William II, Landgrave of Hesse
Encyclopedia
William II was Landgrave
of Lower Hesse
from 1493 and Landgrave of Upper Hesse
after the death of his cousin, William III, Landgrave of Upper Hesse in 1500.
William II is also called "William the Middle" to distinguish him from his elder brother "William I
the Elder", and his cousin "William III
, the Younger". His parents were Louis II the Frank
(1438–1471) and Mechthild, daughter of Count Louis II of Württemberg
.
William II became Landgrave of Lower Hesse
in 1493, after his brother William I resigned.
On 9 November 1497 William II married Yolande, daughter of Frederick II of Vaudémont
. She died on 21 May 1500 after the marriage produced one child, William (27 March 1500 – 8 April 1500). On 20 October of the same year, William was married a second time, to Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
(14 September 1485 – 12 May 1525), who bore him three children:
In 1500, William II reunited the Landgraviate of Hesse after the death of his cousin William III
. In 1503, Emperor Maximilian I
commissioned William with executing the ban on Elector Philip of the Palatinate
.
Landgrave
Landgrave was a title used in the Holy Roman Empire and later on by its former territories. The title refers to a count who had feudal duty directly to the Holy Roman Emperor...
of Lower Hesse
Landgraviate of Hesse
The Landgraviate of Hesse was a Landgraviate of the Holy Roman Empire. It existed as a unity from 1264 to 1567, when it was divided between the sons of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse.-History:...
from 1493 and Landgrave of Upper Hesse
Landgraviate of Hesse
The Landgraviate of Hesse was a Landgraviate of the Holy Roman Empire. It existed as a unity from 1264 to 1567, when it was divided between the sons of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse.-History:...
after the death of his cousin, William III, Landgrave of Upper Hesse in 1500.
William II is also called "William the Middle" to distinguish him from his elder brother "William I
William I, Landgrave of Hesse
William I of Hesse was the Landgrave of Hesse from 1471 to 1493.His parents were Louis the Frank and Mechthild, daughter of Count Louis I of Württemberg...
the Elder", and his cousin "William III
William III, Landgrave of Hesse
William III "the Younger", Landgrave of Hesse ruled on the part of the county known as Upper Hesse, with residence in Marburg....
, the Younger". His parents were Louis II the Frank
Louis II, Landgrave of Hesse
Louis II of Hesse , called Louis the Frank, was the Landgrave of Lower Hesse from 1458 - 1471....
(1438–1471) and Mechthild, daughter of Count Louis II of Württemberg
Ludwig I, Count of Württemberg-Urach
Ludwig I , Count of Württemberg. He was a son of count Eberhard IV and Henriette of Montbéliard. He reigned from 1419 until 1450....
.
William II became Landgrave of Lower Hesse
Lower Hesse
Lower Hesse a historic designation for an area in northern Hesse, Germany.The term Lower Hesse originated in the Middle Ages for the so-called "lower principality" of Hesse, which was separated until 1450 from the so-called "upper principality" by the area Ziegenhain...
in 1493, after his brother William I resigned.
On 9 November 1497 William II married Yolande, daughter of Frederick II of Vaudémont
Frederick II of Vaudémont
Frederick II of Vaudémont , also known as Frederick II of Lorraine, was Count of Vaudémont and Lord of Joinville from 1458 to 1470. He was son of Antoine of Lorraine, Count of Vaudémont and Lord of Joinville and Marie, Countess of Aumale and Baroness of Elbeuf...
. She died on 21 May 1500 after the marriage produced one child, William (27 March 1500 – 8 April 1500). On 20 October of the same year, William was married a second time, to Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Anna, Princess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was by marriage Landgravine of Hesse.She was a daughter of Duke Magnus II of Mecklenburg , and Sophie of Pomerania-Stettin...
(14 September 1485 – 12 May 1525), who bore him three children:
- ElisabethElisabeth of Hesse (1502-1557)Elizabeth of Hesse was a Hessian princess and by marriage Hereditary Princess of Saxony. After the death of her husband, Crown Prince John of Saxony, she managed her Wittum, the Saxon districts of Rochlitz and Kriebstein and other possessions, independently...
(4 March 1502 – 6 December 1557) - Magdalena (18 July 1503 – September 1504)
- Philip IPhilip I, Landgrave of HessePhilip I of Hesse, , nicknamed der Großmütige was a leading champion of the Protestant Reformation and one of the most important of the early Protestant rulers in Germany....
, (13 November 1504 – 31 March 1567)
In 1500, William II reunited the Landgraviate of Hesse after the death of his cousin William III
William III, Landgrave of Hesse
William III "the Younger", Landgrave of Hesse ruled on the part of the county known as Upper Hesse, with residence in Marburg....
. In 1503, Emperor Maximilian I
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
commissioned William with executing the ban on Elector Philip of the Palatinate
Philip, Elector Palatine
Philip the Upright, Elector Palatine of the Rhine was an Elector Palatine of the Rhine from the house of Wittelsbach from 1476 to 1508....
.