Erdmuthe Dorothea of Reuss-Ebersdorf

• Honorific Prefix — Her Illustrious Highness • Name — Erdmuthe Dorothea of Reuss-Ebersdorf • Noble Family — Reuss-Ebersdorf • Father — Heinrich X, Count of Reuss-Ebersdorf • Mother — Erdmuthe Benigna of Solms-Laubach • Spouse — Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf • Born — 7 November 1700 • Birthplace — Ebersdorf • Died — 19 June 1756 • Place of death — Herrnhut

Countess Erdmuthe Dorothea von Reuss-Ebersdorf was born on 7 November 1700 in the village of Ebersdorf, in Thuringia. She was the daughter of Count Henry X of Reuss-Ebersdorf and his wife, Countess Erdmuthe Benigna of Solms-Laubach (1670–1732).

She had a pietistic upbringing according to the principles Philip Jacob Spener. In 1721, at the wedding of her brother, Henry XXIX, she met his friend Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf. Exactly one year later, she married him. The marriage was described as combative, based on a mutual decision to strive for mutual goals, rather than convenience or love. They had twelve children, among them, Count Christian Renatus von Zinzendorf. Erdmuthe, who had learned from her mother how to administer a county, took over the business of managing her husband's possessions in Berthelsdorf and the newly founded settlement of Herrnhut. In the Moravian Church, she ran the orphanage, in addition to raising her own twelve children. After her husband's first expulsion in 1732, he transferred his possessions to her. She toured several European countries together with her husband and during his eleven years of exile, she administered his assets and managed the Moravian Church. In 1755 her husband returned from exile in London. They had grown apart during his exile, and lived separately after his return: he resided at his castle in Berthelsdorf; she lived in Herrnhut palace. After the death of her last son, Christian Renatus, her health began failing.

The authorities additionally record the heading Erdmuthe Dorothea, Gräfin Reuss zu Ebersdorf. Her recorded language was German. She was the child of Heinrich X, Count of Reuss-Ebersdorf and Erdmute Benigna Gräfin zu Solms-Laubach. She married Nicolaus Zinzendorf. One child is recorded: Henrietta Benigna von Watteville.

Erdmuthe Dorothea of Reuss-Ebersdorf is recorded with the occupation hymnwriter. Recorded as poet, writer, pietist and hymnwriter.