Joachim Ernest, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön

Joachim Ernest of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön (29 August 1595 – October 5, 1671), also Joachim Ernest of Schleswig-Holstein-Plön, was the first Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön, which emerged from a division of the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg.

Joachim Ernest of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön
Duke Joachim Ernest
Born(1595-08-29)29 August 1595
Sønderborg
Died5 October 1671(1671-10-05) (aged 76)
Plön
Noble familyHouse of Oldenburg
Spouse(s)Dorothea Augusta of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp
IssueJohn Adolphus, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön
Augustus, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön-Norburg
Duchess Ernestine
Joachim Ernest II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön-Rethwisch
Duke Bernhard of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön
Agnes Hedwig, Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
Duke Charles Henry
Sophia Eleonora, Countess of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein
FatherJohn of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg
MotherAgnes Hedwig of Anhalt

Life

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The old Plön Castle around 1595 on an engraving by Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg, section from Civitates orbis terrarum

Joachim Ernest was born on 29 August 1595 in Sønderborg, the second youngest son of Duke John of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg and Agnes Hedwig of Anhalt. As a teenager he went on an educational tour of Europe, as was typical for young noblemen at that time. This took him to Holland, England, France and Italy. In 1617 he participated in the Uskok War. When his father, the first of the so-called abgeteilte Herren (titular dukes who were not recognised by local landlords), died in 1622, the duchy was divided amongst the sons, resulting in five even smaller dukedoms. Joachim Ernest received Schleswig-Holstein-Plön. In addition to the new residence town of Plön his estate included Ahrensbök and Reinfeld.

On the occasion of his marriage to Princess Dorothea Augusta, a daughter of John Adolphus of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf, Joachim Ernest commissioned the demolition of the old castle in 1632 and had Plön Castle built between 1633 and 1636 as a residence and seat of government.

On 1 January 1671, shortly before his death, he was honoured in Copenhagen by the King of Denmark as a Knight of the Elephant (122nd bearer). He died on 5 October 1671 in Plön.

Family

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Joachim Ernest and Dorothea Augusta (born 12 May 1602; died 13 March 1682) had eight children:

See also

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Bibliography

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  • Jørgensen, Adolf Ditlev (1894). "Joachim Ernst". Dansk biografisk Lexikon, tillige omfattende Norge for tidsrummet 1537-1814 (in Danish). 8 (1st ed.). Copenhagen: Gyldendals forlag: 491–492.
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Joachim Ernest, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön
Born: 29 August 1595 Died: 5 October 1671
Regnal titles
New division Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön
1622–1671
Succeeded by