Louis III, Count of Löwenstein
| Louis III, Count of Löwenstein | |
|---|---|
| Spouse(s) | Anna of Stolberg |
| Noble family | House of Löwenstein |
| Father | Frederick I of Löwenstein |
| Mother | Helene of Königsegg |
| Born |
17 February 1530 Vaihingen |
| Died | 13 March 1611 (aged 81) Wertheim |
Louis III, Count of Löwenstein (17 February 1530 in Vaihingen † 13 March 1611 in Wertheim) was the ruling Count of Löwenstein-Wertheim from 1571 until his death.
Louis III was a son of Count Frederick I of Löwenstein (1502–1541) (a son of Count Louis I) and his wife Helene of Königsegg ( 1509–1566).
At the age of 18 he arrived at the imperial court in Vienna, where he was given command of a cavalry regiment with 1000 horses. A short time later he went to Burgundy, where he worked for the Elector Palatine Frederick II as ambassador to various courts. In 1557, he was sent to the Diet of Regensburg, where he acted as imperial councillor to King Ferdinand I, despite being a Protestant himself. He later represented Emperor Maximilian II at several diets. In 1559, he was appointed as presented of the Aulic Council. Archduke Charles II of Styria appointed him governor of Carinthia, Carniola and Styria.
Louis possessed the County of Löwenstein, which was under the sovereignty of the Duchy of Württemberg. On 3 September 1566, he married Countess Anna of Stolberg (1548–1599), the daughter of Count Louis of Stolberg. He had originally sought to marry Anna's older sister Catherine, who was married to Michael III, the last count of Wertheim. After Michael III died in 1566, Louis of Stolberg inherited Wertheim. When he died in 1574 without a male heir, the Lordship of Rochefort fell to his daughter Anna. A dispute broke out between his sons-in-law over the County of Wertheim. Louis III styled himself Count of Löwenstein-Wertheim from 1580 onwards, however, it took 1598 until he could actually secure possession of Wertheim.
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