Elisabeth Dorothea was the eldest daughter and eldest surviving child of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha by his wife Elisabeth Sophie, the only daughter of John Philip, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg. Six years after her marriage, her father inherited the Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg and assumed new arms and titles.
By marriage she was Landgravine of Hesse-Darmstadt and Landgravine-Regent from 1678 to 1688. On 5 December 1666, Elisabeth Dorothea married Louis VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt at Schloss Friedenstein at Gotha. Darmstadt flourished under her rule.
She died in Butzbach in 1709.
She kept a diary for some time before abandoning it in 1667.
The Imperial Court (Reichskammergericht) demanded that she reign jointly with a group of councillors led by Weiprecht of Gemmingen, but the politically wise and energetic Elisabeth prevented them from taking their oaths. This relegated them to the position of advisors and allowed her free rein. Although she left only 52 pages worth of entries, the diary is considered a valuable view into the world of the German courts.
