Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt

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Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
Countess Charlotte of Hanau-Lichtenberg
(m. 1717; died 1726)
IssueLouis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
Prince George William
Caroline Louise, Margravine of BadenHouseHesse-DarmstadtFatherErnest Louis, Landgrave of Hesse-DarmstadtMotherDorothea Charlotte of Brandenburg-Ansbach

Louis VIII (German: Ludwig; 5 April 1691 – 17 October 1768) was the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1739 to 1768. He was the son of Ernest Louis, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt and Margravine Dorothea Charlotte of Brandenburg-Ansbach.

Life

A deer hunt near Darmstadt. Painting by Georg Adam Eger 1755

In 1717, he was married to Countess Charlotte Christine of Hanau-Lichtenberg and he received Hanau-Lichtenberg as an addition to his dominions. His mistress was Helena Martini. Because of his passion for hunting, he is known as the "Hunting Landgrave" (German: Jagdlandgraf). During the Seven Years' War he stood on the side of the Emperor and received the rank of General Field Marshal.

Like his father, Louis was not a gifted economist and only his good relationship with Empress Maria Theresa and her intervention at the Imperial Court Council kept the Landgraviate from bankruptcy. However, his caring for his country is documented by the establishment of a textile house in 1742 and a state orphanage in the 1746.

Issue

Children:

Ancestors

Ancestors of Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt[1]
8. George II, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
4. Louis VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
9. Sophia Eleonore of Saxony
2. Ernest Louis, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
10. Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha
5. Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
11. Princess Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg
1. Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
12. Joachim Ernst, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
6. Albert II, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
13. Sophie of Solms-Laubach
3. Dorothea Charlotte of Brandenburg-Ansbach
14. Joachim Ernst of Oettingen-Oettingen
7. Sofie Margarete of Oettingen-Oettingen
15. Anna Sibylle of Solms

External links

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