Philip Wolfgang, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg
Encyclopedia
Philip Wolfgang, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg (31 July 1595, Bouxwiller
– , Bouxwiller
was a count of Hanau-Lichtenberg. He ruled the county from 1625 until his death.
of Hanau-Lichtenberg (1569–1625) and his wife Countess Maria Elisabeth of Hohenlohe
-Neuenstein-Weikersheim (1576–1605). He attended the University of Strasbourg
. His Grand Tour
took him via Germany to France
, Italy
and England
.
. It is reported that he mostly led the government personally and consequently had to travel a lot. This is inconsistent with the later references, which report that he was frequently ill.
His father had initiated a relatively successful policy of neutrality
. He tried to continue this policy, but failed. In 1631, the war hit the district of Babenhausen
, where imperial troops occupied and looted the city and Babenhausen Castle. One year later, a Swedish
army led by Wolf Heinrich von Isenburg invaded the district. Between 23 February and 28 March 1635, the city was (unsuccessfully) besieged by the imperial army, led by Philipp von Mansfeld. In 1636, the Archbishopric of Mainz
occupied Babenhausen.
The Hanau-Lichtenberg possessions in the Alsace
and at the Upper Rhine
were also hit. The imperial troops looted and pillaged numerous villages there, too. Philip's Wolfgang's army captured imperial redoubts at Drusenau and Lichtenau. But overall, his limited means meant that he stood little chance of asserting himself successfully in this conflict. In 1663, the Swedish troops reached the Upper Rhine part of the county. They fought battles and looted in Hanau-Lichtenberg and neighbouring territories. In Pfaffenhofen, for example, only two families survived the war. The Swedes formed an alliance with the French, who then occupied Pfaffenhofen, Bouxwiller and Ingweiler. The French occupation force was attacked by imperial troops under Field Marshal
Matthias Gallas
. The city of Woerth was sacked twice. The next wave of incoming soldiers were the Evangelicals under Duke Bernard of Saxe-Weimar, who established his headquarters in Brumath
. Count James John of Hanau-Münzenberg (1612–1636) fell during this campaign against Saverne
and was buried in the St. Nicholas Church in Strasbourg. The village of Bouxwiller was ransacked by Croat troops in 1638.
Philip Wolfgang placed himself under the protection of the French king. Bernhard of Saxe-Weimat was a competent military leader, but did not possess his own territory. It was rumoured that he intended to created a separate territory from areas he had conquered in the Alsace. This brought him into conflict with France, which wanted to annex the Alsace to itself. Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar died in 1639, allaying his fears.
For security reasons, Philip Wolfgang spent much of his time at his residence in Strasbourg
. All cities and villages in his territory were affected by the war. Like his predecessor, Philip Wolfgang did not participate in witch hunts, which were spreading rapidly, so these were rare in Hanau-Lichtenberg.
as his sole heir. His younger sons received residences, but no sovereignty. John Philip received the district of Babenhausen; John Reinhard received Lichtenberg
.
Philip Wolfgang died on in Bouxwiller. He was buried in Lichtenberg
.
Bouxwiller, Bas-Rhin
Bouxwiller is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.Among the city's sight is the Musée Judéo-Alsacien, dedicated to the History of Jews in Alsace, and located in the former synagogue.-References:*...
– , Bouxwiller
Bouxwiller, Bas-Rhin
Bouxwiller is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.Among the city's sight is the Musée Judéo-Alsacien, dedicated to the History of Jews in Alsace, and located in the former synagogue.-References:*...
was a count of Hanau-Lichtenberg. He ruled the county from 1625 until his death.
Youth
Wolfgang Philipp was a son of Count Johann Reinhard IJohann Reinhard I, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg
Count Johann Reinhard I of Hanau-Lichtenberg Count Johann Reinhard I of Hanau-Lichtenberg Count Johann Reinhard I of Hanau-Lichtenberg (13 February 1569, Bitche – 19 November 1625, Lichtenberg ruled the county of Hanau-Lichtenberg from 1599 to 1625.- Life :...
of Hanau-Lichtenberg (1569–1625) and his wife Countess Maria Elisabeth of Hohenlohe
Hohenlohe
Hohenlohe is the name of a German princely family and the name of their principality.At first rulers of a county, its two branches were raised to the rank of principalities of the Holy Roman Empire in 1744 and 1764 respectively; in 1806 they lost their independence and their lands formed part of...
-Neuenstein-Weikersheim (1576–1605). He attended the University of Strasbourg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
. His Grand Tour
Grand Tour
The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transit in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational rite of passage...
took him via Germany to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Government
The focus of the government of Count Philip Wolfgang were the problems caused by the Thirty Years' WarThirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
. It is reported that he mostly led the government personally and consequently had to travel a lot. This is inconsistent with the later references, which report that he was frequently ill.
His father had initiated a relatively successful policy of neutrality
Neutrality (international relations)
A neutral power in a particular war is a sovereign state which declares itself to be neutral towards the belligerents. A non-belligerent state does not need to be neutral. The rights and duties of a neutral power are defined in Sections 5 and 13 of the Hague Convention of 1907...
. He tried to continue this policy, but failed. In 1631, the war hit the district of Babenhausen
Babenhausen
Babenhausen is a town in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district, in Hesse, Germany.-Geography:It is situated on the river Gersprenz, 25 km southeast of Frankfurt, and 14 km west of Aschaffenburg. South of its general borders, the mountain range of the Odenwald is situated about 15 km away...
, where imperial troops occupied and looted the city and Babenhausen Castle. One year later, a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
army led by Wolf Heinrich von Isenburg invaded the district. Between 23 February and 28 March 1635, the city was (unsuccessfully) besieged by the imperial army, led by Philipp von Mansfeld. In 1636, the Archbishopric of Mainz
Archbishopric of Mainz
The Archbishopric of Mainz or Electorate of Mainz was an influential ecclesiastic and secular prince-bishopric in the Holy Roman Empire between 780–82 and 1802. In the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy, the Archbishop of Mainz was the primas Germaniae, the substitute of the Pope north of the Alps...
occupied Babenhausen.
The Hanau-Lichtenberg possessions in the Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
and at the Upper Rhine
Upper Rhine
The Upper Rhine is the section of the Rhine in the Upper Rhine Plain between Basel, Switzerland and Bingen, Germany. The river is marked by Rhine-kilometers 170 to 529 ....
were also hit. The imperial troops looted and pillaged numerous villages there, too. Philip's Wolfgang's army captured imperial redoubts at Drusenau and Lichtenau. But overall, his limited means meant that he stood little chance of asserting himself successfully in this conflict. In 1663, the Swedish troops reached the Upper Rhine part of the county. They fought battles and looted in Hanau-Lichtenberg and neighbouring territories. In Pfaffenhofen, for example, only two families survived the war. The Swedes formed an alliance with the French, who then occupied Pfaffenhofen, Bouxwiller and Ingweiler. The French occupation force was attacked by imperial troops under Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field 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...
Matthias Gallas
Matthias Gallas
Matthias Gallas, Graf von Campo und Herzog von Lucera , was an Austrian soldier, who first saw service in Flanders, then in Savoy with the Spaniards, and subsequently joined the forces of the Catholic League as captain during the Thirty Years' War.On the general outbreak of hostilities in Germany,...
. The city of Woerth was sacked twice. The next wave of incoming soldiers were the Evangelicals under Duke Bernard of Saxe-Weimar, who established his headquarters in Brumath
Brumath
Brumath, also Brumpt, is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-History:Brumath occupies the site of the Roman Brocomagus....
. Count James John of Hanau-Münzenberg (1612–1636) fell during this campaign against Saverne
Saverne
Saverne is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France. It is situated on the Rhine-Marne canal at the foot of a pass over the Vosges Mountains, and 45 km N.W...
and was buried in the St. Nicholas Church in Strasbourg. The village of Bouxwiller was ransacked by Croat troops in 1638.
Philip Wolfgang placed himself under the protection of the French king. Bernhard of Saxe-Weimat was a competent military leader, but did not possess his own territory. It was rumoured that he intended to created a separate territory from areas he had conquered in the Alsace. This brought him into conflict with France, which wanted to annex the Alsace to itself. Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar died in 1639, allaying his fears.
For security reasons, Philip Wolfgang spent much of his time at his residence in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
. All cities and villages in his territory were affected by the war. Like his predecessor, Philip Wolfgang did not participate in witch hunts, which were spreading rapidly, so these were rare in Hanau-Lichtenberg.
Death
In his will, Philip Wolfgang named his eldest son Frederick CasimirFrederick Casimir, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg
Frederick Casimir of Hanau was a member of the Hanau-Lichtenberg branch of the House of Hanau...
as his sole heir. His younger sons received residences, but no sovereignty. John Philip received the district of Babenhausen; John Reinhard received Lichtenberg
Lichtenberg, Bas-Rhin
Lichtenberg is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.The village forms a part of the Parc naturel régional des Vosges du Nord.-Geography:...
.
Philip Wolfgang died on in Bouxwiller. He was buried in Lichtenberg
Lichtenberg, Bas-Rhin
Lichtenberg is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.The village forms a part of the Parc naturel régional des Vosges du Nord.-Geography:...
.
Marriage and issue
Wolfgang Philipp married twice:- 15 November 1619 Countess Johanna of Oettingen (born: 30 August 1602; died: 17 September 1639 in StrasbourgStrasbourgStrasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, initially buried in St. Peter in Strasbourg, then transferred to BouxwillerBouxwiller, Bas-RhinBouxwiller is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.Among the city's sight is the Musée Judéo-Alsacien, dedicated to the History of Jews in Alsace, and located in the former synagogue.-References:*...
( and buried with Philip Wolfgang). In this marriage were born:- John Louis (born: 14 June 1621 in Strasbourg; died: 30 January 1623 in Bouxwiller), buried in the City Church in Bouxwiller
- Anna Elisabeth (born: 19 May 1622 in Bouxwiller; died: 21 May 1622 in Bouxwiller), buried in the City Church in Bouxwiller
- Frederick CasimirFrederick Casimir, Count of Hanau-LichtenbergFrederick Casimir of Hanau was a member of the Hanau-Lichtenberg branch of the House of Hanau...
(born: 4 August 1623; died: 30 March 1685) - Dorothea Elisabeth (* November 19, 1624 in Bouxwiller, died: 21 November 1624), buried in the City Church in Bouxwiller
- John Philip (born: in Bouxwiller; died: 18 December 1669 in BabenhausenBabenhausenBabenhausen is a town in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district, in Hesse, Germany.-Geography:It is situated on the river Gersprenz, 25 km southeast of Frankfurt, and 14 km west of Aschaffenburg. South of its general borders, the mountain range of the Odenwald is situated about 15 km away...
) - Johanna Juliane (born: 4 January 1627 at Bouxwiller; died: 4 September 1628, in Bouxwiller)
- Johann Reinhard IIJohann Reinhard II, Count of Hanau-LichtenbergCount Johann Reinhard II of Hanau-Lichtenberg |Bischofsheim am Hohen Steg]]) was a younger son of Count Philip Wolfgang of Hanau-Lichtenberg and Countess Johanna of Oettingen-Oettingen .- Ordinal number :...
(born: in Bouxwiller; died: 25 April 1666 in Bischofsheim am hohen StegRheinau (Baden)Rheinau is a town in southwestern Baden-Württemberg, Germany and is part of the district of Ortenau.-Geography:Rheinau is located in the Upper Rhine River Plains directly on the Rhine and as such at the German-French border...
) - Sophie Eleonore (13 April 1630 in Bouxwiller; died: in La Petite-PierreLa Petite-PierreLa Petite-Pierre is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
, buried in Bouxwiller), unmarried, lived with her sister Agatha Christine. A funeral sermont was published at her funeral. - Agatha Christine (born: 23 September 1632; died: 5 December 1681), married to Count PalatineCount palatineCount palatine is a high noble title, used to render several comital styles, in some cases also shortened to Palatine, which can have other meanings as well.-Comes palatinus:...
Leopold Louis of Veldenz-Lützelstein - Christian Eberhard (born: in Strasbourg, died: 4 May 1636, in Strasbourg, buried in Bouxwiller). At his funeral, a funeral sermon was published.
- After 17 May 1640 Rhinegravine Diana Dorothea of Salm (born: 25 July 1604 in Criechingen, died: 19 December 1672 in WörthWörthWörth may refer to:*places in Germany:**Wörth am Main, Miltenberg district, Bavaria**Wörth am Rhein, Germersheim district, Rhineland-Palatinate**Wörth an der Donau, Regensburg district, Bavaria**Wörth an der Isar, Landshut district, Bavaria...
), widow of Count Louis Philip of Rappoltstein (died: 19 December 1672). She was buried in Bouxwiller. A funeral sermon was published by Günther Heiler, SuperintendentSuperintendentSuperintendent may refer to:*Superintendent , Superintendent of Police, SP, Senior Superintendent of Police or SSP - a police rank*Superintendent or Superintendent of Prison, Superintendent of Jail, Senior Superintendent of Jail - a rank in prisons - head of a district, central or special prison...
and Consistory CouncillorConsistory-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of the county of Hanau-Lichtenberg.