Reign 1622 – 1633 | Died 14 June 1633 | |
Born 26 November 1570 ( 1570-11-26 ) Mother Elisabeth of Brunswick-Grubenhagen Parents John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg, Elisabeth of Brunswick-Grubenhagen Grandparents Christian III of Denmark Similar John II - Duke of Schleswig‑Holstein‑Sonderburg, Christian III of Denmark, Elisabeth of Schleswig‑Holstein‑Sonderburg, Agnes Hedwig of Anhalt, Dorothea of Saxe‑Lauenburg | ||
Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Ærø (26 November 1570 – 14 June 1633) was the first and only partitioned-off duke of Ærø. As a partitioned-off duke, he did not have sovereignty.
He was the eldest son of Duke John II (1545-1622) and at his father's death, he inherited the island of Ærø. His father had combined the small farms on the island into three manors: Gråsten, Søbygård, and Gudsgave. In 1624, Christian created Voderup manor on land he had purchased from the church.
Christian had intended to become Bishop of Strasbourg; however this did not happen. He was a Protestant, but was nevertheless canon of the cathedral chapter of Strasbourg from 1587 to 1604. The Catholic chapter continued to pay him the salary of an unmarried priest until c. 1619.
Christian and his housekeeper Katharina Griebel (1570 in Lütjenburg – 1640 at Ærø) had a daughter: Sophie Griebel (b. 1600). To provide for her, he gave her two large houses in 1629, one in Ærøskøbing and the other on the island of Dejrø. She was also exempt from paying any taxes. After Christian's death, Katharina married his administrator, Peder Christensen Pilegaard, who then settled in Ærøskøbing as a merchant.
After Christian's death, his inheritance was divided by his four surviving brothers:
The division of the island into many small territories resulted in a complicated tax administration and an active black market.