Louis, Count of Stolberg

Count Ludwig of Stolberg, Königstein, Diez, Rochefort and others ( * January 12, 1505 in Stolberg (Harz ); † September 1, 1574 in Wertheim ) was a German Regent.

Life

Ludwig of Stolberg was the third son of Count Botho zu Stolberg and his wife Anna née Countess of Eppstein - Königstein. He was born in Stolberg Castle. His siblings were, inter alia, Wolfgang zu Stolberg, the abbess of Quedlinburg Anna II to Stolberg Stolberg Heinrich, Katharina von Henneberg, Albrecht Georg of Stolberg and provost Christoph Stolberg.

As the fourth child under 12 siblings, he was raised from the age of nine by his uncle Eberhard IV of Eppstein - Königstein Königstein im Taunus. Ludwig went on to study at the University of Wittenberg, where he in 1521 accepted the doctrine of Martin Luther. The dissemination and consolidation of the Reformation was now on a life of its tasks. He became a councilor of the Emperor Charles V and his successors remained even when Ferdinand I and Maximilian II in this office. He was often sent to foreign countries, as, inter alia, to England to Queen Elizabeth I and the Spanish court. He was appointed by his uncle, Count Eberhard IV of Eppstein - Königstein, whose sole heir and served from 1527 as his co-regent; Emperor Charles V recognized in 1528 at the testator. The succession occurred on May 25 in 1535. In his territory, he led the Reformation in 1540, and set a Lutheran pastor, but not participate in the Smalcald War.

Family

He married Walburga zu Wied († 1578), daughter of John III. Wied († 1533) and Elisabeth of Nassau- Dillenburg ( 1488-1559 ).

His eldest daughter Catherine married the last Count of Wertheim, Michael III. When in 1556 the noble family of Michael III. died of Wertheim without male descendants, Ludwig arrived at Stolberg in the possession of the County of Wertheim along with the Wertheim Castle and the half castle and lordship Breuberg. Katharina married in 1566 to Count Philipp II von Eberstein ( 1523-1589 ).

Ludwig's second eldest daughter Elizabeth was married to Count Dietrich to Manderscheid and Virneburg. After this was passed in 1593, a year later, she married the Baron Wilhelm von Criechingen. Louis only son Botho grew at the court of the Duke of Bavaria on, lived in 1568 in Quedlinburg and died before his father.

The youngest daughter Anna of Stolberg (* April 13, 1548; † November 2, 1599 ) married on September 2, 1566 Count Ludwig III. of Lowenstein -Wertheim (* February 17, 1530, † March 13, 1611 ).

The heritage

As Ludwig except Botho had no male offspring, fell at his death the county Königstein to his youngest brother Christoph Stolberg, provost in Halberstadt. His wife Walburga received city, office and cellar Butzbach as jointure. After the death of Christopher in 1581 annexed Kurmainz the Office Königstein; the Stolbergern remained the rule parts by Ortenberg and Gedern and shares in Butzbach and coins mountain.

Christopher's son Ludwig III. Lowenstein took over after 20 years of sustained and very violent clashes in 1598, the County of Wertheim.