Illustrious Highness
Louis was born as Ludwig Alexander von Battenberg in Graz, Styria, the eldest son of Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine by his morganatic marriage to Countess Julia von Hauke. Because of his morganatic parentage, Louis did not inherit his father's rank in the Grand Duchy of Hesse; and, from birth, his style of "Illustrious Highness" and title of Count of Battenberg instead derived from the rank given to his mother at the time of her marriage. On 26 December 1858, he automatically became "His Serene Highness" Prince Louis of Battenberg when his mother was elevated to Princess of Battenberg with the style of "Serene Highness", by decree of her husband's brother, Louis III, Grand Duke of Hesse.