Ernest Constantine, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal

Ernest Constantine (Ernst Constantin; 8 August 1771 – 25 December 1849) was Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal from 1816 until his death.

Life
Ernest Constantine was born in Philippsthal on 8 August 1771 to Landgrave William of Hesse-Philippsthal and Ulrike Eleonora, daughter of William, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld.

Until 1796 he was an officer in Dutch service. In 1797, he acquired the porcelain manufactory in Volkstedt (a suburb of Rudolstadt), which he sold two years later.

In 1808 he became Grand Chamberlain of the Jérôme Bonaparte, the King of Westphalia. After the dissolution of the kingdom of Westphalia, Ernst Constantine succeeded his brother Louis as Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal in 1816. He also re-entered Dutch service, where he was appointed general.

Ernest Constantine died on 25 December 1849 in Meiningen and was later buried in Philippsthal.

Marriage and issue
Ernest Constantine married Louise (1775-1808), the daughter of Prince Frederick Charles of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (1736-1793), on 10 April 1796 in Rudolstadt, with whom he had the five children: Later, he married his niece, Caroline of Hesse-Philippsthal (1793-1872), daughter of his elder brother Prince Charles of Hesse-Philippsthal, on 17 February 1812 in Kassel. From his second marriage he had two children:
 * Frederick William (1797-1797)
 * Ferdinand (1799-1837)
 * George Gustav (1801-1802)
 * Charles II (1803-1868), who succeeded him as Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal, married the Duchess Marie of Württemberg (1818-1888) in 1845
 * Francis (1805-1861), created Baron of Falkener in 1841, married (morganatically) Mary Catharine Kohlmann (1819-1904)
 * Victoria (1812-1837)
 * William Edward (1817-1819)