William III, Landgrave of Hesse

William III " the Younger ", Landgrave of Hesse. (* September 8, 1471, † February 17, 1500 ), reigned over the land part - county Upper Hesse, with residence in Marburg.

William was the third son of the reigning in Upper Hesse Landgrave Henry III. of Hesse and his wife Anna of Katzenelenbogen. As the first-born, Frederick, even as a small child and second son, Ludwig ( III.), had already died at age 17 in 1478, Wilhelm was when his father died in 1483, successor to the throne. He was still a minor and had therefore to 1489 his uncle Hermann, Archbishop of Cologne, and the Hofmeister Hans von Dörnberg to guardians.

With the rich revenues of the country Wilhelm could (including the so-called little country ) and in 1493 to acquire the half rule Eppstein part Klingenberg's in 1492.

In 1498 he married Elizabeth, the daughter of Philip of the Palatinate; The marriage remained childless.

William died early, after a fall from his horse while hunting, and left no legitimate offspring. His possessions fell to his cousin William II of Lower Hesse, who was able to unite the country as a whole county of Hesse back in one hand.

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