Ernest Louis, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt

Among those patronized in this cultural milieu were the Baroque composer Christoph Graupner and the gambist Ernst Christian Hesse; also bringing into his service architect Louis Remy de la Fosse for his extensive building program. Upon his death in 1739, his country's debt was 4 million gulden, ten times the annual revenue.

Training under Wolfgang Carl Briegel is recorded. The recorded working language is German and Latin. The field of work recorded is politics, governance and central government. Places of work recorded in the authority are Darmstadt. Distinctions recorded are Knight of the Order of the Elephant.

• Name — Ernest Louis • Succession — Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt • Reign — 31 August 1678 – 12 September 1739 • Predecessor — Louis VII • Successor — Louis VIII • Issue — * Dorothea Sophie, Countess of Hohenlohe-Öhringen • Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt • Prince Charles William • Prince Francis Ernest • Friederike Charlotte, Princess Maximilian of Hesse-Kassel • Louisa Charlotte, Countess of Eppstein • Friederika Sophia, Countess von Eppstein and Baroness Johann Carl Ludwig Christian von Pretlack • Friedrich Carl Ludwig von Hohenstein zu Fürstenfeld (ill. illegitimate) • House — Hesse-Darmstadt • Father — Louis VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt • Mother — Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg • Born — 15 December 1667 • Birthplace — Gotha • Died — 12 September 1739 • Place of death — Jägersburg Castle, Einhausen

Ernest Louis married Dorothea Charlotte of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1661–1705), daughter of Albert II, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1620–1667) on 1 December 1687. Before her death in 1705, they were the parents of the following children: • Dorothea Sophie (1689–1723), who married Count John Frederick of Hohenlohe-Öhringen (1683–1765) in 1710. • Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt (1691–1768), who married Countess Charlotte of Hanau-Lichtenberg (1700–1726) in 1717. • Charles William (1693–1707), who died at the age of 13, during the War of Spanish Succession. • Francis Ernest (1695–1716), who died at the age of 20 in Darmstadt. • Friederike Charlotte (1698–1777), who married Landgrave Maximilian of Hesse-Kassel (1689–1753) in 1720. Ernest Louis married his second wife Luise Sophie von Spiegel zum Desenberg (1690–1751), daughter of Hermann Wilhelm von Spiegel zu Desenberg and Claire Anna Helena von Hornberg, on 20 January 1727, who was thereafter raised to the rank of Countess of Eppstein. He had two daughters with her: • Louisa Charlotte (1727–1753), Countess von Eppstein; she never married nor had children. • Friederika Sophia (1730–1770), Countess von Eppstein; who married Baron Johann Carl Ludwig Christian von Pretlack (1716–1781) in 1764. Ernest Louis had one additional illegitimate child with Charlotte von Forstner (1686–1727): • Friedrich Carl Ludwig von Hohenstein zu Fürstenfeld (1711–1715)

The authorities additionally record the headings Ernst Ludwig, Ernst Louis and Ernest Louis of Hesse-Darmstadt. His recorded languages were German and Latin. He was the child of Louis VI of Hesse-Darmstadt and Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. He married Margravine Dorothea Charlotte of Brandenburg-Ansbach and Louise Sophie von Spiegel Gräfin von Epstein. 4 children are recorded: Dorothea Sophie of Hesse-Darmstadt, Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt, Prince Karl Wilhelm of Hesse-Darmstadt and Prince Franz Ernst of Hesse-Darmstadt. Other recorded relations include Dorothea Sophie of Hesse-Darmstadt, Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt, Prince Franz Ernst of Hesse-Darmstadt and Princess Friederike Charlotte of Hesse-Darmstadt.