Background
Louis was a son of the Elector Palatine Frederick I (1425-1476) from his morganatic marriage with Clara Tott.
founder of the House of Lowenstein
Louis was a son of the Elector Palatine Frederick I (1425-1476) from his morganatic marriage with Clara Tott.
She had been a lady-in-waiting at the court of the Duke of Bavaria in Münich where Frederick met her in 1459. At the time, he had promised he would not marry himself, so as not to create rival heirs. Frederick continued to support Philip as his heir, and in return Philip promised to provide for Frederick"s sons.
Philip donated the Lordship of Scharfeneck to Louis, and in 1488, he gave Louis the County of Löwenstein.
In 1492, Louis acquired the Lordship of Abstatt, including Wildeck Castle. On 24 February 1484, he was elevated to Imperial Count by Maximilian I, who was King of the Germans at the time.