Philip I, Count of Hanau-Münzenberg

Philipp I, Count of Hanau-Münzenberg
Count Philipp I "the Younger" of Hanau, on the altar piece in Wörth am Main
Spouse(s)	Adriana of Nassau-Dillenburg Margarete Weißkirchner
Noble family	House of Hanau
Father	Reinhard III, Count of Hanau
Mother	Countess Palatine Margaret of Mosbach
Born	(1449-09-20)20 September 1449 Windecken, now part of Nidderau
Died	26 August 1500(1500-08-26) (aged 50)

Count Philipp I of Hanau-Münzenberg, nicknamed Philipp the Younger, (20 September 1449, at Windecken Castle – 26 August 1500) was a son of Count Reinhard III of Hanau and Countess Palatine Margaret of Mosbach. He was the Count of Hanau from 1452 to 1458. The county was then divided between him and his uncle Philipp the Elder. Philipp the Younger received Hanau-Münzenberg and ruled there from 1458 until his death.

Philipp I was born at Windecken Castle (now in Nidderau) and was baptized in the local church. His godparents were

In 1452, his father, Reinhard III, died after a reign lasting only ten months. Philipp was at this time only four years old, which is why a guardianship had to be set up for him. From 1452 until the county was divided in 1458, the regency was exercised by a council, consisting of his maternal grandfather Count Palatine Otto I of Mosbach, his paternal grandmother, Katharina of Nassau-Beilstein, and his only uncle, Philipp the Elder. From 1458 to 1467, Philipp the Elder was the sole guardian and regent. In 1467, Philipp the Younger came of age.

Not much else is known about his childhood.

At the time of his accession Philipp the Younger was only four years old. This situation presented the Hanau family with a dilemma:

The debate over the division of the county is relatively well documented. Two parties took shape in the country and its ruling family.

Otto I, co-regent for Philipp the Younger, was opposed to the division. He supported the interests of his daughter Margaret, the widow of Reinhard III and the mother of Philipp the Younger. He sought to position his grandson as the sole heir of the whole county.

The elderly Countess Dowager, Katharina of Nassau-Beilstein, was indifferent as to whether the line was continued via her grandson, Philipp the Younger, or via her second, son Philipp the Elder. She held that the danger of the House of Hanau dying out could be reduced by allowing Philipp the Elder to marry, since he had already proven his ability to procreate.