Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Ærø was the first and only partitioned-off duke of Ærø.
Background
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.
Career
As a partitioned-off duke, he did not have sovereignty. In 1624, Christian created Voderup manoron land he had purchased from the church. Christian had intended to become Bishop of Strasbourg.
However this did not happen.
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:
Philip received Ærøskøbing and Wuderup
Frederick received Gråsten, which he sold to Philip in 1636
John Christian received Gudsgave
Joachim Ernest received Søbygård, which was retained by the Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön lines until they died out in 1761
The division of the island into many small territories resulted in a complicated tax administration and an active black market.
