Günther Sizzo, Prince of Schwarzburg was the head of the House of Schwarzburg and pretender to the principalities of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and Schwarzburg-Sondershausen.
Background
He was born in Rudolstadt the son of the reigning Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Friedrich Günther and his second wife Countess Helena of Raina. The mother of Prince Sizzo was the daughter of Prince George Bernhard of Anhalt-Dessau by his morganatic wife Therese Emma von Erdmannsdorf.
Career
Because of this, Prince Sizzo was not entitled to use the title Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, instead he was created Prince of Leutenberg on June 21, 1860. In spite of being denied the use of the title of Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Sizzo was granted succession rights to the principality of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt in the event of the extinction of all male dynasts. Following the death of Prince Karl Günther of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen on March 28, 1909 the Sondershausen branch became extinct and the Schwarzburg principalities was united in a personal union under Prince Günther Victor of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt.
Therefore Prince Sizzo became the heir presumptive to the two principalities.
His chances of succeeding however were ended on November 22, 1918 when Prince Günther abdicated following the German revolution which deposed all of the German monarchs. Following the death of Prince Günther on April 16, 1925 Prince Sizzo succeeded him as head of the House of Schwarzburg.
Prince Sizzo was married to Princess Alexandra of Anhalt (1868–1958) on January 25, 1897 in Dessau.
Membership
Although all members of the Rudolstadt branch consented to this the members of the Sondershausen branch did not and they also held rights to Rudolstadt. On April 21, 1896 Prince Sizzo"s succession rights were recognised by all members of the House of Schwarzburg and was in addition made a full member of the house and able to use the title Prince of Schwarzburg.