William, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal

William of Hesse-Philippsthal (born 29 August 1726 in Philippsthal; died: 8 August 1810, Philippsthal) was a member of the House of Hesse and Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal from 1770 until his death.

William, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal
Wilhelm Landgraf von Hessen-Philippsthal, by Gustav Altmöller
Born(1726-08-29)29 August 1726
Philippsthal
Died8 August 1810(1810-08-08) (aged 83)
Philippsthal
Noble familyHesse
Spouse(s)Ulrika Eleonora of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld
IssueJuliane, Countess of Schaumburg-Lippe
Louis, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal
Ernest Constantine, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal
FatherCharles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal
MotherCaroline Christine of Saxe-Eisenach

Life edit

William was the eldest son of Landgrave Charles I of Hesse-Philippsthal from his marriage to Caroline Christine of Saxe-Eisenach (1699–1743), daughter of Duke John William III of Saxe-Eisenach. He succeeded his father in 1770 as Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal.

William served in the Dutch army as General of the Cavalry and Governor of 's-Hertogenbosch. William was also Komtur of the Knights Hospitallers of the Commandry of Łagów.

In 1806, the Landgraviate of Philippsthal was occupied by French troops and annexed to the short-lived Kingdom of Westphalia. William died before his territory could be liberated from the French.

Marriage and issue edit

William married on 22 June 1755 in Tournai his cousin Ulrika Eleonora (1732–1795), daughter of Landgrave William of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld, with whom he had the following children:

  • Caroline (1756–1756)
  • Charles (1757–1793), lieutenant colonel in the Guard Regiment of Hesse-Kassel
married in 1791 princess Victoria of Anhalt-Bernburg (1772–1817), daughter of Prince Franz Adolph of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym
  • William (1758–1760)
  • Frederick (1760–1761)
  • Juliane (1761–1799)
married in 1780 Count Philip Ernest of Schaumburg-Lippe (1723–1787)
  • Frederick (1764–1794) Imperial lieutenant colonel in a Russian Guard Regiment Cuirassiers
  • Louis (1766–1816), Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal
married in 1791 Countess Marie Franziska Berghe von Trips (1771–1805), Mistress of the Robes at the court of Queen Maria Carolina
married firstly in 1796 Princess Louise of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (1775–1808)
married secondly in 1812 Princess Caroline of Hesse-Philippsthal (1793–1872)

Ancestors edit

References and sources edit

  1. ^ Genealogie ascendante jusqu'au quatrieme degre inclusivement de tous les Rois et Princes de maisons souveraines de l'Europe actuellement vivans [Genealogy up to the fourth degree inclusive of all the Kings and Princes of sovereign houses of Europe currently living] (in French). Bourdeaux: Frederic Guillaume Birnstiel. 1768. p. 61.
William, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal
Born: 29 August 1726 Died: 8 August 1810
Preceded by Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal
1770–1806
Dormant
Hesse-Philippsthal annexed
by the Kingdom of Westphalia
Title next held by
Louis