George I, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt

George I
Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
Reign	21 March 1567 – 7 February 1596
Predecessor	Philip I of Hesse
Successor	Louis V
Born	10 September 1547 Kassel
Died	7 February 1596 (aged 48) Darmstadt
Spouse	Magdalene of Lippe Eleonore of Württemburg
Issue	Philip Louis V, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt Christine Elizabeth Mary Philip Philip III, Landgrave of Hesse-Butzbach Anne Frederick I, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg Madeleine John Henry
House	House of Hesse-Darmstadt
Father	Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse
Mother	Christine of Saxony

George I of Hesse-Darmstadt (10 September 1547 – 7 February 1596) was the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1567 to 1596.

Early life

Born on 10 September 1547 in Kassel, he was the fourth son of Philip I the Magnanimous of Hesse and his wife, Christine of Saxony.

Biography

Following his father's death in 1567 Hesse was divided between his four sons. George I received the upper County of Katzenelnbogen and selected Darmstadt as his residence. He died on 7 February 1596 and the Landgraviate was passed to his son Louis.

Marriages and issue

On 17 August 1572, he married Countess Magdalene of Lippe (1552–1587). They had 10 children.

• Philip William (16 June, 1576 – 4 October, 1576), Hereditary prince, died young
• Louis V (1577–1626), Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt

married in 1598 Princess Magdalene of Brandenburg (1582–1616)

• Christine (25 November, 1578 – 26 March, 1596)

married in 1595 Count Frederick Magnus of Erbach-Fürstenau (1575-1618)

• Elisabeth (29 November, 1579 – 17 July, 1655)

married in 1601 Count John Casimir of Nassau-Weilburg-Gleiberg (1577–1602)

• Marie Hedwig (2 December, 1580 – 12 September, 1582)
• Philip III (1581–1643), Landgrave of Hesse-Butzbach

married firstly, in 1610, Countess Anna Margarethe of Diepholz (1580–1629)

married secondly, in 1632, Countess Christine Sophie of East Frisia (1600–1658)

• Anna (3 March, 1583 – 13 September, 1631)

married in 1601 Count Albert Otto of Solms-Laubach (1576–1610)

• Frederick I (1585–1638), Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg

married in 1622 Countess Margarethe of Leiningen-Westerburg (1604–1667)

• Magdalene (5 May, 1586 – 23 October, 1586) died in infancy
• John (22 February, 1587 – 22 February, 1587) died in infancy

On 25 May 1589, he married Duchess Eleonore of Württemberg (1552–1618). They had 1 child:

• Henry ( 1 November, 1590– 6 April, 1601). Died young

Ancestors

Ancestors of George I, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt

8. Louis II, Landgrave of Hesse 4. William II, Landgrave of Hesse 9. Matilda of Württemberg-Urach 2. Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse 10. Magnus II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Güstrow 5. Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 11. Sophie of Pomerania-Wolgast 1. George I, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt 12. Albert III, Duke of Saxony 6. George, Duke of Saxony 13. Sidonie of Poděbrady 3. Christine of Saxony 14. Casimir IV Jagiellon 7. Barbara Jagiellon 15. Elisabeth of Austria

References

• Wikisource: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, "Georg I v. Hessen-Darmstadt"