Charles of Hesse

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Charles of Hesse (Danish: Carl af Hessen; German: Karl von Hessen-Kassel) (Kassel 19 December 1744 – Luisenlund 17 August 1836) was born in Kassel as the second surviving son of Kassel's then hereditary prince, the future Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and his first wife Princess Mary of Great Britain. His mother was a daughter of King George II of Great Britain and Caroline of Ansbach.

His father, the future landgrave (who reigned from 1760 and died in 1785) had in 1747 left the family and soon converted Catholicism, and in 1755 formally ended the marriage. The grandfather, William VIII, Landgrave of Hesse granted the county of Hanau and its revenues to Mary and her sons. The young prince Charles, together with his two brothers, were with their mother, the landgravine Mary, and were fostered by Protestant relatives since 1747. In 1756, they moved to Denmark, to care for Mary's late sister's Louise's underage children. In 1763, his elder brother married a Danish princess, a first cousin to both. Charles followed suit on 30 August 1766—his wife was Louise of Denmark.

Charles made a military career in Denmark. When the young regent and crown prince, Frederick (1766–1839) had in 1790 become Charles' son-in-law, he made several unsuccessful attempts at substantially influencing decisions of the government and the regent.

Charles was a remarkable patron of theater and opera. He had his own court theater in Slesvig, and he involved himself rather much in its operations.

For most of his life, Charles lived in Gottorp castle with his family. For several years, he was royal governor and commanding general of the twin duchies Schleswig-Holstein.

In 1768, Charles purchased the landed property and village of Offenbach-Rumpenheim from the Edelsheim family. In 1771, he had the manor expanded into a castle and princely seat.

In 1790, Charles obtained the property of Gereby near Kappeln; in 1807, property in Schlei in Carlsburg, Schwansen.

On January 25, 1805, Charles was granted the title "Landgrave of Hesse" by his elder brother, who had assumed the higher dignity and titulary of Imperial Prince-Elector.

The Luisenlund castle in Slesvig province he named in honor of his wife.

They remained in Denmark, becoming its important lords and royal functionaries. Only his eldest brother returned to Hesse, in 1785, when ascending the landgraviate.

Prince Charles of Hesse acted as royal governor of Schleswig-Holstein on behalf of the government of his brother-in-law, king Christian VII of Denmark and Norway.

On 30 August 1766, Charles married Princess Louise of Denmark and Norway, his first cousin, the youngest daughter of king Frederick V of Denmark and Norway who died the same year. The couple had the following children: