Philip I of Hanau-Lichtenberg

Philipp I, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg
Philipp I (the elder) of Hanau-Lichtenberg on his epitaph in the church of St Nikolaus in Babenhausen
Born	(1417-11-08)8 November 1417 Windecken Castle in Windecken, now part of Nidderau
Died	10 May 1480(1480-05-10) (aged 62) Ingweiler, now called: Ingwiller
Buried	St Nikolaus church in Babenhausen
Noble family	House of Hanau
Spouse(s)	Anna of Lichtenberg
Father	Reinhard II, Count of Hanau
Mother	Katharina of Nassau-Beilstein

Philipp I, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg (also known as Philipp the Elder; born: 8 November 1417 at Windecken Castle in Windecken, now part of Nidderau; died: 10 May 1480 in Ingweiler, now called: Ingwiller) was Count of Hanau. The county was divided between him and his nephew, Count Philipp I "the Younger". Philipp the Elder's part of the county was later called Hanau-Lichtenberg; Philipp the Younger's part is known as Hanau-Münzenberg.

Philipp I was born on 8 November 1417 at Windecken Castle, as the son of Lord Reinhard II of Hanau, who was later raised to Count of Hanau, and his wife Katharina of Nassau-Beilstein. Two days later, he was bapitzed there. He godparents were Johann Trier, Komtur of the Teutonic Order in Frankfurt and Gertrude of Kronberg, the daughter of Frank X of Kronberg (1381–1423) and Gertrude of Hatzfeld (1381–1409), who was at the time married to her second husband Philipp of Frankenstein.

Originally, a career in the clergy had been planned for Philipp, as he was a younger son. For unknown reasons, this did not happen; instead he engaged in a military career. In 1448, he fought with the Duke of Cleves against the Archbishop of Cologne. His father died in 1451, and was succeeded by his eldest brother, Count Reinhard III.

Count Reinhard III died in 1452, after reigning only a year. He was succeeded by his son Philipp "the Younger". At the time, 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. Since Philipp the Younger was still a minor and his interests were represented by a guardian committee, initially consisting of his maternal grandfather, Count Palatine Otto I of Mosbach, his paternal grandmother Katharina of Nassau-Beilstein and his uncle Philipp the Elder. This committee acted as guardians and regents until the county was divided in 1458. Thereafter, Philipp the Elder acted as the sole guardian, until Philipp the Younger came of age in 1467.