William VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel
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William VIII (Kassel, 1682 - Rinteln, 1760) was Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel from 1751 until his death.
He was the second son of Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel. After his elder brother Frederick became King of Sweden in 1720 and his father died in 1730 , he became de facto ruler of Hessen-Kassel. He became officially landgrave after his brothers' death in 1751.
Five years later, the Seven Years' War began and William joined forces with Prussia and England. Hessen-Kassel became an important battlefield and was occupied by France on several occasions.
His only son and successor Frederick became a Catholic, which led to restrictions on Catholicism in the Calvinist landgraviate and the transfer of the Principality of Hanau to his protestant son William.
During his reign William started building the Wilhelmsthal Palace and collected paintings, including works by Rembrandt.
William had married in 1717 with Dorothea Wilhelmina (1691-1743), daughter of Maurice William, Duke of Saxe-Zeitz.
They had three children:
- Charles (1718-1719)
- Frederick (1720-1785), his successor
- Maria Amalia (1721-1744).
