Louis was the second son of Landgrave Frederick V and his wife Caroline of Hesse-Darmstadt, a daughter of Landgrave Louis IX of Hesse-Darmstadt and Caroline of Zweibrücken, "the Great Landgravine".

In 1804, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and he married Princess Augusta Amalia of Nassau-Usingen, daughter of Frederick Augustus, Duke of Nassau.

This "dynastic marriage" with the daughter of a neighbouring prince was an unhappy one, as she was in love with Count Frederick William of Bismarck.

He supported the education reform Ibell was implementing, which provided for a single school system with Protestant, Catholic and Jewish students.

He renovated the springs in the town, and added a small spa hall, which today houses a casino.

He paid a two-week visit to Homburg and returned to Luxembourg, where he died on 19 January 1839.