Otto, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel

Otto, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
File:Otto von Hessen-Kassel.png Otto, hereditary prince of Hesse-Kassel
Spouse(s)	Catherine Ursula of Baden-Durlach Agnes Magdalene of Anhalt-Dessau
Issue Ernest Reinhard of Hattenbach (illegitimate)
Noble family	House of Hesse
Father	Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
Mother	Agnes of Solms-Laubach
Born	(1594-12-24)24 December 1594 Kassel
Died	Hersfeld
Buried	St. Mary's church in Marburg

Landgrave Otto of Hessen-Kassel (24 December 1594 in Kassel – 7 August 1617 in Hersfeld), was hereditary prince of Hesse-Kassel and administrator of Hersfeld Abbey.

Life

Otto was the eldest son of Landgrave Maurice of Hesse-Kassel (1572-1632) from his marriage to Agnes (1578-1602), the daughter of Count John George of Solms-Laubach.

Otto was educated by his father, together with his siblings. When he was 10 years, he was enlisted in Hersfeld Abbey. He became administrator of the Abbey in 1606, and Joachim Röll, the abbot, intended him to become coadjutor and his successor as abbot.

After completing his studies at the University of Marburg, Otto made a Grand Tour, visiting London and Paris. When he returned, his father involved him in the business of government.

In 1617, he suffered from the German measles. He had a fever and from his sickbed, he tried to shoot a barking dog, which annoyed him. He missed so badly that he hit himself in the chest and died. He was buried in the Lutheran St. Mary's church in Marburg.

Marriages and issue

In Kassel on 24 August 1613 Otto married firstly Catherine Ursula (b. Schloss Karlsburg, 19 June 1593 - d. Marburg, 15 February 1615), daughter of George Frederick, Margrave of Baden-Durlach. She died after giving birth a still-born son.

In Dessau on 14 June 1617 Otto married secondly Agnes Magdalene (b. Dessau, 29 March 1590 - d. Eschwege, 24 October 1626), daughter of John George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau. This marriage was childless.

Otto left a son born out of wedlock:

• Ernest Reinhard of Hattenbach (b. posthumously Hachborn, 17 December 1617 - d. Rodenberg, 1 April 1694), married in 1669 to Anna Katharina of Hake (d. 1707).

Ancestors

Family of Otto, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel

16. William II, Landgrave of Hesse               8. Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse                       17. Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin               4. William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel                             18. George, Duke of Saxony               9. Christine of Saxony                       19. Barbara Jagiellon               2. Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel                                   20. Ulrich, Duke of Württemberg               10. Christoph, Duke of Württemberg                       21. Sabina of Bavaria               5. Sabine of Württemberg                             22. George, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach               11. Anna Maria of Brandenburg-Ansbach                       23. Hedwig of Münsterberg-Oels               1. Otto, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel                                         24. Otto of Solms-Laubach               12. Frederick Magnus I, Count of Solms-Laubach                       25. Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin               6. John George, Count of Solms-Laubach                             26. John III of Wied-Runkel               13. Agnes of Wied                       27. Elisabeth of Nassau-Dillenburg, Countess of Wied               3. Agnes of Solms-Laubach                                   28. George II, Baron of Schönburg-Glauchau               14. George II, Baron of Schönburg-Glauchau                       29. Amalia of Leisnig               7. Margaret of Schönburg-Glauchau                             30. Henry XIII of Reuss-Greiz               15. Dorothea of Reuss-Plauen                       31. Amalia of Mansfeld-Vorderort

References

• Christian Röth: Geschichte von Hessen p. 255 ff
• Christoph von Rommel: Geschichte von Hessen p. 324 ff