In 1717 the territories of Erbach were finally broken up and the castle in Schönberg became the new seat of power of the house of Erbach-Schönberg under the rule of Count Georg August. After relinquishing defenses and fortification, further extensive building took place converting it into more comfortable living quarters in accordance with the general trend of the time. In 1732 Georg August took on the patronage for the protestant church in Reichenbach (now part of Lautertal) which was rebuilt in 1747. Whitness to this the castle arms of Schönberg can be seen above the main door (see photo - coat of arms on the left). Also in 1747 Erbach-Schönberg grew with the annexing of another aristocratic line of "Breuberg" whose arms can also be seen above the main door of this church.

Around 1840/50 there was a redesign of the main house, the north wing and also the courtyard where the eastern terrace was built. The once extensive baroque gardens were remodelled into a country park and many exotic trees planted. In 1902 the last major construction  was added in the form of the pavilion and in 1903 the count was made a duke. Schönberg itself was annexed to the town of Bensheim in 1939.

The lords of Erbach first served the abbey at Lorsch (a very important religious centre of the time - now UNESCO listed). This was, in due course, to be changed which finally lead to them receiving the complete jurisdiction over their land, to be redeemed only in 1806 when Napoleon formed the grand duchy of Hesse.

The counts of Erbach were officers in the service of the Kaiser and as tutonic knights. The Imperial Field Marshal Karl, Duke of Erbach-Schönberg received a special mention for bravery whilst servicing for the Austrians  in the 7-Years war (1756-63). Duke Ludewig participated in an  unsuccessful  campaign Napolean undertook against the Russians.

The true importance of the house of Erbach was, though, more through the holding of high church office in the important diocese of Worms, Speyer and Mainz. The greatest honour reached was that of Dietrich Schenk who became elector and archbishop of Mainz in 1434. At the same time he was also arch chancellor of the Holy Roman Empire.

In 1871 Gustav Ernst of Erbach-Schönberg married Marie Princess of Battenberg who was the  niece of the Grand Duke of Hesse and whose brother, Louis of Battenberg, was the Admiral of the Fleet in England at the time and to become the First Sea Lord of the Admiralty in 1914. This immediately linked the house of Erbach-Schönberg to the royal dynasties of Great Britain, Sweden, Greece and Spain as well as the tsars of Russia. The once idyllic and rural tranquility of the castle and its grounds was, for a while, turned into a centre of social activity of the highest order.

This attracted such visitors such as Queen Victoria who, in 1887, planted a lime tree in the castle park in honour of her greatgrandfather Georg August of Erbach-Schönberg. Also  Tsar Alexander II of Russia with spouse Marie, a princess of Hesse-Darmstadt, also came to visit on several occasions whilst staying at Heiligenberg at the Battenbergs. But soon this flurry of activity began to wane in the wake of the looming 1^st World War.

During the time following the dynasty of Erbach-Schönberg began to dissolve and part with its possessions. Already during the 2^nd World War the buildings were used as social facilities and finally in 1956 this wonderful castle steeped in a long tradition was sold - to the "Ruhrknappschaft" (a German miners’ insurance and social society) in Bochum, Ruhr - and converted into a recreational centre for miners. Until recently the premises that had been further adapted  were used as a convention and training centre under the administration of the German state pension fund and kept in immaculate condition. The estate is now (February 2012) being offered on the market for a mere 13 million euros. One of the platforms used by the estate agents was even eBay!

Mountbatten (Battenberg)

The name Battenberg refers to the dynasty which originated in the town of Battenberg in north Hesse (twinned with Romsey, not far from the Isle of Wight in which Broadlands House is situated. This is the family home of Earl Mountbatten of Burma). The line died out in 1310 and remained dormant until 1858 when it was revived through the morganatic (or left-handed) marriage of Prince Alexander of Hesse-Darmstadt and Countess Julia Hauke, Polish born and of Roman Catholic confession which took place a few years earlier. The protestant church in Reichenbach (Lautertal) bears witness to the Mountbattens in the form of an ornate stained-glass window. The second son, Ludwig Alexander, married Queen Victoria's granddaughter, Victoria, in Darmstadt and settled in the UK.

Several of this line of the Battenbergs are buried on the Isle of Wight in the graveyard of St Mildred's Church in Whippingham which has a small replica of the original "Golden Cross" standing in Heiligenberg in Jugenheim, Germany. This area is closely connected with Queen Victoria. Prince Albert helped redesign the church, giving it an appearance similar to castles along the river Rhine in Germany. A side chapel there is dedicated to the Battenberg family. The third child of Ludwig and Victoria, George, is buried in the graveyard of St Michael's parish church in Bray near Windsor.

(Link to Windsor family tree)
(Glossary of Nobility English/German)

Written, compiled and all photographs (except Prince Philip): Johnny Glover, Lautertal

© 2010