Louis, Count of Stolberg
| Louis, Count of Stolberg | |
|---|---|
| Born |
12 January 1505 Stolberg |
| Died | 1 September 1574 (aged 69) Wertheim |
| Noble family | House of Stolberg |
| Spouse(s) | Walburga of Wied-Runkel |
| Father | Bodo VIII, Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode |
| Mother | Anna of Eppstein-Königstein |
Count Louis of Stolberg (12 January 1505 in Stolberg – 1 September 1574 in Wertheim) was a German nobleman. He ruled Eppstein-Königstein from 1535 until his death.
Louis was born at Stolberg castle, as the son of Count Bodo VIII and his wife, Countess Anna of Eppstein-Königstein. He was their third son and the fourth of their twelve children. Among his siblings were Count Wolfgang, Abess Anna of Quedlinburg, Countess Juliana of Hanau-Münzenberg and later Nassau-Dillenburg, Count Henry of Stolberg-Wernigerode, Countess Catherine of Henneberg, Count Albert of Stolberg-Schwarza and Count Christopher of Stolberg-Gedern, who was provost at Halberstadt
From the age of nine, he was educated by his maternal uncle Eberhard IV of Eppstein in Königstein. Later, he studied at the University of Wittenberg, where he converted to Lutheranism in 1521. The expansion and consolidation of the Reformation became his main objective after his conversion. He acted as councillor to Emperor Charles V and his successors Ferdinand I and Maximilian II. He was frequently sent on diplomatic missions, inter alia to Queen Elizabeth I of England and to the Spanish court.
His maternal uncle Eberhard IV had no sons and made Louis his universal heir. From 1527, Louis acted as Eberhard's co-ruler. Emperor Charles V recognized Eberhard's will in 1528. In 1535, Eberhard died and Louis inherited his possessions. In 1540, he introduced the Reformation in his territory. However, he did not participate in the Schmalkaldic War.
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