Hedwig Sophia of Brandenburg (14 July 1623, Berlin – 26 June 1683, Schmalkalden) was Landgravine consort of

Hesse-Kassel The Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel (), spelled Hesse-Cassel during its entire existence, also known as the Hessian Palatinate (), was a state of the Holy Roman Empire. The state was created in 1567 when the Landgraviate of Hesse was divided upon t ...

by marriage to

William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel Wilhelm VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel (23 May 1629 – 16 July 1663), known as William the Just, was Landgrave of Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel, Hesse-Kassel from 1637 to 1663. Through two of his surviving children, he is the ancestor of all the ...

, and regent from 1663 until 1677 during the minority of her sons, William VII, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and

Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel Charles of Hesse-Kassel (; 3 August 1654 – 23 March 1730), member of the House of Hesse, was the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel from 1670 to 1730. Childhood Charles was the second son of William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, and Hedwig Sophi ...

Life

She was the daughter of

George William, Elector of Brandenburg George William (; 13 November 1595 – 1 December 1640), of the Hohenzollern dynasty, was Margrave and Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia from 1619 until his death. His reign was marked by ineffective governance during the Thirty Years' ...

and

Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate '' Madame'' Elizabeth Charlotte, Duchess of Orléans (born Princess Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate, ; 27 May 1652 – 8 December 1722), also known as Liselotte von der Pfalz, was a German member of the House of Wittelsbach who marri ...

. She married

in 1649.

Regency

Upon the death of her spouse in 1663, he was succeeded by their son, William VII, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel. As his mother and guardian, she became regent. Her regency was terminated upon the death of her son in 1670, but as he was succeeded by her second son,

, who was also a minor, she was confirmed as such again. During her regency, she repaired the finances of the state, which had been drained during the Thirty Years' War, by raised taxes. She kept the peace despite French expansionism until 1673, when she allied with her brother in Brandenburg against France. During her last years as regent, she delayed her mandate to the dislike of her son until she was forced to hand over the regency in 1677.

Life

Regency

Ancestry

References

Further reading