Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse

Louis IV Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, also called Grand Duke Ludwig IV was the oldest son of Prince Charles of Hesse and by Rhine (April 23, 1809 - March 20, 1877) and Princess Elizabeth of Prussia (June 18, 1815 - March 21, 1885). He ruled from June 13, 1877 until his death on March 13, 1892.

Grand Duke Louis IV of Hesse by Rhine
Grand Duke Ludwig IV of Hesse-Darmstadt and by Rhine.jpg
Grand Duke Louis IV of Hesse circa 1878
Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine
13 June 1877 – 13 March 1892
PredecessorLouis III
SuccessorErnest Louis
Born(1837-09-12)12 September 1837
Prinz-Carl-Palais, Darmstadt, Grand Duchy of Hesse, German Confederation
Died13 March 1892(1892-03-13) (aged 54)
New Palace, Darmstadt, Grand Duchy of Hesse, German Empire
Burial17 March 1892
Rosenhöhe, Darmstadt, Grand Duchy of Hesse, German Empire
Spouse
Countess Alexandrina Hutten-Czapska
(m. 1884; annulled 1884)
Issue
Full name
German: Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Karl
English: Frederick William Louis Charles
HouseHesse-Darmstadt
FatherPrince Charles of Hesse and by Rhine
MotherPrincess Elisabeth of Prussia

He was related to the British Royal family both by himself and through his wife, the Imperial House of Russia and other European royal families.

Louis married Princess Alice of the United Kingdom. She was the third child of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and her husband, Prince Albert. Louis and Alice had 7 children: Victoria Marchioness Milford Haven, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna of Russia, Princess Irene of Hesse and by Rhine, Ernest Ludwig Grand Ludwig of Hesse, Prince Friedrich, (Alix of Hesse) Empress of Russia, and Princess Marie.

Grand Duke Louis died on March 13, 1892 from a heart attack.