year-old Charlotte Friederike Franziska (1759–1831), the only daughter of Count Christian Johann zu Leiningen-Westerburg (1730–1770) and his wife Christiane Franziska Eleonore, Countess of the Wild and Rhine , on April 16, 1775 in Grünstadt zu Salm-Grumbach (1735–1809). The entry of the young regent couple on May 5, 1775 in Berleburg and the subsequent multi-day celebrations are described in detail by the chronicler Johann Daniel Scheffer. The marriage had twelve children.

When Christian Heinrich died on October 4, 1800 at the age of 46, his eldest son Christian Ludwig Wilhelm had died in 1783, his second eldest son Albrecht became the ruling Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. However, his reign was only to last six years.

literature

  • Erich Neweling: The history of our city . In: Seven Hundred Years of Berleburg , Festschrift for the city anniversary, Berleburg 1958.
  • Erich Neweling: The history of the counts of Sayn-Wittgenstein and their country. In: Heimatbuch Wittgenstein , Vol. I, Balve 1965.
  • Ulf Lückel, Andreas Kroh: The Princely House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein. Börde Verlag, Werl 2004.
  • Johannes Beulertz: Music at the court of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg , dissertation, University of Dortmund 2001.
  • Johann Georg Hinsberg: Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg 4: Cultural history as part of a dwarf state or the county of Wittgenstein-Berleburg under the government of Count Ludwig Ferdinand (1741–1773). Berleburg 1925. ( digital )
  • Johann Georg Hinsberg: Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg 5: History of the County of Wittgenstein-Berleburg under the government of Christian Heinrich, Count, since 1792 Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. Berleburg 1920. ( digital )

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Family table of the mediatized house Sayn-Wittgenstein 1907. Plate 6. Unchanged reprint of the 1907 edition, Heimat-Verlag und Antiquariat Angelika Wied, Bad Laasphe 2009, No. 9/100.
  2. ^ W. Hartnack : Die Berleburger Chroniken , Laasphe 1964, p. 205: Anno Domini 1753 […] d. 12th detto [Xbris] are yours Hoch Graffl. Graces, our most gracious governing countess, Mrs. Friederica Christiana Sophia came down with a young gentleman, as now the 4th child and 2nd young gentleman, who was born on 17th of December. then received the H. baptism with the name Christian Henrich.
  3. ^ W. Hartnack: Die Berleburger Chroniken , p. 223: Anno Domini 1760. d. Jan 27th at 9 o'clock in the morning our dearest oldest young Mr. Graff, Wilhelm Ludwig ... faded to death here after having had a serious illness from Eilff for weeks ...
  4. ↑ Fürstliches Archiv Berleburg, Acta F 133: Biography of Count Christian Heinrich zu SW Berleburg [,] born 1753 died 1800. by the hand of the Reg. Rath Bode
  5. ↑ Ulf Lückel, Andreas Kroh: The Princely House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein. Börde Verlag, Werl 2004. p. 23.
  6. ↑ Princely Archives Berleburg, Acta Ber. B – 1103: The venia aetatis of Prince Christian Heinrich von Sayn-Wittgenstein. 1773
  7. ↑ John Beulertz: Music at the court of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg , Dissertation, University of Dortmund 2001 S. 95th
  8. ^ W. Hartnack: Die Berleburger Chroniken, p. 288: Anno 1792 d. On the 16th of 7bris the good news had first come anhero that your Roman Majesty of Keys, Franz the 2nd of our governing landlord, Hochgräffl. Your Excellency, Mr. Graff Christian Henrich von Seyn and Wittgenstein pp. appointed and confirmed as an imperial prince along with the high relatives.
  9. ↑ Fürstliches Archiv Berleburg, Acta F 132: Elevation to the prince status.
  10. ^ W. Hartnack: Die Berleburger Chroniken , p. 289: Anno 1793 d. January 14th our ruling prince received the great red eagle order from Ihro Königl. Majesty of Prussia p. to get,...
  11. ^ Fürstliches Archiv Berleburg, Acta A - O 004: Correspondence because of the Prussian Red Eagle Order and the Electoral Palatinate Order of St. Hubertus, 1793.
  12. ↑ Ulf Lückel, Andreas Kroh: The Princely House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein. Börde Verlag, Werl 2004. p. 24.
  13. ↑ Princely archive Berleburg, Ber.B-0941: The copper mine to Diedenshausen.1778
  14. ^ W. Hartnack: Die Berleburger Chroniken , pp. 253-254.
  15. ↑ Family tree of the mediatized house Sayn-Wittgenstein 1907. Table 6.
  16. ^ The county was mediatized in 1806 by the Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt.
personal data
SURNAME Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Christian Heinrich zu
BRIEF DESCRIPTION first prince of this line, sovereign of the northern county and was considered the most important musician of the aristocratic family Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (1773-1800)
DATE OF BIRTH December 12, 1753
PLACE OF BIRTH Berleburg
DATE OF DEATH 4th October 1800
Place of death Röspe