Founder of the House of Erbach-Schönberg

The House of Erbach is an old German noble family, with its origins tracing back to the 12th century, but it was Georg I von Erbach (c. 1180-1227), who built the first castle and established the family's permanent seat, considered the foundational figure, with the line officially splitting into major branches (Erbach, Erbach-Fürstenau, Erbach-Schönberg) after partitions, especially the significant 1606 division by Georg Albert I, Count of Erbach and his brothers.

George Albert I, Count of Erbach-Schönberg, 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.

Early life and ancestry

Born in Erbach, he was the fourth child and second (but eldest surviving) son of George III, Count of Erbach-Breuberg by his fourth wife, Countess Maria of Barby-Mühlingen (1563-1619), a daughter of Count Albert X of Barby-Mühlingen (1534-1588).

Biography

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 1617 he was captured by pirates and taken to Tunis, but shortly after he was ransomed.

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 reunite all the Erbach family possessions.

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

Marriages

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

On 23 February 1634 George Albert I married secondly with Countess Anna Dorothea of Limpurg-Gaildorf (1612 - 23 June 1634), a daughter of Albert, Schenk of Limpurg-Gaildorf (1658-1619) and his wife, Emilie of Rogendorf (b. 1650). They had no children.

In Frankfurt am Main on 26 July 1635 George Albert I married thirdly with Countess Elisabeth Dorothea of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst (27 August 1617 - 12 November 1655), a daughter of George Frederick II, Count of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst (1595-1625) and his wife, Countess Dorothea Sophie of Solms-Hohensolms (1595-1660). They had nine children.