William II, Landgrave of Hesse-Wanfried-Rheinfels
Encyclopedia
William II, Landgrave of Hesse-Wanfried-Rheinfels (also known as William the Younger; born: 25 August 1671 in Langenschwalbach; died: 1 April 1731 in Paris
, and also buried there) was a son of the Landgrave Charles of Hesse-Wanfried
(1649-1711) and his first wife, Sophie Magdalene of Salm-Reifferscheid (d. 1675). He succeeded his father as Landgrave of Hesse-Wanfried and Hesse-Rheinfels. After 1711, he styled himself "Landgrave of Hesse-Rheinfels".
in Cologne and Strasbourg. He was described as "stunted poor in mind and in bad environment". After his father's death in 1711 he travelled to Wanfried, where his younger half-brother Christian had assumed power. They had a dispute, which was sellted by emperor Charles VI
. Christian gave up his claim on Hesse-Wanfried-Rheinfels, in exchange for an annual pension of 7500 guilders, plus Eschwege Castle. The castle had been pledged to Brunswick-Bevern
in 1667. It was, however, redeemed for Christian in 1713.
William ruled Hesse-Wanfried-Rheinfels from 1711 to 1731. He travelled often, usually to the Imperial Court in Vienna. In 1718, the emperor put him in charge of Rheinfels Castle, where troops of Landgrave Charles of Hesse-Kassel had withstood and repulsed three heavy sieges by the French.
In 1719, William obtained permission from the Pope to revert to the lay
state, to avert the impending extinction of the Hesse-Wanfried
line. After mediation by the Emperor, he married on 19 September 1719 with Ernestine
, the daughter of Count Palatine Theodore Eustace
of Sulzbach. The marriage remained childless.
After William's death, Ernestine continued to live at Rheinfels Castle for a while, but then became prioress of the Carmelite monastery at Neuburg an der Donau
, where she died on 5 April 1775.
Hesse-Wanfried and Hesse-Rheinfels were inherited by his younger half-brother, who had styled himself Christian of Eschwege since 1711.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and also buried there) was a son of the Landgrave Charles of Hesse-Wanfried
Hesse-Wanfried
The mini-state Hesse-Wanfried existed from about 1700 to 1731. It was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire in the area of the today's Land of Hesse...
(1649-1711) and his first wife, Sophie Magdalene of Salm-Reifferscheid (d. 1675). He succeeded his father as Landgrave of Hesse-Wanfried and Hesse-Rheinfels. After 1711, he styled himself "Landgrave of Hesse-Rheinfels".
Life
William the Younger began his career as canonCanon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
in Cologne and Strasbourg. He was described as "stunted poor in mind and in bad environment". After his father's death in 1711 he travelled to Wanfried, where his younger half-brother Christian had assumed power. They had a dispute, which was sellted by emperor Charles VI
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...
. Christian gave up his claim on Hesse-Wanfried-Rheinfels, in exchange for an annual pension of 7500 guilders, plus Eschwege Castle. The castle had been pledged to Brunswick-Bevern
Brunswick-Bevern
Brunswick-Bevern is an extinct German dynasty. It is a branch of the Younger House of Brunswick, a branch of the House of Welf. Its first member was Ferdinand Albert I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, who received Bevern Palace as part of his inheritance in 1666...
in 1667. It was, however, redeemed for Christian in 1713.
William ruled Hesse-Wanfried-Rheinfels from 1711 to 1731. He travelled often, usually to the Imperial Court in Vienna. In 1718, the emperor put him in charge of Rheinfels Castle, where troops of Landgrave Charles of Hesse-Kassel had withstood and repulsed three heavy sieges by the French.
In 1719, William obtained permission from the Pope to revert to the lay
Lay
-Roles, jobs, or offices:*Laity, persons in a religious organization who are not members of the clergy*Lay magistrate, magistrates who are not trained in legal technicalities*Lay judge, a person assisting a judge in some jurisdictions...
state, to avert the impending extinction of the Hesse-Wanfried
Hesse-Wanfried
The mini-state Hesse-Wanfried existed from about 1700 to 1731. It was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire in the area of the today's Land of Hesse...
line. After mediation by the Emperor, he married on 19 September 1719 with Ernestine
Countess Palatine Ernestine of Sulzbach
Countess Palatine Ernestine of Sulzbach was the wife of Landgrave William "the Younger" of Hesse-Wanfried and after his death Prioress in the Carmelites monastery in Neuburg an der Donau as Sister Augusta.- Life :She was the third daughter of the Duke Theodore Eustace of Sulzbach and his wife...
, the daughter of Count Palatine Theodore Eustace
Theodore Eustace, Count Palatine of Sulzbach
Theodore Eustace was the Count Palatine of Sulzbach from 1708 until 1732.-Life:Theodore Eustace was born in Sulzbach in 1659 as the only surviving son of Christian Augustus, Count Palatine of Sulzbach and Amalie of Nassau-Siegen...
of Sulzbach. The marriage remained childless.
After William's death, Ernestine continued to live at Rheinfels Castle for a while, but then became prioress of the Carmelite monastery at Neuburg an der Donau
Neuburg an der Donau
Neuburg an der Donau, literally Neuburg on the Danube River, is a town which is the capital of the Neuburg-Schrobenhausen district in the state of Bavaria in Germany.-Divisions:The municipality has 16 divisions:-History:...
, where she died on 5 April 1775.
Hesse-Wanfried and Hesse-Rheinfels were inherited by his younger half-brother, who had styled himself Christian of Eschwege since 1711.