Friedrich Casimir, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg
A spendthrift 17th-century German count whose extravagant colonial ambitions nearly bankrupted his small territory.
1623–1685 (age 62)·Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg·Birthday: August 4
Biography
Friedrich Casimir of Hanau-Lichtenberg is remembered less for wise governance and more for a spectacular, costly flight of fancy. Inheriting two counties, he was fascinated by exploration and the promise of New World wealth. In 1669, he was persuaded to invest a colossal portion of his state's treasury into a dubious scheme: the chartering of a colony in South America called 'Hanauisch-Indien' near present-day Suriname. The venture was a disaster, yielding no profit and draining his coffers. His lavish spending on art, a large court, and this colonial folly plunged his territories into such deep debt that imperial authorities eventually placed his lands under administration, stripping him of financial control—a cautionary tale of ambition outpacing reality.
#1 When Friedrich Was Born
The biggest hits of 1623
Friedrich's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1623Born
1628Started school
1636Became a teenager
1639Could drive
1641Could vote
1644Turned 21
1653Turned 30
1663Turned 40
1673Turned 50
1683Turned 60
1685Died at 62
Key Achievements
- Attempted to establish a colony named 'Hanauisch-Indien' in Suriname, South America, in 1669.
- Founded the Hanauer Zeughaus (armory), a significant Renaissance building that still stands.
- Was a notable patron of the arts and collector, though his spending was excessive.
- United the counties of Hanau-Münzenberg and Hanau-Lichtenberg under his personal rule in 1642.
Did You Know?
The failed South American colony is also referred to as 'Hanauish Guyana' or 'Hanauish India'.
His financial mismanagement was so severe that the Emperor imposed a 'guardianship' over his lands.
He maintained a famously large and expensive court for the size of his territory.
He was a descendant of the House of Hanau, a noble family with roots in the Holy Roman Empire.
“I will plant a German colony on the Wild Coast of Africa.”
