Agnes of Hesse-Kassel
Agnes of Hesse-Kassel (14 May 1606 in Kassel – 28 May 1650 in Dessau) was a princess of Hesse-Kassel by birth and by marriage Princess of Anhalt-Dessau.
| Agnes of Hesse-Kassel | |
|---|---|
| Princess of Anhalt-Dessau | |
| Born | 14 May 1606 Kassel |
| Died | 28 May 1650 (aged 44) Dessau |
| Spouse | John Casimir, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau |
| Issue | |
| House | House of Hesse |
| Father | Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel |
| Mother | Juliane of Nassau-Siegen |
Life
Agnes was a daughter of Landgrave Maurice of Hesse-Kassel (1572-1632) from his second marriage to Juliane of Nassau-Siegen (1587-1643), the daughter of Count John VII of Nassau-Siegen. She was raised together with her siblings. She spoke six languages and composed music.
On 18 May 1623 she married Prince John Casimir of Anhalt-Dessau (1596-1660). During the Thirty Years' War, she managed to soften the plight of Anhalt-Dessau by negotiating with the generals, both orally and in writing. She was considered a keen economist and mathematician. In 1645, she built a fortified house in Nischwitz, which was later developed into Oranienbaum Castle.
Issue
From her marriage Agnes had the following children:
- Maurice (1624-1624)
- Dorothea (1625-1626)
- Juliane (1626-1652)
- John George II (1627-1693), who was Prince of Anhalt-Dessau from 1660 to 1693
- married in 1659 to Princess Henriette Catherine of Nassau (1637-1708)
- Louise (1631-1680)
- married in 1648 to Duke Christian of Brzeg (1618-1672)
- Agnes (1644-1644)
References
- August B. Michaelis: Einleitung zu einer volständigen Geschichte der Chur- und Fürstlichen Häuser ..., p. 624, Online
- Christian August Wichmann: Geschichte berühmter Frauenzimmer, p. 741, Online