Marie Hedwig of Hesse-Darmstadt
Marie Hedwig of Hesse- Darmstadt (* November 26, 1647 in Giessen, † April 19, 1680 in Ichterhausen ) was Landgrave of Hesse- Darmstadt and by marriage Duchess of Saxe- Meiningen.
Life
Marie Hedwig was the youngest daughter of the Landgrave George II of Hesse- Darmstadt (1605-1661) from his marriage to Sophie Eleonore (1609-1671), daughter of the Elector Johann Georg I of Saxony.
The princess was married on November 20, 1671 in Gotha Bernhard, later to become Duke of Saxe- Meiningen, who ruled at that time still with his brothers over Saxe-Gotha and from 1676 resided in Ichterhausen. Here he built a castle, which was named in honor of his wife Marienburg.
In 1680 Bernhard shared with his brothers the country and he became the first Duke of Saxe- Meiningen. The majority of his newly formed country was the former county gefürstete Henneberg, in their coat of arms a black hen was shown. This symbol was placed at that time with witchcraft and magic in conjunction. Marie Hedwig noticed very determined shortly before the relocation of the residence of Ichterhausen to Meiningen, that she would never set foot in the land of the black hen. She died before the age of 32, shortly after the birth of her last child, nine weeks before the move of the court. Her body was transferred to Meiningen and buried there in the crypt of the town church.
Meininger Castle Elizabeth Castle Bernhard was create in memory of his first wife, the so-called baroque Hesse Hall, which should be provided for assessment of both dynasties with portrait pictures.
Progeny
From their marriage Marie Hedwig had the following children:
- Ernst Ludwig I (1672-1724)
- Bernhard (1673-1694)
- Johann Ernst (1674-1675)
- Marie Elisabeth ( * / † 1676 )
- Johann Georg (1677-1679)
- Friedrich Wilhelm (1679-1746)
- Georg Ernst (1680-1699)