LOUIS VIII OF HESSE-DARMSTADT HUNTING MEDALS

He was an enlightened Landgrave and of influence far beyond his realm: Louis VIII of Hesse-Darmstadt was born on 5 April 1691, as the eldest son of Landgrave Ernest Louis. He pursued his career at the service of the House of Habsburg as one of their closest confidantes and collaborators. He was an enlightened Landgrave and of influence far beyond his realm: Louis VIII of Hesse-Darmstadt was born on 5 April 1691, as the eldest son of Landgrave Ernest Louis. He pursued his career at the service of the House of Habsburg as one of their closest confidantes and collaborators.

When he was still a crown prince, at the age of 31, Louis VIII entered the imperial military in 1722. This would be the beginning of a long-year, loyal collaboration with the House of Habsburg. In 1735, Emperor Charles VI named him commander of his cavalry. In this position, Louis VIII defended Maria Theresa's rights in the First Silesian War and the War of the Austrian Succession. The Austrian ruling couple appreciated Louis. In 1745, Francis I of Lorraine, Maria Theresa's husband, accorded him the right to present to him the emperor's election decree. The medal offered at Künker's on 9 October 2019, showing the officer on horseback in commander's pose, was likely made to commemorate this honor.

Louis VIII occupied the highest commanding posts in the Empress' and the Empire's army. During the Seven Years' War, he served at the rank of General Field Marshal as Commander-in-Chief of the imperial forces – which made him the direct opponent of Frederick II of Prussia. A great career, you see. And Louis VIII also achieved a lot for his own reign. He added the County of Hanau-Lichtenberg to his territory, as well as large parts of the Babenhausen district. He had numerous social institutions built and was considered sponsor of the arts – he was even active as a composer himself. How fitting then that he died in his box seat during an opera on 17 October 1768. Nevertheless, whenever you read something about this ruler, the focus is on his love of hunting, as if that had been his only hobby

To read the complete article, see:
The hunting pleasures of the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt (https://www.kuenker.de/en/information/presseinformationen/aktuelle-mitteilungen/251)

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