William VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel

William VIII (March 10, 1682 - February 1, 1760) was Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel from 1751 until his death.

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 (March 20, 1691-March 17, 1743), eldest daughter of Maurice William, Duke of Saxe-Zeitz.
They had three children: Charles (August 21, 1718-October 17, 1719), Frederick, his successor, and Maria Amalia (July 7, 1721-November 19, 1744). He died at Rinteln in 1760.

Ancestry

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1= 1. William VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
2= 2. Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
3= 3. Maria Amalia of Courland
4= 4. William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
5= 5. Hedwig Sophie of Brandenburg
6= 6. Jacob Kettler, Duke of Courland
7= 7. Louise Charlotte of Brandenburg
8= 8. William V, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
9= 9. Amalie Elisabeth of Hanau-Münzenberg
10= 10. George William, Elector of Brandenburg
11= 11. Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate
12= 12. Wilhelm Kettler, Duke of Courland
13= 13. Sofie of Prussia
14= 14. George William, Elector of Brandenburg (= 10)
15= 15. Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate (= 11)
16= 16. Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
17= 17. Agnes of Solms-Laubach
18= 18. Philipp Ludwig II, Count of Hanau-Münzenberg
19= 19. Catherine-Belgica of Orange-Nassau
20= 20. John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg
21= 21. Anna of Prussia
22= 22. Frederick IV, Elector Palatine
23= 23. Louise Juliana of Nassau
24= 24. Gotthard Kettler, Duke of Courland
25= 25. Anna of Mecklenburg
26= 26. Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia
27= 27. Marie Eleonore of Cleves
28= 28. John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg (= 20)
29= 29. Anna of Prussia (= 21)
30= 30. Frederick IV, Elector Palatine (= 22)
31= 31. Louise Juliana of Nassau (= 23)

References

*Genealogics name|id=00008893