Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
Louis IX of Hesse-Darmstadt was Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1768 to 1790.
After his military service in the army of Frederick the Great, Louis was involved in freemasonry and interested theosophy and alchemy. He corresponded with Emanuel Swedenborg in 1771, as Swedonborg hoped that Louis would take over leadership of Swedish Rite freemasonry in Germany.
As of 2025, Louis, along with his wife Caroline, are the most recent common ancestors of all currently reigning hereditary monarchs in Europe.
Early life
Louis IX was born in Darmstadt on 15 December 1719 to Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt, and Charlotte of Hanau-Lichtenberg and Müntzenberg.Biography
His main residence was his palace in Pirmasens, Schloss Pirmasens.Personal life
On 12 August 1741, Louis married Caroline, daughter of Christian III, Duke of Zweibrücken. They had three sons and five daughters, including:- Princess Caroline of Hesse-Darmstadt, married Frederick V, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
- Princess Frederica Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt, married King Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia and became Queen of Prussia
- Prince Louis X, later Grand Duke Louis I, married his first cousin Princess Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt
- Princess Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt, married her first cousin Karl Ludwig, Hereditary Prince of Baden
- Princess Wilhelmina Louisa of Hessen-Darmstadt, married Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich of Russia, later emperor
- Princess Luise Auguste of Hesse-Darmstadt, married Karl August, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
- Prince Frederick Never married and had no issue.
- Prince Christian of Hesse-Darmstadt
- A stillborn son on 3 May 1742
Additionally Louis had an extramarital son with Ernestine Rosine Doll:
- Ernest Louis von Hessenzeig Died young.