William II, Landgrave of Hesse

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

William II (29 April 1469 - 11 July 1509), was Landgrave of Hesse from 1493 until his death.

William II is also called William the Middle to distinguish him from his elder brother William I the Elder, and his cousin William III, the Younger.

William's parents were Louis II the Frank (1438-1471) and Mechthild, daughter of Count Louis II of Württemberg.

William II became Landgrave of Lower Hesse in 1493, after his brother William I resigned.

On 9 November 1497 William II married Jolanta, daughter of Duke Frederick VI of Lorraine, she died on 21 May 1500 the marriage produced no heir. On 20 October of the same year, William got married a second time, to Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (14 September 1485 - 12 May 1525), who bore him four children:

In 1500 William II reunited the Landgraviate of Hesse after the death of his cousin William III, Landgrave of Upper Hesse.

In 1503 Emperor Maximilian I commissioned William with the executing the ban on the Elector Philip of the Palatinate.

Preceded by
William I
Landgrave of Lower Hesse
1493-1509
Succeeded by
Philip I
Preceded by
William III
Landgrave of Upper Hesse
1500-1509

[edit] External links