Wolfgang Ernst I of Isenburg-Büdingen-Birstein

Wolfgang Ernst I, Count of Isenburg Büdingen (Birstein, 29 December 1560 Birstein, 21 May 1633) was a German count of the House of Isenburg. He was count of Isenburg-Birstein from 1596 to 1633, after violently seizing power from Henry of Isenburg-Rönneburg.

Wolfgang was the son of Philipp II, Count of Isenburg-Büdingen in Birstein and Countess Irmengard of Solms-Braunfels. Through his mother he was first cousin once removed of Amalia of Solms-Braunfels, Princess consort of Orange and first cousin of Johannetta of Sayn-Wittgenstein sister-in-law of William the Silent.

Family and children

He married four times and had several children, whom he left his land to after his death.^[1]

First, he was married on 26 September 1585 with Countess Anna of Gleichen-Rhemda (1565-1598) who bore him the following children:

• Wolfgang Henry, Count of Isenburg-Büdingen-Birstein (1588-1635) line of Isenburg-Büdingen-Birstein
• Countess Anna Amalie of Isenburg-Büdingen-Birstein (1591-1667), married Arnold Jost, son of Arnold III, Count of Bentheim-Steinfurt-Tecklenburg-Limburg
• Count Philipp Ludwig of Isenburg-Büdingen-Birstein (1593-1616) (in a duel)
• Count Philipp Ernst of Isenburg-Büdingen-Birstein (1595-1635)
• Count Wilhelm Otto of Isenburg-Büdingen-Birstein (1597-1667)

Secondly, he married on 16 Aprile 1603 with Countess Elisabeth of Nassau-Dillenburg (1564-1611) a daughter of Johann VI, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg and widow of Philip IV, Count of Nassau-Weilburg but the marriage was childless.

Thirdly, he married on 19 Aprile 1616 with Countess Juliane of Sayn-Wittgenstein (1583-1627) a daughter of Louis I, Count of Sayn-Wittgenstein (1532-1605) from his second marriage with Elisabeth of Solms-Laubach who bore him one son

• Johann Ernst, Count of Isenburg-Büdingen-Büdingen (1625-1673) line of Isenburg-Büdingen

He married for a fourth time morganatically with Sabine von Salfeld.

References