William I (15 May 1648, Kassel – 20 November 1725, Langenschwalbach) was Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg from 1693 until his death.
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Early life
He was a son of Ernest I of Hesse-Rheinfels-Rotenburg (1623-1693) and his wife, Countess Maria Eleonore of Solms-Lich (1632-1689). William was nicknamed the Elder to distinguish him from his nephew, William of Hesse-Wanfried.
Biography
After his father's death in 1693, William ruled one half of the Rotenburg Quarter, the quarter of Hesse-Kassel which Landgrave Maurice of Hesse-Kassel had distributed as fiefs among the sons of his second wife, Juliane. He officially resided in Rotenburg an der Fulda, but he often stayed in Langenschwalbach in the Taunus area. His descendants ruled the Rotenburg Quarter; his grandson, Constantine reunited all the parts of the Quarter.
William's dominions included the lower part of the County of Katzenelnbogen and the districts and castles of Burg Rheinfels, Reichenberg and Hohenstein as well as shares of Umstadt and Vierherren an der Lahn.
He swapped the district and city of Eschwege with his brother Charles, Landgrave of Hesse-Wanfried for the district and city of Rotenburg.