Landgravine Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel

Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel
Electress Palatine
Charlotte at the time of her marriage in 1650, unknown artist
Spouse	Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine
Detail Issue
Charles, Elector Palatine Elizabeth Charlotte, Duchess of Orléans
Father	William V, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
Mother	Amalie Elisabeth of Hanau-Münzenberg
Born	20 November 1627(1627-11-20) Heidelberg Castle, Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Died	26 March 1686(1686-03-26) (aged 58) Heidelberg Castle, Heidelberg, Germany
Religion	Calvinism

Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel (Kassel, 20 November, 1627 – Heidelberg, 26 March, 1686) was the consort of Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine and mother of Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate. Her living descendants include the royal houses in Europe such as the Spanish, Italian, Bulgarian, Austrian, Tuscan and Neapolitan Royal Families, descended from her through Louis Philippe of France, her daughter's great great great grandson.

Biography

Her parents were William V, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and Amalie Elisabeth of Hanau-Münzenberg. Her future marriage, between Charlotte and her cousin Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine, was regarded as highly advantageous. However, her own mother warned the Elector of Charlotte's foul temper. She is described as a tall blonde girl, with long legs and a beautiful bust.

She married at Heidelberg Castle on February 22, 1650 Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine and had three children, two of whom survived infancy. At first all went well as Charles Louis became wildly infatuated with his wife and started his task of providing the Palatinate with an heir. According to his sister Sophia, 'his passion had impaired his intellect', though he was also quite jealous. If she criticised him, he would go into a rage but their quarrels were made up at night with audible violence.

Charlotte excelled at equestrian talents (as her daughter would), but Charles Louis objected to women on horseback. She loved gambling, which Charles Louis regarded as a waste of money.

To the joy of the Palatinate and Charles Louis, a son was born in 1651 and in 1652 a daughter. When Charles Louis went to the Electors' Diet in Prague, he infuriated Charlotte by not taking her. At this time the sixteen year-old Marie Luise von Degenfeld came to their court, where she was regarded as not very pretty and naive. Marie Luise would become Charles Louis' mistress and starting in 1658, would bear him 13 children while he was still married to Charlotte.

After his return Charles Louis took his wife and his sisters, Princesses Elizabeth and Sophia, to the festivities accompanying the coronation of Archduke Charles as his father's successor. Charlotte was again furious, as she was pregnant and unable to wear the French dresses especially bought for the occasion. When born, the baby within a few hours and Charlotte was very ill and could not be moved for weeks.

In 1654 Charles Louis's brother, Prince Rupert, came to visit Heidelberg and soon Charlotte realised Rupert was in love with Marie Luise. In order to prevent nocturnal visits, Charlotte made Luise sleep in her bedroom. Trying to protect Luise from Rupert, she had not realised that her own husband had fallen in love with the same girl. However, one night Charlotte woke up and, maintaining that she had found her husband in bed with Luise, she attacked the girl, almost biting off her little finger. Charles Louis protected Luise and called in the guard to restrain Charlotte. The following day Charles Louis installed Luise in an apartment directly above his own, which was made accessible to him by a secret passage. Soon Charlotte found out and had to be prevented from ascending the same ladder with a knife in her hand.

From then onward, Charlotte maintained that she was kept a prisoner in her apartments. She beat her servants and, if they were found to be spying on her behalf, they were dismissed by her husband. Charles Louis made sure not to be anywhere near Charlotte, who was pitied by everyone. In accordance with his rights, he divorced Charlotte but kept this a secret until after his sister Sophie's wedding. As soon as these festivities were over, Charles Louis published the divorce documents and declared himself to be married to Louise von Degenfeld, though many questioned the legality of the divorce.

Marie Luise was given the unique title of Raugravine of the Palatinate (Raugräfin von der Pfalz, related to countess, but implying jurisdiction over uninhabited lands), and their children were known as the Raugraves and Raugravines of the Palatinate.

Charlotte ruined her relations with Sophie when she admitted that she had married Charles Louis against her own wishes, she would have preferred several others over this 'jealous old man'. Soon it was Charlotte who became jealous of Sophie who seemed to be on much better terms with Charles Louis. Charlotte felt herself excluded from their conversations and never understood their jokes. As a result of her unhappy marriage, Charlotte's children were sent to live with their paternal aunt Sophia in Hanover. Her daughter Elizabeth Charlotte always said that her time with her aunt Sophie were the best years of her life and would often write about them to Sophie herself. Charlottee's daughter made one of the most spendid marriages in the age. Elizabeth Charlotte was used as a pawn to encourage a pro-French course in foreign affairs and was engaged to Philippe de France, Duke of Orléans, known simply as Monsieur. Monsieur was the only subling of Louis XIV. Monsieur was the brother of the wealthiest ruler at that time but was a notorious homosexual; however, the couple had a good relationship producing three children, of whom two survived infancy, the future Philippe d'Orléans, Regent of France and Élisabeth Charlotte, Duchess of Lorraine, grandmother of Marie Antoinette.

In 1677 Marie Luise von Degenfeld died; most people attributed the death to her excessive pregnancies. Charles Louis married again 1679 to Elisabeth Höllander von Bernau, who was pregnant when he died on 28 August 1680. Their son, named Charles Louis after his deceased father, was baptized in Schaffhausen on 17 April 1681.

Since her divorce, Charlotte lived the next twenty-three years in obscurity, only to emerge after the death of Charles Louis, when their son became the next Elector Palatine. However, she had remained difficult and ill-tempered until her death, six years later.

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.

Issue

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

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

• 20 November, 1627 - 22 February, 1650 Her Serene Highness Landgravine Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel
• 22 February, 1650 - 1657 Her Serene Highness The Electress Palatine
• 1657 - 26 March, 1686 Her Serene Highness Landgravine Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel

References and notes

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Preceded by Maria Anna of Austria

Electress Palatine 22 February, 1650 - 1657

Succeeded by Wilhelmina Ernestine of Denmark