Louis I, Count of Sayn-Wittgenstein
| Louis I, Count of Sayn-Wittgenstein | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Spouse(s) | Anna of Solms-Braunfels Elisabeth of Solms-Laubach |
| Noble family | House of Sayn-Wittgenstein |
| Father | William I, Count of Sayn-Wittgenstein |
| Mother | Johannetta of Isenburg-Neumagen |
| Born |
7 December 1532 Wittgenstein Castle, near Bad Laasphe |
| Died | 2 July 1605 (aged 72) On the road near Altenkirchen |
| Religion | Calvinism |
Louis I, Count of Sayn-Wittgenstein, nicknamed "the Elder", formally "Louis I of Sayn, Count at Wittgenstein" (7 December 1532 at Wittgenstein Castle, near Bad Laasphe – 2 July 1605, while travelling near Altenkirchen) ruled the County of Wittgenstein, on the upper reaches of the rivers Lahn and Eder, from 1558 until his death. He converted his county to Calvinism and was an influential politician in the service to the Electoral Palatinate.
He was the sixth child of William I, Count of Sayn-Wittgenstein (24 August 1488 – 18 April 1570) and his wife, Johannetta of Isenburg-Neumagen (born 1500).
He received his first schooling at Wittgenstein Castle from the vicar of Weidenhausen. In 1543, Louis and his brothers went to Cologne to receive further education. He learned Greek and Latin, as well as English, French, Italian, and some Spanish. From 1545, Louis and two of his brothers studied at the Universities of Leuven, Paris and Orléans. Between 1553 and 1556, he made a Grand Tour, visiting Padua, Malta, Savoy, France and England. he briefly served Pope Pius IV as treasurer. When he returned to Wittgenstein Castle in 1556, Louis found that his father had issued a moderate Lutheran Church Order (Lutheran). He studied the new faith and converted to Lutheranism.
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