William Christoph, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
Wilhelm Christoph of Hesse- Homburg (* November 13, 1625 in Ober- Rosbach; † August 27, 1681 in Hamburg) was second Landgrave of Hesse -Homburg, but was called home to Bingen Landgraf.
Life
Wilhelm Christoph was the fourth child of Landgrave Frederick I of Hesse- Homburg Ober-Rosbach - born - where the family had fled from the plague. Then the father died already in 1638, the children grew up under the tutelage of her mother Margarete Elisabeth of Leiningen- Westerburg on.
When he in Darmstadt, the 16 -year-old Sophie Eleonore of Hesse- Darmstadt married on 21 April 1650 it was invested by her father George II with the Office and Castle Bingen home. The war averse, Wilhelm Christoph lived preferably in the several renovations to the castle and enhanced the former castle Bingen home in the Wetterau. Since he his actual residence Homburg Homburg preferred Bingen home and even sold in 1669, he was usually called Landgraf Bingen home.
Christoph Wilhelm, a friend of poetry and science, was a member of the Fruchtbringende society. He was the company name "of the Decorated " award.
On the other hand, William Christopher, however, was a devotee of witch-hunting. While the other Hessian princes, held back in this area, Wilhelm Christoph was in his small little country, 53 people, including five children, to death.
Wilhelm Christoph had twelve children with Sophia Eleonora - including eight sons, who all died before his father. The countess died at the birth of the twelfth child in 29 years, and Wilhelm Christoph married on 2 April 1665 in Lübeck second wife Anna Elisabeth of Saxe- Lauenburg ( born August 23, 1624). Before the wedding, the forty -year-old widower had not seen his bride. " The princess turned out to be humped out, and physical love her nature had indeed the will, but not given the ability ".
After a divorce attempt failed, Christoph Wilhelm began a relationship with Anna Elisabeth von Lützow, the 17 -year-old maid to his wife. When they became pregnant, she left the Landgrave to keep hidden in the castle Philippseck. This was not welcome in Darmstadt, especially Anna Elisabeth Landgrave Louis VI. was used. This could be the chance of the unloved cousin Homburg obliterate one, do not miss out and ordered on 6 June 1670 kidnap Anna von Lützow and fixed at Castle Biedenkopf. Was further complicated by the problem, since now Wilhelm Friedrich Christoph's brother and his future uncle - the Great Elector - interfered. In June, Louis VI had. Bring Anna von Lützow and her child to a secret location. Both should never resurface.
On August 24, 1672 divorce from Anna Elisabeth and her castle was Philippseck assigned as the home was. She has made efforts to supply arms and founded in Bodenrod and Maibach schools. She died there on 27 May 1688 aged 64 and is buried in the crypt under the choir in the church of Munster.
Interest in his country Homburger county had not Wilhelm Christoph. This proves also the sale of city and department Homburg for 200,000 florins to his brother Georg Christian in 1669. On August 27, 1681 he died in Hamburg. He is buried in the crypt of the Bad Homburg castle. Hesse -Darmstadt moved lock and Office Bingen home - much to the chagrin of the other two brothers Homburger - again.
Progeny
From his marriage with Sophia Eleonora, daughter of the Landgrave George II of Hesse- Darmstadt, Christoph Wilhelm had the following descendants (not listed are three stillborn children):
- Friedrich ( * / † 1651)
- Christine Wilhelmine (1653-1722)
- Georg Leopold (1654-1675)
- Friedrich ( * / † 1655)
- Friedrich ( * / † 1656)
- Karl Wilhelm ( * / † 1658)
- Friedrich ( * / † 1659)
- Sophie Magdalene (1660-1720)
- Friedrich Wilhelm (1662-1663)