George Albert I, Count of Erbach-Schönberg


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.
Born in Erbach, he was the fourth child and second son of George III, Count of Erbach-Breuberg and his fourth wife Maria, a daughter of Count Albert X of Barby-Mühlingen.

Life

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 reunited all the Erbach family possessions.
George Albert I died in Erbach aged 49 and was buried in Michelstadt.

Marriages and Issue

In Erbach on 29 May 1624 George Albert I married firstly with Magdalena, a daughter of Johann VI, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg and his third wife Johannetta of Sayn-Wittgenstein. They had six children:
On 23 February 1634 George Albert I married secondly with Anna Dorothea, a daughter of Albert, Schenk of Limpurg-Gaildorf and his wife Emilie of Rogendorf. They had no children.
In Frankfurt am Main on 26 July 1635 George Albert I married thirdly with Elisabeth Dorothea, a daughter of George Frederick II, Count of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg in Schillingsfürst and his wife Dorothea Sophie of Solms-Hohensolms. They had nine children: