Philipp von Katzenelnbogen
Philipp the Elder - Count of Katzenelnbogen
Philipp von Katzenelnbogen, called Philipp the Elder, was the last male descendant of the Counts of Katzenelnbogen. He was instrumental in consolidating and transferring his family's territories to the Landgraves of Hesse. The Counts of Katzenelnbogen built or owned castles on the middle Rhein, including Burg Rheinfels, Burg Katz (Neukatzenelnbogen), and Burg Marksburg.
Philipp was born around 1402 in Katzenelnbogen. His parents, Johann IV of the younger line and Anne of the older line, reunited the two lines through marriage.
On February 24th, 1422, Philip married Anna von Württemberg. She was the daughter of Eberhard IV of Württemberg. They had three children: Philipp the Younger, Eberhard, and Anna.
Philipp was the Count of Katzenelnbogen from 1444 to 1479. In 1444, he began a major renovation of the collegiate church of Sankt Goar. In 1449, he bought the rights on Saint Goar held by Abbot Johann of the Abbey at Prüm.
In 1453, Philipp acquired parts of Diez and the Eppstein lordship from Gottfried, Lord of Eppstein.
"Gottfried, Lord of Eppstein, shares with Count Johann von Nassau-Diez, Lord at Breda, that he needs half his debts and therefore, in order to prevent greater damage, with his cousin Count Philipp von Katzenelnbogen, an inheritance purchase of a quarter of the County of Diez with the castles and towns of Diez, Ardeck, Laurenburg, Camberg, Altweilnau, Wehrheim, and a quarter of its Share in Dehrn with all accessories for 30,000 fl. bar. For this purpose, Count Philipp von Katzenelnbogen receives the Right of Gottfried's quarter to Löhnberg from the heirs of Count Philipp of Nassau-Saarbrücken; he also gets a half-quarter of Rosbach. Gottfried has given up his seats, Camberg, Altweilnau, and Wehrheim with their receptacles, except for the quarter of Altweinau in the castle behind the gatehouse, which adjoins that of Count John of Nassau, and with planks."
In 1456, Philipp obtained a divorce from Anna. He had lived with her for many years and fathered children. He divorced her because of her vicious attacks against his person, and they could no longer live together. The divorce was approved by Pope Callixtus III.
Both of Philip's sons died before him: Philipp the Younger in 1453; Eberhard in 1456. With no male heir, Philipp married again in 1474 to Anna of Nassau-Siegen in an attempt to produce a male heir. Their union was fruitless.
In 1470, Philipp gave Upper Katzenelnbogen to his son-in-law Heinrich III of Hesse.
On July 28th, 1479, Philipp von Katzenelnbogen died at Burg Rheinfels. His lands and titles passed to the Landgraves of Hesse through his daughter Anna's marriage to Heinrich III, Landgrave of Hesse-Marburg.
Philipp was buried in the Counts' Choir at Eberbach Abbey in Rheingau, Germany.
