Joseph, Hereditary Prince of Hesse-Rotenburg


Joseph of Hesse-Rotenburg was the Hereditary Prince of Hesse-Rotenburg from his birth till his death in 1744. He was heir apparent to the Landgraviate of Hesse-Rotenburg.

Biography

Born at Langenschwalbach, he was the eldest child of Ernest Leopold, Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg and his wife Eleonore of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort. He was Heir apparent to the Landgraviate of Hesse-Rotenburg from his birth, and held the title till his death.
His siblings included Polyxena, future Queen of Sardinia; Caroline, future Princess of Condé and wife of Louis Henri, Duke of Bourbon, Prime Minister of France. His youngest sister [Landgravine Landgravine Christine Henriette of Hesse-Rotenburg|Christine Henriette of Hesse-Rotenburg|Christine] was Princess of Carignan and mother of the princesse de Lamballe.

Death

He died at the Palace of the Landgrave's in Rotenburg an der Fulda. In 1753, his wife married again Nicolaus Leopold, Prince of Salm-Salm, but had no children. His youngest brother Constantine became Hereditary Prince and later became Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg.

Marriage and issue

He married Princess Christine of Salm, daughter of Ludwig Otto, Prince of Salm, and his wife, Princess Albertine of Nassau-Hadamar on 9 March 1726. The couple were married at Anholt and later produced four children, two of which would die young and one who would go on to have progeny:
  1. Princess Victoria of Hesse-Rotenburg married Charles, Prince of Soubise, no issue;
  2. Princess Ludovika of Hesse-Rotenburg married Friedrich Ernst Maximilian of Salm-Salm, Duke of Hoogstraeten, had issue;
  3. Princess Leopoldine of Hesse-Rotenburg died in infancy;
  4. Prince Ernest of Hesse-Rotenburg died in infancy.