George I (Hessen-Darmstadt)

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Landgrave Georg I.
the landgrave on an engraving by A. Lucas

Georg I of Hessen-Darmstadt (born September 10, 1547 in Kassel , † February 7, 1596 in Darmstadt ) also called Georg the Pious , was Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt .

Life

Georg was a son of Landgrave Philip I of Hesse (1504–1567) from his marriage to Christine of Saxony (1505–1549).

The four sons from his parents' marriage became the successors of the Landgraviate, each with their own rulers. Landgrave Philipp had transferred the larger shares to the older sons. The young Georg received about one eighth of the Landgraviate of Hesse . On July 15, 1567, at the age of 19, he took over the government of the Upper County of Katzenelnbogen in Darmstadt . He followed his father's will: " Georg is said to have the castles, cities and offices of Rüsselsheim , Dornberg , Darmstadt , Lichtenberg , Reinheim , Zwingenberg , Auerberg and whatever else is in the Upper County and belongs to it ". To distinguish it, Georg's line was given the designation "Hessen-Darmstadt".

Determined, Georg began to transform the arable city of Darmstadt into a residential city. The castle was enlarged and fortified with moats and bastions. Armory and stables as well as a new building for the government authorities were built in the castle. The enlarged palace garden (" Herrngarten ") north of the palace was also created for princely representation . From 1572 to 1580, the builder Jakob Kesselhuth converted an estate into the Kranichstein hunting lodge .

Jakob Kesselhuth began building Lichtenberg Castle as early as 1570, “Uff dem lichten Berge” . This first Renaissance building in southern Hesse became the model for many buildings that were built under Georg's rule.

Georg's father converted to Lutheran doctrine in 1524 and implemented this Reformation in his Landgraviate as well. "Right faith" was required of clergymen and subjects alike. In order to learn it, comprehensive school instruction was to be introduced under Georg's rule, which was to convey obedience as well as right and wrong at the same time. This education was a prerequisite for confirmation so that Georg is a de facto - compulsory education introduced in his country.

Georg's rule was characterized by great zeal for work, unyielding severity and extremely rigid moral standards. Presumably therefore Hessen-Darmstadt, in contrast to the Hessian areas of Georg's brothers, was involved in the first wave of the early modern witch hunts. Under Georg's rule, 37 executions for witchcraft between 1582 and 1590 have been recorded, including the approx. 11-year-old Wolf Weber and an approx. 16-year-old girl.

On the other hand, under Georg's rule, Darmstadt not only experienced an economic boom (the number of inhabitants doubled), but also the first elements of a social system, such as the construction of a poor house in 1592 and the education of orphans in the castle from 1594.

Landgrave Georg I of Hessen-Darmstadt died on February 7, 1596 and is buried in the choir of the Darmstadt city church . His epitaph and that of his wife is an important Renaissance monument.

Marriages and offspring

August 17, 1572: Marriage to Magdalena Countess zur Lippe (* February 24, 1552; † February 26, 1587)

  • Philipp Wilhelm (* / † 1576), Hereditary Prince
  • Ludwig V (1577–1626), Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
⚭ 1598 Princess Magdalena of Brandenburg (1582–1616)
⚭ 1595 Count Friedrich Magnus von Erbach (1575–1618)
⚭ 1601 Count Johann Kasimir von Nassau-Weilburg-Gleiberg (1577–1602)
  • Marie Hedwig (1580–1582)
  • Philip III (1581–1643), Landgrave of Hessen-Butzbach
⚭ 1. 1610 Countess Anna Margarethe von Diepholz (1580–1629)
⚭ 2. 1632 Countess Christine Sophie von Ostfriesland (1600–1658)
  • Anna (1583-1631)
⚭ 1601 Count Albert Otto zu Solms-Laubach (1576–1610)
⚭ 1622 Countess Margarete Elisabeth von Leiningen-Westerburg (1604–1667)
  • Magdalene (* / † 1586)
  • Johann (* / † 1587)

May 25, 1589: Marriage to Duchess Eleonore von Württemberg , widowed Princess of Anhalt (* March 22, 1552; † January 12, 1618)

  • Heinrich (1590–1601)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ On Eleonore and the partly unclear life dates see Gerhard Raff : Hie gut Wirtemberg alleweg. Volume 1: The House of Württemberg from Count Ulrich the Founder to Duke Ludwig. 6th edition. Landhege, Schwaigern 2014, ISBN 978-3-943066-34-0 , pp. 570-573.

literature

Web links

Commons : Georg I.  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files
predecessor Office successor
Philip I. Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
1567–1596 		Ludwig V.
personal data
SURNAME George I.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Hessen-Darmstadt, Georg I. von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
DATE OF BIRTH September 10, 1547
PLACE OF BIRTH kassel
DATE OF DEATH February 7, 1596
Place of death Darmstadt