Wilhelm, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld

Wilhelm, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (German: Wilhelm Chlodwig Friedrich Ernst Hermann Paul Philipp Heinrich Landgraf von Hessen-Philippsthal-Barchfeld; born 14 August 1933) is the Landgrave and current head of one of the two remaining branches of the House of Hesse, that of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld, a noble title dating to the late Holy Roman Empire.

Early life and family

Wilhelm was born at Herleshausen, Hesse-Nassau, Germany, eldest child of Prince Wilhelm of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (1905–1942), (son of Chlodwig, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld and Princess Caroline of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich) and his wife, Princess Marianne of Prussia (1913–1983), (daughter of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia and Princess Agatha of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst). Through his mother he is descended from King Frederick William III of Prussia and King William I of the Netherlands.

Wilhelm descends from the House of Hesse branch of Hesse-Philippsthal, which was created from the branch of Hesse-Kassel at the death of William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel in 1663, when his younger son Philip was created Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal. At the death of Landgrave Philip, the branch of Hesse-Philippsthal was again divided, his younger son William becoming the Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld. These two landgraviates were annexed by Prussia in 1866. The main branch (Hesse-Philippsthal) became extinct in the male line in 1925, thus making the Barchfeld branch the only surviving one of the Hesse-Philippsthal line.

Marriage

Wilhelm was married on 5 August 1961 at Friedrichshausen, Frankenberg, Hesse, to Oda-Mathilde von Garmissen (born 1935), daughter of Hilmar von Garmissen and his wife Baroness Oda von Houwald.

They had two sons:

• Prince Wilhelm of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (b. 1 January 1963), married in 2002 to Susanne von Kaufmann, had issue.
• Prince Otto of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (b. 19 January 1965), married in 1998 to Clara Blickhauser, had issue.

Ancestry

Patrilineal descent

1. Gilbert I, Count of the Maasgau, d. 842
2. Gilbert II, Count of the Maasgau, 825–875
3. Reginar, Duke of Lorraine, 850–915
4. Reginar II, Count of Hainaut, 890–932
5. Reginar III, Count of Hainaut, 920–973
6. Lambert I, Count of Leuven, 950–1015
7. Lambert II, Count of Leuven, d. 1054
8. Henry II, Count of Leuven, 1020–1078
9. Godfrey I, Count of Leuven, 1060–1139
10. Godfrey II, Count of Leuven, 1110–1142
11. Godfrey III, Count of Leuven, 1140–1190
12. Henry I, Duke of Brabant, 1165–1235
13. Henry II, Duke of Brabant, 1207–1248
14. Henry I, Landgrave of Hesse, 1244–1308
15. Otto I, Landgrave of Hesse, 1272–1328
16. Louis the Junker of Hesse, 1305–1345
17. Hermann II, Landgrave of Hesse, 1341–1413
18. Louis I, Landgrave of Hesse, 1402–1458
19. Louis II, Landgrave of Hesse, 1438–1471
20. William II, Landgrave of Hesse, 1469–1509
21. Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse, 1504–1567
22. William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, 1532–1592
23. Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, 1572–1632
24. William V, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, 1602–1637
25. William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, 1629–1663
26. Philip, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal, 1655–1721
27. William, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld, 1692–1761
28. Landgrave Adolf of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld, 1743–1803
29. Landgrave Karl of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld, 1784–1854
30. Prince Wilhelm of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld, 1831–1890
31. Chlodwig, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld, 1876–1954
32. Prince Wilhelm of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld, 1905–1942
33. Wilhelm, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld, b. 1933

Notes and sources

• Genealogics - Leo van de Pas - Wilhelm, Prince & Landgraf von Hessen
• thePeerage.com - Wilhelm Landgraf von Hessen-Philippsthal-Barchfeld
• The Royal House of Stuart, London, 1969, 1971, 1976, Addington, A. C., Reference: 299
• Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser, Reference: 1971 408