A Family Genealogy of
the Gentle House of Stapleton
the Gentle House of Stapleton
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(Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel) William IV HESSE-KASSEL #79001
24 JUN 1532 - 25 AUG 1592
Personal Information
- TITLE: Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
- BIRTH: 24 JUN 1532, Kassel, Hesse, Germany
- DEATH: 25 AUG 1592, Kassel, Hesse, Germany
Notes
Founder of the House of Hesse-Kassel
William IV of Hesse-Kassel, also called William the Wise, was the first Landgrave of the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel). He was the founder of the oldest line, which survives to this day.
Landgrave
William was born in Kassel, the eldest son of Landgrave Philip the Magnanimous and Christine of Saxony. After his father's death in 1567, the Landgraviate of Hesse was divided among the four sons from the late Landgrave of Hesse's first marriage, and William received the portion around the capital Kassel, the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel.
William took a leading part in safeguarding the Lutheran Reformation, and was indefatigable in his endeavours to unite the different sections of Protestantism against Catholicism. However, he was reluctant to use military force in this conflict.
As an administrator he displayed rare energy, issuing numerous ordinances, appointing expert officials, and in particular ordering his slender finances. By a law of primogeniture he secured his Landgraviate's land against such testamentary divisions as had diminished his father's estate.
William IV of Hesse-Kassel, also called William the Wise, was the first Landgrave of the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel). He was the founder of the oldest line, which survives to this day.
Landgrave
William was born in Kassel, the eldest son of Landgrave Philip the Magnanimous and Christine of Saxony. After his father's death in 1567, the Landgraviate of Hesse was divided among the four sons from the late Landgrave of Hesse's first marriage, and William received the portion around the capital Kassel, the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel.
William took a leading part in safeguarding the Lutheran Reformation, and was indefatigable in his endeavours to unite the different sections of Protestantism against Catholicism. However, he was reluctant to use military force in this conflict.
As an administrator he displayed rare energy, issuing numerous ordinances, appointing expert officials, and in particular ordering his slender finances. By a law of primogeniture he secured his Landgraviate's land against such testamentary divisions as had diminished his father's estate.
Parents
Father: Philip I HESSE #86449
Mother: Christine of WETTIN #85169
Family 1 :
Wife: Sabine of WÜRTTEMBERG
- MARRIAGE: 11 FEB 1565/66, Marburg, Marburg-Biedenkopf, Hesse, Germany
Note:
Children:
_Louis II HESSE ____________+
| (1438 - 1471) m 1454
_William II HESSE ______|
| (1469 - 1509) |
| |_Mechthild of WÜRTTEMBERG _+
| (1436 - 1495) m 1454
_Philip I HESSE ______|
| (1504 - 1567) m 1523 |
| | _Magnus II MECKLENBURG _____+
| | | (1441 - 1503)
| |_Anna of MECKLENBURG ___|
| (1485 - 1525) |
| |_Sophia of GRIFFIN _________+
| (1460 - 1504)
|
|--William IV HESSE-KASSEL
| (1532 - 1592)
| _Albert III WETTIN _________+
| | (1442 - 1500)
| _George WETTIN _________|
| | (1471 - 1539) |
| | |_Sidonie of PODIEBRAD ______
| | (1449 - 1509)
|_Christine of WETTIN _|
(1505 - 1549) m 1523 |
| _Casimir IV JAGIEŁŁO _____+
| | (1427 - 1492)
|_Barbara of JAGIEŁŁO _|
(1478 - 1533) |
|_Elizabeth of HABSBURG _____+
(1436 - 1505)