Hedwig of Hesse-Kassel
Encyclopedia
Hedwig of Hesse-Kassel was a princess of Hesse-Kassel
by birth and by marriage a Countess of Schaumburg.
(1532-1592) from his marriage to Sabine (1549-1581), a daughter of Duke Christopher of Württemberg.
She married on 11 September 1597 at Wilhelmsburg Castle in Schmalkalden
with Count Ernst of Schaumburg
(1569-1622). When Hedwig was engaged in 1593, Hedwig's brother Maurice
had made it a condition that Ernst would share the government of Schaumburg with his half-brother Adolph. In 1559, Schaumburg was divided by the Treaty of Minden, and Ernst received Lower Schaumburg, consisting of the districts Sachsenhagen
, Hagenburg
and Bokeloh.
Hedwig and Ernst initially lived at the available castle in Sachsenhagen, and extended it to a palace; Ernst later moved his seat of government to Bückeburg
. Ernst died in 1627. Hedwig constructed a Princely Mausoleum in the St.-Martini Church in Stadthagen
.
Their marriage remained childless. Hedwig received the city and district of Stadthagen as her wittum
. She possessed a Hessian bond of without interest. She gave her nephew William V
an annual pension and later bequeathed her bond and all her dower rights to the county of Schaumburg to his widow, Landgravine Amalie Elisabeth, whom she alos appointed executrix of her last will and testament.
Hedwig died in 1644 and was buried in the Princely Mausoleum in the St.-Martini Church in Stadthagen
, next to her husband. An epitaph
above her grave reads: There is no other, holier decision of widowhood, than to pass down to the living that which was entrusted by the last will and to guard it, when it is realized.
Hesse-Kassel
The Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel or Hesse-Cassel was a state in the Holy Roman Empire under Imperial immediacy that came into existence when the Landgraviate of Hesse was divided in 1567 upon the death of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse. His eldest son William IV inherited the northern half and the...
by birth and by marriage a Countess of Schaumburg.
Life
Hedwig was a daughter of Landgrave William IV of Hesse-KasselWilliam IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
William IV of Hesse-Kassel , also called William the Wise, was the first Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel . He was the founder of the oldest line, which survives to this day.-Life:...
(1532-1592) from his marriage to Sabine (1549-1581), a daughter of Duke Christopher of Württemberg.
She married on 11 September 1597 at Wilhelmsburg Castle in Schmalkalden
Schmalkalden
- Notable people :*Christoph Cellarius, scholar, born 22 November 1638, died 4 June 1707 in Halle*Christian Karl August Ludwig von Massenbach, colonel, born 16 April 1758, died 21 November 1827 at Białokosz...
with Count Ernst of Schaumburg
Ernst of Schaumburg
Ernst of Schaumburg was the first of the Counts of Schauenburg-Pinneberg to earn the title of Prince, in 1619. However he died in 1622 without an heir. Schauenburg-Pinneberg had been a Protestant region since his grandfather Otto IV of Schaumburg had been won over to Martin Luther's teachings...
(1569-1622). When Hedwig was engaged in 1593, Hedwig's brother Maurice
Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
-External links:...
had made it a condition that Ernst would share the government of Schaumburg with his half-brother Adolph. In 1559, Schaumburg was divided by the Treaty of Minden, and Ernst received Lower Schaumburg, consisting of the districts Sachsenhagen
Sachsenhagen
Sachsenhagen is a town in the district of Schaumburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 9 km northeast of Stadthagen, and 33 km west of Hanover....
, Hagenburg
Hagenburg
Hagenburg is a municipality in the district of Schaumburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
and Bokeloh.
Hedwig and Ernst initially lived at the available castle in Sachsenhagen, and extended it to a palace; Ernst later moved his seat of government to Bückeburg
Bückeburg
Bückeburg is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, on the border with North Rhine Westphalia. It was once the capital of the tiny principality of Schaumburg-Lippe and is today located in the district of Schaumburg close to the northern slopes of the Weserbergland ridge...
. Ernst died in 1627. Hedwig constructed a Princely Mausoleum in the St.-Martini Church in Stadthagen
Stadthagen
Stadthagen is the capital of the district of Schaumburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 20 km east of Minden and 40 km west of Hanover. The city consists of the districts Brandenburg, Enzen-Hobbensen, Hörkamp-Langenbruch, Krebshagen, Obernwöhren, Probsthagen, Reinsen...
.
Their marriage remained childless. Hedwig received the city and district of Stadthagen as her wittum
Wittum
Wittum , Widum or Witthum is a medieval Latin legal term, known in marital and ecclesiastical law.- Provide for a widow at the wedding :...
. She possessed a Hessian bond of without interest. She gave her nephew William V
William V, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
William V of Hesse-Kassel was the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel in the Holy Roman Empire from 1627 to 1637....
an annual pension and later bequeathed her bond and all her dower rights to the county of Schaumburg to his widow, Landgravine Amalie Elisabeth, whom she alos appointed executrix of her last will and testament.
Hedwig died in 1644 and was buried in the Princely Mausoleum in the St.-Martini Church in Stadthagen
Stadthagen
Stadthagen is the capital of the district of Schaumburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 20 km east of Minden and 40 km west of Hanover. The city consists of the districts Brandenburg, Enzen-Hobbensen, Hörkamp-Langenbruch, Krebshagen, Obernwöhren, Probsthagen, Reinsen...
, next to her husband. An epitaph
Epitaph
An epitaph is a short text honoring a deceased person, strictly speaking that is inscribed on their tombstone or plaque, but also used figuratively. Some are specified by the dead person beforehand, others chosen by those responsible for the burial...
above her grave reads: There is no other, holier decision of widowhood, than to pass down to the living that which was entrusted by the last will and to guard it, when it is realized.