County of Hanau-Lichtenberg

The county of Hanau-Lichtenberg is an old administrative division whose capital is Bouxwiller, in the French Département of the the Low-Rhine.

History

Already occupied to the Roman epoch, the site of Bouxwiller is given in Fief to the lords of Lichtenberg to the beginning of the Moyen-âge. To this time goes back the territorial expansion their possessions and the fact that Bouxwiller obtains the row of city. The lords of Lichtenberg make build the Wasenburg in the middle of the 14th century. The Lichtenberg repurchased in 1332 with the Count of Alsace the Large-Arnsberg and its Forêt S which is next to the Wasenburg, having to protect these new goods. By sale contract of the September 3rd 1467, the count Louis V of Lichtenberg becomes owner of the southern half of the village of Baerenthal with the Château of Large-Arnsberg the and it is in 1569 that the counts de Hanau-Lichtenberg become owners of the whole of the village. Stronghold of the Lichtenberg since the 14th century, the village of Schweyen is the object of sharp disputes between the descendants of this family and the duke of Lorraine to the 15th century and 16th century and it is necessary to await the treated of 1606 so that it makes return to the Lorraine.

In 1480, the county passes in the family of Hanau-Lichtenberg which in fact a true state. The family of Hanau-Lichtenberg enters in possession of the Château of Lichtenberg and make transform to them Château into powerful place-strong by famous Architecte S, of which Daniel Specklin, Architecte of the town of Strasbourg. Noncontent with essential work of fortification, Hanau-Lichtenberg attempt to insert in their residence the Décor S sumptuous of the Reappearing Art. Window S in oculi with the manner Italy, Pilaster S grooved, pediments, Volute S and Cariatide S come to decorate the imposing frontages of pink sandstone.

Then begin the most prosperous period from the town of Bouxwiller, during which a Hôpital is built in 1528, the Réforme is introduced in 1545 and the Latin school E is transformed into Collège in 1612. The count Philippe IV makes build a Château with Philippsbourg in 1566. The territory then forms part of the Seigneur IE of Falkenstein which is sold in 1564 in Hanau-Lichtenberg. In 1606, the territory is joined together with their baillage Lemberg, close to Pirmasens. The village passes in 1736, with all the Seigneur IE of Hanau-Lichtenberg, with the landgrave of Hesse - Darmstadt.

In October 1678, after the War Thirty Year old, the fortress capitulates after a seat eight days. From now on attached to the Kingdom of France, the county remains independent. But the counts gradually give up this field to devote to their Germanic grounds . In 1606 are established the limits S which must delimit the news Frontière between the Duché of Lorraine and the county of Hanau-Lichtenberg, following a compromise signed in 1601 by the duke Charles III of Lorraine and the duke of Deux-Ponts for the layout of the Frontière S of the county of Bitche. In 1648, the landgrave of Hesse - Darmstadt Louis VIII is the son-in-law of the count Johann Reinhard III of Hanau-Lichtenberg. Johann Reinhard III, was born the 7/31/1665 in Rheinbischofsheim, the Country of Bade. He married the 8/20/1699 with Hanau, Hesse, Dorothea Frederica zu Brandenburg-Anspach. The 5/2/1700 was born in Bouxwiller, their only daughter, Charlotte Christine Magdelène Jeanne de Hanau-Lichtenberg (+ Darmstadt 7/1/1726, Hesse).

See too

historical List of the French counties

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