| Stolberg-Wernigerode, Christian Ernst zu | |
|---|---|
| Count of Wernigerode | |
| In office 1710–1771 |
|
| Preceded by | Ernst zu Stolberg |
| Succeeded by | Heinrich Ernst zu Stolberg-Wernigerode |
| Secret Councillor of the Kingdom of Denmark | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 April 1691 Gedern |
| Died | 25 October 1771 Wernigerode |
| Spouse(s) | Sophie Charlotte, Countenss of Leiningen-Westerburg |
| Residence | Wernigerode |
| Occupation | German politician |
| Religion | Pietism |
Count Christian Ernest of Stolberg-Wernigerode (2 April 1691, Gedern – 25 October 1771, Wernigerode) was a German politician. He ruled the County of Wernigerode in the Harz mountains, which in 1714 became a dependency of Brandenburg-Prussia, from 1710 to 1771.
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Christian Ernest was the tenth child from the second marriage of Count (Graf) Ludwig Christian zu Stolberg. His mother was Princess Christine von Mecklenburg-Güstrow, daughter of Gustav Adolf von Mecklenburg-Güstrow.
In accordance with his father's Last Will and Testament from 23 January 1699, Christian Ernest was to inherit the County of Wernigerode, which until that point had been ruled by his uncle, Count Ernest of Stolberg, the Hohnstein Forest south of Benneckenstein, and the claim for the mortgaged District (Amt) Elbingerode (Harz). After his father's death in 1710 Christian Ernest entered into his inheritance under the regency of his mother and called himself from then on Graf zu Stolberg-Wernigerode. He moved the county seat from Ilsenburg back to Wernigerode, arranging to have Wernigerode Castle renovated and modernized.
In a 1714 settlement (Rezess), Count Christian Ernest of Stolberg-Wernigerode was forced to recognize the sovereignty of Brandenburg-Prussia over the County of Wernigerode.
On 21 May 1738, he issued a primogeniture edict which limited the rights of inheritance to male descendants and disallowed future divisions of the County of Wernigerode.
When his brother Heinrich August died in 1748, Christian Ernest inherited the territory of Schwarza, Thuringia.
Christian Ernest was a Knight of the Royal Prussian Order of the Black Eagle and the Royal Danish Ordre de l'Union Parfaite. From 1735 to 1745 he served his cousin on his mother's side, King Christian VI of Denmark, as Secret Councillor (Geheimrat).[1]
Under the reign of Count Christian Ernest there was a lot of building activity in the County of Wernigerode. He had the Lustgarten (Pleasure Garden) in Wernigerode refashioned in the French style and installed an Orangery. He also is responsible for building the still preserved "Wolkenhäuschen" (Cabin in the Clouds) on the Brocken, the highest mountain in the Harz mountain ridge.
On 31 March 1712, Christian Ernest married Sophie Charlotte, Countess of Leiningen-Westerburg (*22 February 1695; † 10 December 1762). She was the daughter of Johann Anton Graf zu Leiningen-Westerburg in Schadeck and Christine Luise Gräfin zu Sayn-Wittgenstein. A son issued from the marriage.