George Christian, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
George Christian, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg | |
---|---|
Born | Homburg | 10 December 1626
Died | 1 August 1677 Frankfurt | (aged 50)
Noble family | House of Hesse |
Spouse(s) | Anna Catharina of Pogwitsch |
Father | Frederick I, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg |
Mother | Margaret Elisabeth of Leiningen-Westerburg |
George Christian (10 December 1626 in Homburg – 1 August 1677 in Frankfurt) was the third Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg.
Background
George Christian was the fifth child of Landgrave Frederick I born of Hesse-Homburg. After his father died in 1638, the children grew up under the tutelage of their mother, Margaret Elisabeth of Leiningen-Westerburg.
Military and political career
In 1648, George Christian entered Spanish military service and remained there until 1653, most recently as "Capitan General". During this time, in 1651, he converted to
After he left the Spanish service, George Christian went to France, to seek his fortune in the French army. After he was promoted to
Around 1660, George Christian stayed in Saxony. It is not apparent from historic sources how long he stayed there. He was at the court of Duke William in Weimar. He joined the Fruitbearing Society under the nickname der Beherzte ("the Brave") and as his slogan "in the open Field". He is recorded as member number 755 in the Society's register in Köthen.
In September 1665, he served in the
"Mad year" in Hanau
In 1669, he was a major participant in the "mad year" in Hanau, a dispute between the reigning Count
Landgraviate of Homburg
Also in 1669, George Christian purchased Hesse-Homburg from his brother William Christoph. In 1671, he sold Hesse-Homburg to his largest creditors, Johann Christian von Boyneburg and the banker Johann Ochs from Frankfurt. They then sold Hesse-Homburg to Landgrave Louis VI of Hesse-Darmstadt in 1673.
Death
George Christian died on 1 August 1677 in Frankfurt am Main. Unusually for a Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg, he was not buried in the crypt below the castle church in Homburg; instead he has a baroque grave near the southern entrance of the crypt below Mainz Cathedral.
Marriage
On 11 October 1666 in Hamburg, George Christian married Anna Catharina of Pogwitsch (1638-1694), the widow Count Frederick of
References
- Reinhard Dietrich: Die Landesverfassung in dem Hanauischen, in: Hanauer Geschichtsblätter, vol. 34, Hanau 1996, ISBN 3-9801933-6-5
- Reinhard Dietrich: … wegen geführten großen Staats, aber schlechter Zahlung der Schulden …. Zur finanziellen Lage der Grafschaft Hanau im 17. Jahrhundert, in: Hanauer Geschichtsblätter, vol. 31, Hanau, 1993, p. 123–148
- Ferdinand Hahnzog: Das Hanauer „tolle Jahr” 1669, in: Hanauer Geschichtsblätter, vol. 20, 1965, p. 147–153
- Margarete Hintereicher: Georg Christian von Hessen-Homburg (1626-1677). Offizier, Diplomat und Regent in den Jahrzehnten nach dem Dreißigjährigen Krieg, Hessische Historische Kommission, Darmstadt, 1985, ISBN 3-88443-146-3