Background
Ernest Constantine was the youngest son of the Landgrave William of Hesse-Philippsthal (1726-1810) from his marriage with Ulrika Eleonora (1732-1795), daughter of Count William of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld.
General officer Landgrave of Hesse
Ernest Constantine was the youngest son of the Landgrave William of Hesse-Philippsthal (1726-1810) from his marriage with Ulrika Eleonora (1732-1795), daughter of Count William of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld.
Until 1796 he was an officer in Dutch service. In 1797, he acquired the porcelain manufactory in Volkstedt (a suburb of Rudolstadt), which he sold two years later. In 1808 he became Grand Chamberlain of the Jérôme Bonaparte, the King of Westphalia.
He also re-entered Dutch service, where he was appointed general.