Christian Ernest of Stolberg-Wernigerode

Christian Ernest, Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode, (2 April 1691, Gedern – 25 October 1771, Wernigerode) was a German politician and a member of the House of Stolberg. From 1710 to 1771 he governed County of Wernigerode in the Harz mountains, which in 1714 became a dependency of Brandenburg-Prussia. Life Christian Ernest was the tenth child from the second marriage of Count (Graf) Louis Christian of Stolberg. His mother was Christine, daughter of Gustav Adolf, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. In accordance with his father's last will and testament of 23 January 1699, Christian Ernest was to inherit the County of Wernigerode, which until that point had been governed 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 of Ilsenburg back to Wernigerode, arranging to have Wernigerode Castle renovated and modernized. In a 1714 settlement (Rezess), Christian Ernest was forced to recognize the sovereignty of Brandenburg-Prussia over the County of Wernigerode.