At the age of 18 he arrived at the imperial court in Vienna, where he was given command of a cavalry regiment with 1000 horses.

A short time later he went to Burgundy, where he worked for the Elector Palatine Frederick II as ambassador to various courts.

Louis III styled himself Count of Löwenstein-Wertheim from 1580 onwards, however, it took 1598 until he could actually secure possession of Wertheim.

However, Elisabeth then married William of Krichingen, who was a Catholic and who disputed Louis III claims on Stolberg until he died in 1610.

Their sons were: Louis III tried to regulate the succession after his death in the Statutum gentilicium of 1597.