Maria Amalia of Courland
Maria Anna Amalia of Courland was a Landgravine of Hesse-Kassel through her marriage on 21 May 1673 to her first cousin Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel. She was the child of Jacob Kettler and Margravine Louise Charlotte of Brandenburg, eldest daughter of George William, Elector of Brandenburg.Life
Amalia was a daughter of the Duke Jacob of Courland from his marriage to Louise Charlotte, eldest daughter of the Elector George William of Brandenburg. She was thus a member of the Ketteler family.
On 21 May 1673, she married in Kassel her first cousin Landgrave Charles I of Hesse-Kassel. Amalia had previously been engaged with Charles older brother, William VII, but he died during his grand tour at the young age of 19 years.
The Landgravine participated in the creation of Karlsaue Park in Kassel. The marmor fountain in the park contains a medallion by the influential Roman sculptor Pierre Etienne Monnot depicting Maria Amalia.
She was described as modest, affable and pious.
She and her son Maximilian acquired Sensenstein Castle in 1699.
She died in 1711 and was buried in the Martinskirche, Kassel.
The village of Mariendorf in Immenhausen district was named after her.Descendants
