Ernest Louis, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt

Ernest Louis
Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
Portrait of Ernst Ludwig by Johann Christian Fiedler
Spouse	Dorothea Charlotte of Brandenburg-Ansbach
Issue
Dorothea Sophie Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt Charles William Francis Ernest Friederike Charlotte
House	House of Hesse-Darmstadt
Father	Louis VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
Mother	Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Born	15 December 1667 Gotha
Died	12 September 1739 Jägersburg Castle, Einhausen

Ernest Louis of Hesse-Darmstadt (German: Ernst Ludwig) (15 December 1667, Gotha – 12 September 1739, Einhausen) was Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1678 to 1739. His parents were Landgrave Louis VI of Hesse-Darmstadt and Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1640–1709).

Ernest Louis's desire to emulate the French court under Louis XIV ran his country into debt. Among those patronized in this cultural flourish was Baroque composer Christoph Graupner; also bringing into his service architect Louis Remy de la Fosse for his extensive building program. Upon his death in 1739, his country's debt was 4 million gulden, ten times the annual revenue.

Ernest Louis was married to Dorothea Charlotte of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1661–1705), daughter of Albert of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1620–1667). Their children were:

• Dorothea Sophie (1689–1723)

married in 1710 Count John Frederick of Hohenlohe-Öhringen (1683-1765)

• Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt (1691–1768)

married in 1717 Countess Charlotte of Hanau-Lichtenberg (1700–1726)

• Charles William (1693–1707)
• Francis Ernest (1695–1717)
• Friederike Charlotte

married in 1720 Landgrave Maximilian of Hesse-Kassel (1689–1753)

External links

• Ernst Ludwig, Neue deutsche Biographie, Bd.: 4, , Berlin, 1959
• The Age of Absolutism in Hesse-Darmstadt (German)
• Free scores by Ernest Louis, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt in the Werner Icking Music Archive (WIMA)

Ernest Louis, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt House of Hesse Born: 15 December 1667 Died: 12 September 1739
Preceded by Louis VII	Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt 1678–1739	Succeeded by Louis VIII