Frederick of Hesse-Darmstadt

Frederick was born in Darmstadt, Germany, the 12th child of Louis V, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt.

Born into a Lutheran family, he converted to Catholicism at the age of 20 and entered the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.

[1] He served as a soldier during a number of conflicts and became an admiral in the navy of the Kingdom of Spain.

[2] Eventually he made his way to Rome and entered the service of Pope Innocent X.

[4] He was appointed papal legate (with Cardinal Carlo de' Medici) to Queen Christina of Sweden, who had converted to Catholicism and arrived in Rome in November 1655.