Maximilian of Hesse-Kassel


Maximilian of Hesse-Kassel was a prince of Hesse-Kassel and a Generalfeldzeugmeister, Generalfeldmarschall and finally Reichsgeneralfeldmarschall in the army of the Holy Roman Empire.

Life

Maximilian was the ninth son of Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, and his wife, Marie Amalia, daughter of Jacob Kettler, Duke of Kurland.
In 1720, he married Friederike Charlotte of Hesse-Darmstadt, a daughter of Ernest Louis, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt. The marriage was meant to symbolise the new harmony between Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Darmstadt, but was complicated by the two families' annoyance over his lavish lifestyle. In 1723, his father gave Maximilian the domain of Jesberg, which included the Richerode estate. In Jesberg, Maximilian built the baroque Schloss Jesberg and in nearby woodland built the 'Prinzessingarten' for his daughters. He was a passionate musician, maintaining a separate court-orchestra of his own, but this plunged him into debt.

Marriage and issue

He had eight children:
  1. Prince Karl of Hesse-Kassel
  2. Princess Ulrike Friederike Wilhelmine of Hesse-Kassel ; married in 1752 Frederick August I, Duke of Oldenburg.
  3. Princess Christine Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel, from 17 April 1765 canoness of Herford Abbey, from 12 July 1766 coadjutor abbess of Herford.
  4. Princess Maria of Hesse-Kassel
  5. Princess Wilhelmina of Hesse-Kassel ; married in 1752 Prince Henry of Prussia, younger brother of Frederick the Great.
  6. A stillborn child
  7. Princess Elisabetha Sophia Louisa of Hesse-Kassel
  8. Princess Caroline Wilhelmina Sophia of Hesse-Kassel ; married in 1753 Frederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, younger brother of Catherine the Great.