Maria Amalia of Courland

Princess Maria Anna Amalia of Courland (12 June 1653 16 June 1711) 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, Duke of Courland and Semigallia and Margravine Louise Charlotte of Brandenburg, eldest daughter of George William, Elector of Brandenburg. Her eldest son became King Frederick of Sweden.

Maria Anna Amalia of Courland
Born(1653-06-12)12 June 1653
Mitau
Died16 June 1711(1711-06-16) (aged 58)
Weilmünster
BuriedMartinskirche, Kassel
Noble familyKetteler
Spouse(s)
Issue
Wilhelm
Karl
Frederick I of Sweden
Christian
Sophie Charlotte
Karl
William VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
Leopold
Ludwig
Marie Luise, Princess of Orange
Maximilian
George Charles
Eleonore Antoine
Wilhelmine Charlotte
FatherJacob of Courland
MotherLouise Charlotte of Brandenburg

Life

Amalia was a daughter of the Duke Jacob of Courland (1610–1681) from his marriage to Louise Charlotte (1617–1676), 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 (1654–1730). 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 (1657–1733) 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

married firstly in 1700 Princess Louise Dorothea of Prussia (1680–1705)
married secondly in 1715 Queen Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden (1688–1741)
married in 1704 Duke Frederick William of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1675–1713)
married in 1717 Princess Dorothea Wilhelmina of Saxe-Zeitz (1691–1743)
  • Leopold (1684–1704)
  • Louis (1686–1706)
  • Marie Luise (1688–1765)
married in 1709 Prince John William Friso of Nassau-Dietz (1687–1711)
married in 1720 Princess Friederike Charlotte of Hesse-Darmstadt (1698–1777)
  • George Charles (1691–1755)
  • Eleonore (1694–1694)
  • Wilhelmine Charlotte (1695–1722)

Ancestors

References and sources

  • Christian Röth: Geschichte von Hessen p. 305
  • Ulrich Schoenborn (2010), Mit Herz und Verstand: Biographie und Lebenswelt der Töchter Herzog Jakobs von Kurland in Hessen-Homburg, Herford und Hessen-Kassel, Hamburg: Kovač, ISBN 978-3-8300-4667-7
Maria Amalia of Courland
Born: 12 June 1653 Died: 16 June 1711
Vacant
Title last held by
Hedwig Sophie of Brandenburg
Landgravine of Hesse-Kassel
21 May 1673 – 16 June 1711
Vacant
Title next held by
Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden
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