William VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel
Encyclopedia
William VIII ruled Hesse-Kassel
1730 until his death, first as regent (1730–1751) and then as landgrave (1751–1760).
Born in Kassel
, he was the seventh son of Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
. After his elder brother Frederick
became King of Sweden in 1720 and his father died in 1730, he became de facto ruler of Hesse-Kassel. He became officially landgrave after his brother's death on 25 March 1751.
Five years later, the Seven Years' War
began and William joined with the Prussian
and British
forces. Hesse-Kassel
became an important battlefield and was occupied by France
on several occasions.
His second son and successor, Frederick, became a Catholic, which led to restrictions on Catholicism
in the Calvinist landgraviate and the transfer of the Principality of Hanau to his Protestant son William
.
During his reign, William started building the Wilhelmsthal
Palace and collected paintings, including works by Rembrandt.
In 1717, William married Dorothea Wilhelmina (20 March 1691 – 17 March 1743), eldest daughter of Maurice William, Duke of Saxe-Zeitz.
They had three children: Charles (21 August 1718 – 17 October 1719); Frederick, his successor; and Maria Amalia (7 July 1721 – 19 November 1744). He died at Rinteln
in 1760.
Hesse-Kassel
The Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel or Hesse-Cassel was a state in the Holy Roman Empire under Imperial immediacy that came into existence when the Landgraviate of Hesse was divided in 1567 upon the death of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse. His eldest son William IV inherited the northern half and the...
1730 until his death, first as regent (1730–1751) and then as landgrave (1751–1760).
Born in Kassel
Kassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
, he was the seventh son of Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
Karl I was Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel from 1670 till his death.Born at Kassel, he was the son of Wilhelm VI of Hesse-Kassel and Hedwig Sophia of Brandenburg, daughter of Georg Wilhelm, Elector of Brandenburg. After the early death of his father, his mother ruled as regent until 1675...
. After his elder brother Frederick
Frederick I of Sweden
Frederick I, , was a prince consort of Sweden from 1718 to 1720, and a King of Sweden from 1720 until his death and also Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel from 1730...
became King of Sweden in 1720 and his father died in 1730, he became de facto ruler of Hesse-Kassel. He became officially landgrave after his brother's death on 25 March 1751.
Five years later, the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
began and William joined with the Prussian
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
and British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
forces. Hesse-Kassel
Hesse-Kassel
The Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel or Hesse-Cassel was a state in the Holy Roman Empire under Imperial immediacy that came into existence when the Landgraviate of Hesse was divided in 1567 upon the death of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse. His eldest son William IV inherited the northern half and the...
became an important battlefield and was occupied by France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on several occasions.
His second son and successor, Frederick, became a Catholic, which led to restrictions on Catholicism
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in the Calvinist landgraviate and the transfer of the Principality of Hanau to his Protestant son William
William I, Elector of Hesse
William I, Elector of Hesse was the eldest surviving son of Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and Princess Mary of Great Britain, the daughter of George II.-Early life:...
.
During his reign, William started building the Wilhelmsthal
Wilhelmsthal
Wilhelmsthal is a municipality in the district of Kronach in Bavaria, Germany....
Palace and collected paintings, including works by Rembrandt.
In 1717, William married Dorothea Wilhelmina (20 March 1691 – 17 March 1743), eldest daughter of Maurice William, Duke of Saxe-Zeitz.
They had three children: Charles (21 August 1718 – 17 October 1719); Frederick, his successor; and Maria Amalia (7 July 1721 – 19 November 1744). He died at Rinteln
Rinteln
Rinteln is a small town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located on the banks of the Weser river above the Porta Westfalica. Population: 28,500.It is accessed by the A2 autobahn .-History:...
in 1760.