George I, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt

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

George I
Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
Reign	21 March 1567 – 7 February 1596
Predecessor	Philip I of Hesse
Successor	Louis V
Born	(1547-09-10)10 September 1547 Kassel, Landgraviate of Hesse, Holy Roman Empire
Died	7 February 1596(1596-02-07) (aged 48) Darmstadt, Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt, Holy Roman Empire
Spouse	Magdalene of Lippe ​ ​ (m. 1572; died 1587)​ Eleonore of Württemberg [de] ​ ​ (m. 1589)​
Issue	Louis V, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt Christine, Countess of Erbach-Fürstenau Elisabeth, Countess of Nassau-Weilburg-Gleiberg Philip III, Landgrave of Hesse-Butzbach Anna, Countess Albert Otto of Solms-Laubach Frederick I, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg Prince Henry
House	Hesse (birth) Hesse-Darmstadt (founder)
Father	Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse
Mother	Christine of Saxony

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

Death

George I Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt died on 7 February 1596 (aged 48) in Darmstadt, Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt, Holy Roman Empire. He was interred, along with both of his wives, in a family crypt in the City Church of Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany.^[1]

Ancestry

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