1. Life
Frederick I's life was shaped by his birth into a prominent German noble house and the prevailing inheritance laws of his time, which led to his unique position as the founder of a new lineage.
1.1. Early Life and Background
Frederick I was born on March 5, 1585, at Lichtenberg Castle in Fischbachtal. He was the youngest son of George I, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt (1547-1596) and his first wife, Magdalene (1552-1587), who was the daughter of Bernhard VIII, Count of Lippe. Due to the strict introduction of primogeniture in Hesse-Darmstadt, Frederick, as the youngest son, did not possess any inherent rights to inherit the main territories of his father's landgraviate.
1.2. Acquisition and Rule of Homburg
Despite lacking direct inheritance rights to Hesse-Darmstadt, Frederick was granted an apanage in 1622. This apanage included the city and district of Homburg, along with a one-off financial payment and an annual sum. At the time of this acquisition, Frederick was not considered a sovereign prince and remained under the suzerainty of Hesse-Darmstadt. However, in a crucial move to solidify the future autonomy of his new domain, Frederick introduced primogeniture in Hesse-Homburg in 1626. This act ensured that the Landgraviate of Hesse-Homburg would be inherited by a single heir, preventing further fragmentation and establishing it as a distinct and self-sustaining princely line.
2. Marriage and Issue
Frederick I's marriage was instrumental in securing the future of the Hesse-Homburg line, providing a succession of heirs who would continue his legacy.
2.1. Marriage
On August 10, 1622, Frederick I married Margaret Elisabeth (1604-1667) in Butzbach. Margaret Elisabeth was the daughter of Count Christopher of Leiningen-Westerburg. Their marriage took place shortly after Frederick acquired Homburg, coinciding with the establishment of his new apanage.
2.2. Issue
Frederick I and Margaret Elisabeth had several children, many of whom played significant roles in the continuation of the Hesse-Homburg dynasty:
- Louis Philip (December 22, 1623 - August 26, 1643): He never married or had issue.
- George (March 2, 1624 - March 2, 1624): Died in infancy.
- William Christoph (1625-1681): He succeeded his father as Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg.
- Married firstly in 1650 to Princess Sophia Eleonore of Hesse-Darmstadt (1634-1663).
- Married secondly in 1665 to Princess Anna Elisabeth of Saxe-Lauenburg (1624-1688).
- George Christian (1626-1677):
- Married in 1666 to Anna Catherine of Pogwisch (1633-1694), who was the widow of von Ahlefeldt.
- Anna Margaret (1629-1686):
- Married in 1650 to Duke Philip Louis of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Wiesenburg (1620-1689).
- Frederick II (1633-1708): He also served as Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg and is widely known as The Prince of Homburg.
- Married firstly in 1661 to Countess Margareta Brahe (1603-1669), who was the widow of Johan Oxenstierna.
- Married secondly in 1670 to Princess Louise Elisabeth of Courland (1646-1690).
- Married thirdly in 1691 to Countess Sophia Sibylle of Leiningen-Westerburg (1656-1724), who was the widow of the Count of Leiningen-Dagsburg.
3. Legacy and Assessment
Frederick I's enduring significance lies in his role as the progenitor of a new princely house, which subsequently produced notable historical figures and maintained a distinct identity within the complex political landscape of the Holy Roman Empire.
3.1. Founding of the House of Hesse-Homburg
Frederick I is regarded as the undisputed founder of the distinct line of Hesse-Homburg. His acquisition of Homburg as an apanage, necessitated by the primogeniture system in Hesse-Darmstadt that excluded him from direct inheritance, was a critical turning point. By introducing primogeniture within Homburg itself in 1626, he secured the future of this new territory as an independent entity, rather than merely a temporary grant. This strategic decision ensured the continuity of the Hesse-Homburg branch, giving it a stable legal framework for succession and preventing its dissolution back into Hesse-Darmstadt or further subdivision.
3.2. Notable Descendants
Frederick I's legacy is prominently carried forward through his descendants, particularly his son, Frederick II. Frederick II later succeeded as Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg and achieved widespread historical recognition as The Prince of Homburg. This title and his fame largely stem from the notable play by Heinrich von Kleist titled The Prince of Homburg, which immortalized a fictionalized version of his military and personal life. Through such figures, Frederick I's initial efforts to establish an independent line gained historical prominence and a lasting place in German history and culture.