Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel

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Karl I of Hesse-Kassel (Kassel, August 3, 1654 – March 23, 1730) was from 1670 till his death Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel.

He was the son of Wilhelm VI of Hesse-Kassel and Hedwig Sophia of Brandenburg, daughter of Georg Wilhelm, Elector of Brandenburg. After the early death of his father, his mother ruled as regent until 1675. Then Karl ruled for the next 55 years.

[edit] Politics and Economy

Under his rule Kassel recovered faster from the Thirty Years' War then other regions in Germany . He built a relatively large army which he rented to the highest bidder in the War of Spanish Succession.

At the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 in France, Karl welcomed the expelled Huguenots giving them freedom of worship. Some 4000 Huguenots settled in Kassel. Karl stimulated the metal-industry and was also interested in archaeology.

[edit] Marriage and Children

Karl married his first cousin Maria Amalia of Courland (1653-1711), daughter of Jacob Kettler, Duke of Courland. They had six children

• Friedrich (1676-1751), King of Sweden, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
• Sophie Charlotte (1678-1749) - married Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1675-1713)
• Wilhelm (1682-1760), Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
• Marie Luise (1688-1765) - married Johan Willem Friso, Prince of Orange (1687-1711)
• Maximilian (1689-1753)
• Georg Karl (1691-1755)

Preceded by William VI

Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel 1670-1730

Succeeded by Frederick I