Louis VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt

Louis VI of Hesse-Darmstadt (German: Ludwig) (25 January 1630 – 24 April 1678) was Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1661 to 1678.^[1]

Louis VI
Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
Reign	11 June 1661 – 24 April 1678
Predecessor	George II
Successor	Louis VII
Born	(1630-01-25)25 January 1630 Darmstadt
Died	24 April 1678(1678-04-24) (aged 48) Darmstadt
Spouse	Maria Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp ​ ​ (m. 1650; died 1665)​ Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg ​ ​ (m. 1666)​
Issue	Magdalene Sybilla, Duchess of Württemberg Princess Sophie Eleonore Prince George Marie Elisabeth, Duchess of Saxe-Römhild Princess Auguste Magdalene Louis VII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt Prince Friedrich Sophie Marie, Duchess of Saxe-Eisenberg Ernest Louis, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt Prince George Sophie Louise, Princess of Oettingen-Oettingen Prince Philip Prince Johann Prince Heinrich Elisabeth Dorothea, Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg Prince Friedrich
House	Hesse-Darmstadt
Father	George II, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
Mother	Sophia Eleonore of Saxony

He was the eldest of three sons of the Landgrave George II of Hesse-Darmstadt and Sophia Eleonore of Saxony.

Marriage and children

Louis VI was married twice.

1. On 24 November 1650 he married his first cousin Maria Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp (1634–1665), daughter of his maternal uncle Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp.^[2] They had eight children:

• Magdalene Sybille (28 April 1652–11 August 1712) a renowned composer of baroque churchsongs; she married Duke William Louis of Württemberg.^[3]
• Sophie Eleonore (19 January 1653 - 21 August 1653), died in infancy.
• George (3 July 1654 –1 August 1655), died in infancy.
• Marie Elisabeth (1656–1715) married in 1676 Duke Henry of Saxe-Römhild.
• Auguste Magdalene (1657–1674), died young.
• Louis (22 June 1658–31 August 1678), his successor (Louis VII).^[4]
• Frederick (1 October 1659 – 28 January 1676), died young.
• Sophie Marie (1661–1712) married in 1681 Duke Christian of Saxe-Eisenberg (1653–1707).

2. On 5 December 1666 he married Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1640–1709), daughter of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha.^[5] They also had eight children.

• Ernst Louis (1667–1739),^[4] successor of his half-brother Louis VII who ruled for only 4 months
• Georg (1669–1705),^[4] renowned Field Marshal, killed in Barcelona
• Sophie Louise (6 July 1670 – 2 June 1758), married Prince Albert Ernest II of Oettingen-Oettingen (1669–1731)
• Philip (1671–1736),^[4] Imperial Field Marshal and governor of Mantua, married in 1693 Princess Marie Therese of Croy (1673–1714); Princess Enrichetta d'Este was their daughter-in-law
• Johann (3 June 1672 – 26 August 1673), died in infancy.
• Heinrich (26 September 1674 – 31 January 1741),^[4] was a general, never married and had no issue.
• Elisabeth Dorothea (24 April 1676 – 9 September 1721), married Frederick III Jakob of Hessen-Homburg (1673–1746)
• Frederick (18 September 1677 – 13 October 1708), killed in battle.^[4] Married morganatically and had issue.