Ernst Gunther, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg

Ernest Gunther of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg (14 October 1609 – 18 January 1689) was a Duke of Schleswig-Holstein of its Sonderborg line. He was the first who had his ducal seat in the new castle of Augustenborg, and his rule was from 1647 until his death.

He was third son of Alexander, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg and his wife Countess Dorothea of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen.

Family and children

On 15 June 1651 he married Auguste of Schleswig-Holstein-Glücksburg (27 June 1633 – 26 May 1701), daughter of Duke Philipp of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and Princess Sofie Hedwig of Saxe-Lauenburg. They had ten children:
# Frederick (10 December 1652 – 3 August 1692)
# Sofie Amalie (25 August 1654 – 7 December 1655)
# Philipp Ernst (24 October 1655 – 8 September 1677)
# Sofie Auguste (2 February 1657 – 20 July 1657)
# Luise Charlotte (13 April 1658 – 2 May 1740), married on 1 January 1685 to Duke Frederick Louis of Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck
# Ernestine Justine (30 July 1659 – 18 October 1662)
# Ernst August (3 October 1660 – 11 May 1731)
# Dorothea Luise (11 October 1663 – 21 April 1721), Abbess of Itzehoe in 1686-1721
# a child, born and died 18 December 1665
# Frederick William (18 November 1668 – 3 June 1714)