Otto IV of Schaumburg

Otto IV of Schaumburg
Born	1517
Died	21 December 1576 Bückeburg
Nationality	German

Grave monument for Otto IV and his two wives in St. Martini Church in Stadthagen.

Otto IV of Schaumburg (1517 – 21 December 1576) was a German nobleman. He was a ruling Count of Schauenburg and of Holstein-Pinneberg. He was a son of Jobst I and his wife Mary of Nassau-Siegen, a daughter of Count John V of Nassau-Siegen.

He adopted the teachings of Martin Luther. However, with respect to his elder brothers Cologne's Archbishop-Electors Adolphus III (reg. 1547–1556) and Anthony I (reg. 1557–1558) he refrained from open confrontation. In 1559 he officially began the Reformation in Schauenburg and Holstein-Pinneberg. These areas remained Lutheran throughout the Counter-Reformation and into modern times.

Marriages and issue

Otto first married Mary (*1527–1554*), daughter of Duke Barnim XI of Pomerania-Stettin. Mary and Otto had four sons:

• Hermann (*1545–1592*), Prince-Bishop of Minden (1566–1581)
• Otto (*1545–1572*), (mentally insane)
• Adolphus XIV (*1547–1601*), count regnant in Schaumburg and Holstein-Pinneberg. married to Elisabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1567–1618).
• Anthony (*1549–1599*), Prince-Bishop of Minden (1587–1599)

In 1558 Otto married a second time, with Elisabeth Ursula (*1539–1586*), a daughter of Ernest I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Elisabeth Ursula and Otto had two daughters and one son:

• Mary (*1559–1616*) married in 1591 Count Josse of Limburg-Styrum (*1560–1621*)
• Elisabeth, married in 1585 Count Simon VI of Lippe (*1554-1613*)
• Ernest (*1569–1622*), count regnant of Schaumburg and Holstein-Pinneberg as of 1601, elevated to Prince of Schaumburg in 1619.

See also

• Martin Luther

External links

• Catholic Encyclopedia article about the Counts of Schaumburg