Marie Frederica of Hesse-Kassel

Princess Marie Frederica Wilhelmina of Hesse-Kassel (6 September 1804 – 1 January 1888) was a Duchess consort of Saxe-Meiningen by marriage to Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. She was the daughter of William II, Elector of Hesse and Princess Augusta of Prussia.

Life

Marie Frederica was one of six children born to William II, Elector of Hesse by his first spouse Augusta of Prussia. However, her only sibling to live past the age of five was Frederick William, Elector of Hesse. In addition, she had eight half-siblings by her father's second marriage to Emilie Ortlöpp, Countess of Reichenbach-Lessonitz.

Duchess In 1822, Marie, through the suggestion of her mother's friend, the Swedish countess Charlotta Aurora De Geer, was considered a possible bride for Oscar I of Sweden, but the following year, he married Josephine of Leuchtenberg instead.

On 23 March 1825, Marie married Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. He was a son of Georg I Frederick Karl, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, as well as a brother of Queen Adelaide of the United Kingdom. He and Marie had two surviving children. Her son Georg would remain an only child for seventeen years until the birth of his sister Augusta in 1843.

Marie Frederica was widowed in 1882 and died on 1 January 1888, six years later.

Issue NameBirthDeathNotes Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen 2 April 1826 25 June 1914 married (1) Princess Charlotte of Prussia; had issue (2) Princess Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg; had issue (3) Ellen Franz; no issue Princess Augusta Luise Adelaide Karoline Ida 6 August 1843 11 November 1919 married Prince Moritz of Saxe-Altenburg

Ancestry