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Louis VIII
Portrait by Johann Christian Fiedler
Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
Reign12 September 1739 –
17 October 1768
PredecessorErnest Louis
SuccessorLouis IX
Born(1691-04-05)5 April 1691
Darmstadt
Died17 October 1768(1768-10-17) (aged 77)
Darmstadt
Burial
Stadtkirche Darmstadt
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1717; died 1726)​
IssueLouis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
Prince George William
Caroline Louise, Margravine of Baden
HouseHesse-Darmstadt
FatherErnest Louis, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
MotherDorothea 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

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt.

Sources

  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. 67.
Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt House of HesseBorn: 5 April 1691 Died: 17 October 1768 Regnal titles Preceded byErnest Louis Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt 1739–1768 Succeeded byLouis IX
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