Ernest Günther, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg


Ernest Günther of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg was a Duke of Schleswig-Holstein of its Sonderborg line. He was the first to have his ducal seat in Augustenborg Palace, which he built and named in honor of his wife. He ruled from 1647 until his death in 1689.
He was third son of Alexander, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg and his wife Countess Dorothea of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen.

Family and children

On 15 June 1651 he married Auguste of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, daughter of Duke Philipp of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and Princess Sophie Hedwig of Saxe-Lauenburg. They had ten children:
  1. Frederick
  2. Sophie Amalie
  3. Philip Ernest
  4. Sophie Auguste
  5. Louise Charlotte, married on 1 January 1685 to Duke Frederick Louis of Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck
  6. Ernestine Justine
  7. Ernest August
  8. Dorothea Louise, Abbess of Itzehoe in 1686-1721
  9. a child, born and died 18 December 1665
  10. Frederick William
Frederick, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg