Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel

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Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel (Kassel, November 20, 1627 - Heidelberg, March 16, 1686) was the wife of Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine and mother of Elizabeth Charlotte, Princess Palatine.

[edit] Biography

Her parents were William V, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and Amalie Elisabeth of Hanau-Münzenberg. She married on February 22, 1650 Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine and had three children.

The marriage was very unhappy, which resulted in the children being sent to their aunt Sophia in Hanover.

Charles had a mistress, Marie Luise von Degenfeld, whom he married in 1658, after unilaterally divorcing his wife. The reason he gave was the intolerable moodiness of Charlotte.

Her husband's sister, Electress Sophia of Hanover, commented, when Charlotte, after her death, was dressed for burial that it was the first time that she was dressed without attacking or hitting someone.

[edit] Issue

Name	Birth	Death	Notes
Charles	31 March 1651	26 May 1685	succeeded as Elector Palatine married, 1671, Princess Wilhelmina Ernestine of Denmark; no issue
Elizabeth Charlotte	27 May 1652	8 December 1722	married, 1671, Philip I, Duke of Orleans; had issue
Frederick	12 May 1653	13 May 1653	died in infancy

Preceded by Maria Anna of Austria

Electress Palatine 1650 – 1657

Succeeded by Wilhelmina Ernestine of Denmark