Christian, Landgrave of Hesse-Wanfried-Rheinfels

Christian of Hesse- Wanfried ( born July 17, 1689 Wanfried, † October 21, 1755 in Eschwege ) was a son of Landgrave Karl von Hessen- Wanfried ( 1649-1711 ) and his second wife Alexandrine Juliane von Leiningen- Dabo († 1703 ). He was from 1731 to his death, Landgrave of Hesse- Wanfried of Hesse and the Rhine - rock.

Early life

As a younger son from his second marriage in a Catholic secondary line of the House of Hesse Christian was originally intended to be canon in Strasbourg. However, he returned in 1710 as a 21 -year-old and joined the military. He served in the army of Hesse -Kassel, ultimately as brigadier.

Inheritance dispute

After the death of his father in 1711 he took over the Hesse- Wanfried. However, his older half- brother William appeared in the same year in Wanfried to enforce his own claim to the inheritance. The dispute had to be settled by the Emperor. Christian gave up the land county, but received the Residential Palace in Eschwege, after it had been triggered by payment of a debt to the Duke of Brunswick- Bevern 1713, and a yearly appanage of 7500 guilders. Christian renovated and expanded the castle and had neglected to install a Catholic chapel. He called himself since taking over the Royal Palace in Eschwege Christian of Hesse- Eschwege, this titling he retained even in 1731 when he inherited Hesse- Wanfried and Hessen- Rhein rock.

Family

He was engaged to Maria Auguste, daughter of Prince Anselm Franz von Thurn und Taxis, but the Emperor Charles VI. prompted the cancellation of the betrothal, the bride was married for political reasons in May 1727 with the imperial field marshal and governor of the Kingdom of Serbia, Duke Karl Alexander of Württemberg. Christian mourned his great love for a long time. Only 42 years old, he joined a marriage with his niece Maria Franziska of Hohenlohe- Bartenstein, daughter of his sister Sophie Leopoldine. The marriage remained childless.

Landgraf

After the death in 1731 of his childless deceased half- brother William succeeded him as Cristian Landgraf and moved in 1732 initially the residence Wanfried. With his cousin Landgraf Ernst Leopold in Rotenburg he governed in a contract in 1732 that its share of Rotenburger quart of Rotenburg from was administered in a total firm. His residence he moved over time gradually returned to Eschwege, where he was in 1735 also build his stables. The occupation rights to the castle of rock he entered in 1735 finally starting to Hesse -Kassel.

Christian is described as " agreeable by shape and spiritual formation " and was very popular in Eschwege, where he lived most, as well as in Wanfried. Although he mostly lived in the later years of his life in Eschwege, he attended Wanfried frequently and supported the local artisans, as well as the. Eschwege, through commissioned works for himself and his court

Death

Christian died of a stroke on the stairs of the church in Eschwege, on 21 October 1755. His body was interred in the family vault in the Hülfensberg. With his death, the addition Hessen- Wanfried ended after 88 years. His widow moved to Frankfurt, where she died on December 11, 1757. Part of the country Hessen- Wanfried fell under house contract back to the line of Hesse -Rotenburg.

Titulierung

In the Christian sources is dubs of Hesse- Wanfried after 1711 as Landgrave of Hesse - Eschwege.