Elizabeth of Hesse-Kassel, Duchess of Mecklenburg

Elisabeth of Hesse- Kassel (* March 24, 1596 in Kassel, † December 16, 1625 in Güstrow ) was a princess of Hesse- Kassel, by marriage Duchess of Mecklenburg and a poet of German and Italian language.

Life

Elizabeth was the eldest daughter of the Landgrave Moritz of Hesse- Kassel (1572-1632) from his marriage to Agnes (1578-1602), daughter of Count Johann Georg Solms- Laubach. Her godmother was Queen Elizabeth I of England, who was represented on this occasion by the Earl of Lincoln. The baptism of the princess was one of the most elaborate ceremonies at the court in Kassel, was held at the occasion of the last jousting in Europe. The engraver and historian Wilhelm Dilich summed up the event 1598-1601 together in a documentary. The band is now in the City Museum of Kassel.

The education of his eldest daughter took over her father, her brothers trained them together on the court school. Elizabeth was described as very witty; she spoke several languages ​​and wrote more than 200 poems, they also translated some Italian works in the German language, played music and composed.

Initially intended for the wife of the Swedish Duke Charles Philip, however, shattered this marriage project. Engaged she was then with Frederick Henry of Orange, but this solved the betrothal again, after he had failed with its substantial dowry demands.

Elisabeth married on March 25, 1618 in Kassel Duke Johann Albrecht II of Mecklenburg, who already had four children from his first marriage. The highly musical Duchess created the Guestrower court orchestra and worked on as a writer.

Elizabeth had no children from her marriage, her dowry, pledged to office and city Dargun, fell after its death in Hesse back.