Frederick III, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
Encyclopedia
Frederick III James of Hesse-Homburg (born: 19 May 1673 in Cölln
; died: 8 June 1746 in 's-Hertogenbosch) was a Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
(1633–1708), the famous Prince of Homburg, from his marriage with Louise Elisabeth (1646–1690), daughter of the Duke Jacob of Courland
(1610–1662). He received a thorough education in the culturally and spiritually progressive atmosphere of the Electoral Court in Berlin, where his father served as commander of the Brandenburg troops,.
After his confirmation in 1687, he joined the Knight academy
in Wolfenbüttel
. Later, he joined a Cavalry
Regiment in Württemberg
. In 1690, he was Captain
in the Dutch
army; in 1692, he was Colonel
of the Groningen
cavalry regiment. He kept being promoted: to Brigadier
in 1701, to Major General
in 1704 and after Battle of Blenheim
on 13 August 1704, to Lieutenant General
. He remained in the Dutch service until the Peace of Utrecht, and then took up government in Bad Homburg
.
Frederick III could not contribute much to the administration of his territory while he was in Dutch service. Worth mentioning, however, is the foundation in 1721 of the orphanage in Homburg, which still exists as a "Landgraviate Foundation". The archives of the Foundation were transferred to the Bad Homburg city archives in August 2010.
Frederick tolerant religious policies permitted the publication in Homburg of the book ("A religoious herbs-and-flower garden, or the universal song-book") by Christoph Schütz
.
After the public debt in Hesse-Homburg
had grown considerably, Frederick was forced by an imperial debit commission to again take service in Holland in 1738. He was governor
of the Belgian city of Liège
, then governor from 1741, governor of Breda
. In 1742, he was promoted to General of the Cavalry
.
He died in 1742, as governor of 's-Hertogenbosch and was buried in the crypt
of Bad Homburg Castle. Since none of his children survived him, he was succeeded as the Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg by Frederick IV
, the son of his younger Casimir William.
In 1728 he closed a second marriage with Christiane Charlotte of Nassau-Ottweiler
, the widow of Count Charles Louis of Nassau-Saarbrücken
; this marriage remained childless.
Cölln
In the 13th century Cölln was the sister town of Old Berlin , located on the southern Spree Island in the Margraviate of Brandenburg. Today the island is located in the historic core of the central Mitte locality of modern Berlin...
; died: 8 June 1746 in 's-Hertogenbosch) was a Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
Hesse-Homburg
Hesse-Homburg was formed into a separate landgraviate in 1622 by the landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt to be ruled by his son, although it did not become independent of Hesse-Darmstadt until 1668....
Life
Frederick III James was the second son of Landgrave Frederick II of Hesse-HomburgFrederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
Frederick II of Hesse-Homburg , also known as the Prince of Homburg was Landgraf of Hesse-Homburg. He was also a successful and experienced general for the crowns of both Sweden and of Brandenburg, but is best remembered as the eponymous hero of Heinrich von Kleist's play Der Prinz von Homburg.-...
(1633–1708), the famous Prince of Homburg, from his marriage with Louise Elisabeth (1646–1690), daughter of the Duke Jacob of Courland
Jacob Kettler
Jacob Kettler was a Baltic German Duke of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia . Under his rule, the duchy was brought to its greatest peak in wealth and engaged in colonization.- Life :...
(1610–1662). He received a thorough education in the culturally and spiritually progressive atmosphere of the Electoral Court in Berlin, where his father served as commander of the Brandenburg troops,.
After his confirmation in 1687, he joined the Knight academy
Knight academy
Knight academies were developed by the German aristocracy in the late seventeenth century to facilitate the ascent of Prussia as a European power. They prepared aristocratic youth for state and military service. It added to the hitherto rudimentary education of the German aristocracy natural...
in Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, located on the Oker river about 13 kilometres south of Brunswick. It is the seat of the District of Wolfenbüttel and of the bishop of the Protestant Lutheran State Church of Brunswick...
. Later, he joined a Cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
Regiment in Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
. In 1690, he was Captain
Captain (OF-2)
The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
in the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
army; in 1692, he was Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the Groningen
Groningen
Groningen is the name of several places:*Groningen , a province of the Netherlands*Groningen , a city in the Netherlands, capital of the province with the same name*Grøningen, a Norwegian lake*Groningen, Suriname*Groningen, Minnesota...
cavalry regiment. He kept being promoted: to Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
in 1701, to Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in 1704 and after Battle of Blenheim
Battle of Blenheim
The Battle of Blenheim , fought on 13 August 1704, was a major battle of the War of the Spanish Succession. Louis XIV of France sought to knock Emperor Leopold out of the war by seizing Vienna, the Habsburg capital, and gain a favourable peace settlement...
on 13 August 1704, to Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
. He remained in the Dutch service until the Peace of Utrecht, and then took up government in Bad Homburg
Bad Homburg
Bad Homburg vor der Höhe is the district town of the Hochtaunuskreis, Hesse, Germany, on the southern slope of the Taunus, bordering among others Frankfurt am Main and Oberursel...
.
Frederick III could not contribute much to the administration of his territory while he was in Dutch service. Worth mentioning, however, is the foundation in 1721 of the orphanage in Homburg, which still exists as a "Landgraviate Foundation". The archives of the Foundation were transferred to the Bad Homburg city archives in August 2010.
Frederick tolerant religious policies permitted the publication in Homburg of the book ("A religoious herbs-and-flower garden, or the universal song-book") by Christoph Schütz
Christoph Schütz
Christoph Schütz was a pietist writer and a songbook publisher.Schütz's book, Die Güldene Rose. . . von der Wiederbringung Aller Dinge Christoph Schütz (November 6, 1689 in Umstadt, Germany - January 4, 1750 in Bad Homburg, Germany) was a pietist writer and a songbook publisher.Schütz's book, Die...
.
After the public debt in Hesse-Homburg
Hesse-Homburg
Hesse-Homburg was formed into a separate landgraviate in 1622 by the landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt to be ruled by his son, although it did not become independent of Hesse-Darmstadt until 1668....
had grown considerably, Frederick was forced by an imperial debit commission to again take service in Holland in 1738. He was governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the Belgian city of Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
, then governor from 1741, governor of Breda
Breda
Breda is a municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. The name Breda derived from brede Aa and refers to the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. As a fortified city, the city was of strategic military and political significance...
. In 1742, he was promoted to General of the Cavalry
General of the Cavalry (Germany)
General of the Cavalry or General der Kavallerie was a rank of general in the Imperial Army, Reichswehr or Wehrmacht - the second-highest regular rank below Generaloberst. Artillery officers of equivalent rank were called general of the artillery, and infantry officers of equivalent rank general...
.
He died in 1742, as governor of 's-Hertogenbosch and was buried in the crypt
Crypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
of Bad Homburg Castle. Since none of his children survived him, he was succeeded as the Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg by Frederick IV
Frederick IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
Frederick IV Charles Louis William of Hesse-Homburg , was Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg.- Life :...
, the son of his younger Casimir William.
Marriage and issue
Frederick III was married twice: in 1700, he married Elisabeth Dorothea of Hesse-Darmstadt (1676–1721), with whom he had seven children. Children from this first marriage (not counting three stillborn children):- Friederike Dorothea (1701–1704)
- Frederick William (1702–1703)
- Louis John William Gruno (1705–1745), Russian Field MarshalField MarshalField Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
- married in 1738 Princess Anastasia Trubezkaya (1700-1755)
- Louise Wilhelmine (1703–1704)
- John Charles (1706–1728)
- Ernestine Louise (1707-1707)
- Frederick (1721-1721)
In 1728 he closed a second marriage with Christiane Charlotte of Nassau-Ottweiler
Christiane Charlotte of Nassau-Ottweiler
Christiane Charlotte of Nassau-Ottweiler was a Countess of Nassau-Ottweiler by birth and by marriage successively Countess of Nassau-Saarbrücken and countess of Hesse-Homburg.- Life :...
, the widow of Count Charles Louis of Nassau-Saarbrücken
Charles Louis, Count of Nassau-Saarbrücken
Charles Louis, Count of Nassau-Saarbrücken was the son of Count Gustav Adolf of Nassau-Saarbrücken and Countess Clara Eleanor of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein....
; this marriage remained childless.