Friedrich Günther, Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt was a sovereign prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt.
Background
He was born in Rudolstadt the second son of the reigning prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Louis Frederick II and his wife Landgravine Caroline of Hesse-Homburg (1771–1854). His grandfather Friedrich Karl had died seven months before his birth and so he was born as heir apparent and Hereditary Prince. His father died on April 28, 1807 when he was fourteen so his mother acted as regent until he turned twenty one on November 6, 1814 when he assumed control of the principality.
Career
His reign spanning sixty years saw the creation of a Diet which he introduced in 1816 during the early years of his personal reign. In 1815 the German Confederation was created and Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt along with other German monarchies joining. The last years of his reign saw the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 where Prince Friedrich Günther kept Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt neutral and following the conclusion of the war the creation of the North German Confederation.
Membership
When he ascended the throne in 1807, Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt was a member of the Confederation of the Rhine which was dissolved in 1813 with the Treaty of Paris on May 30, 1814 declaring the independence of the former Confederation states with Prince Friedrich Günther becoming the ruler of an independent principality.