Louis VIII (German: ''Ludwig'') (5 April 1691 – 17 October 1768) was the

Landgrave Landgrave (german: Landgraf, nl, landgraaf, sv, lantgreve, french: landgrave; la, comes magnus, ', ', ', ', ') was a noble title used in the Holy Roman Empire, and later on in its former territories. The German titles of ', ' (" margrave") ...

Hesse-Darmstadt The Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt (german: Landgrafschaft Hessen-Darmstadt) was a State of the Holy Roman Empire, ruled by a younger branch of the House of Hesse. It was formed in 1567 following the division of the Landgraviate of Hesse be ...

from 1739 to 1768. He was the son of

Ernest Louis, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt Ernest Louis of Hesse-Darmstadt (german: Ernst Ludwig) (15 December 1667 – 12 September 1739) was Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1678 to 1739. His parents were Landgrave Louis VI of Hesse-Darmstadt and Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Alte ...

and Margravine

Dorothea Charlotte of Brandenburg-Ansbach Dorothea Charlotte of Brandenburg-Ansbach (28 November 1661 – 15 November 1705) was a German noblewomen, and by her marriage to Ernest Louis, Landgravine consort of Hesse-Darmstadt. The marriage took place on 1 December 1687. Life Doroth ...

Life

In 1717, he was married to Countess Charlotte Christine of Hanau-Lichtenberg and he received Hanau-Lichtenberg as an addition to his dominions. Because of his passion for hunting, he is known as the "Hunting Landgrave" (German: ''Jagdlandgraf''). During the

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754 ...

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 Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina (german: Maria Theresia; 13 May 1717 – 29 November 1780) was ruler of the Habsburg dominions from 1740 until her death in 1780, and the only woman to hold the position '' suo jure'' (in her own right) ...

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: * Landgrave Louis IX, married in 1741

Countess Palatine Caroline of Zweibrücken Caroline of the Palatinate-Zweibrücken (Caroline Henriette Christiane Philippine Louise; 9 March 1721 – 30 March 1774) was Landgravine of Hesse-Darmstadt by marriage to Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt. She was famed as one of the mo ...

, had issue * Prince George William, married in 1748 Countess Maria Louise Albertine of Leiningen-Dagsburg-Falkenburg, had issue * Princess Caroline Louise; married in 1751 Charles Frederick, Margrave of Baden, later first Grand Duke of Baden, had issue

Ancestors

External links

The Age of Absolutism in Hesse-Darmstadt (German)

Sources

* ''Die Geschichte Hessens'', Gerd Bauer, Heiner Boencke, Hans Sarkowicz; Eichborn, 2002, p. 193-194 , - 1691 births 1768 deaths Nobility from Darmstadt Landgraves of Hesse-Darmstadt Generals of the Holy Roman Empire {{Germany-noble-stub