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Elector of Hesse From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William II (German: Wilhelm II; 28 July 1777 – 20 November 1847) was the penultimate Elector of Hesse.[1]
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in German. (December 2012) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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| William II | |
|---|---|
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| Elector of Hesse | |
| Reign | 27 February 1821 – 20 November 1847 |
| Predecessor | William I |
| Successor | Frederick William |
| Born | 28 July 1777 Schloss Philippsruhe, Hesse |
| Died | 20 November 1847 (aged 70) Frankfurt, Hesse |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | Prince Wilhelm Princess Karoline Princess Luise Frederick William, Elector of Hesse Marie Frederica, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen Prince Ferdinand Luise Wilhelmine Emilie Julius Wilhelm Albrecht Gustav Karl Amalie Wilhelmine Emilie Emilie Friederike Wilhelm Helene |
| House | Hesse-Kassel |
| Father | William I, Elector of Hesse |
| Mother | Wilhelmina Caroline of Denmark |
William was the eldest surviving son of William I, Elector of Hesse and Wilhelmina Caroline of Denmark and Norway. With the Hessian troops, he was involved in the War of the Sixth Coalition against Napoleon in 1813. He succeeded as Elector of Hesse (a title that was moribund after the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806) after his father's death in 1821.
Upon succeeding his father as Elector, he halted the construction of the Chattenburg palace. Instead, he focused on expanding the Residenzpalais in Kassel.
On 13 February 1797 in Berlin, William married Princess Augusta of Prussia, fourth daughter of King Frederick William II of Prussia. They had six children:
William also had eight children with his second wife, Emilie Ortlöpp (1791–1843), daughter of Johann Christian Ortlöpp and Agnese Wiessenberg, created in 1821 Countess of Reichenbach-Lessonitz. The children bore the title Count/Countess of Reichenbach-Lessonitz:
| Coin of William II, Elector of Hesse, struck 1823 | |
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| Obverse: (German) WILHELM II, KURF S.L.V. HESSEN G.H.V. FULDA, "Wilhelm II, Kurfurst und Sovereigner Landgrave von Hessen, Gross Herzog von Fulda" in English: "William II, Elector and Sovereign Landgrave of Hesse, Grand Duke of Fulda". | Reverse: (German) EINEN THALER, in English: "One Thaler". |
Several months after Augusta's death on 19 February 1841, William morganatically married his mistress and their children were legitimated. Emilie Ortlöpp died less than two years after the marriage in 1843.
Again, months after his second wife's death, William married (morganatically) Caroline, Baroness of Berlepsch (1820–1877), daughter of Ludwig Hermann, Baron of Berlepsch and Melusine Jul. Chr. von Kruse. William created the title of Countess of Bergen for Caroline in 1846. This marriage was childless. After his death, she married on 28 October 1851 Karl Adolf Graf von Hohenthal (1811–1875), by whom she had two sons: Karl Adolf (b. 1853) and Karl Ludwig (b. 1857).
William died on 20 November 1847 and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Frederick William, the last Elector of Hesse.
Princess Tatiana of Greece and Denmark, the wife of Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark, is a descendant of William II, through her mother's side.
Electorate of Hesse:[2][3]
Grand Duchy of Hesse: Grand Cross of the Ludwig Order[2]
Kingdom of Prussia:[2]
Kingdom of Hanover: Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order, 1818[5]
Denmark: Knight of the Order of the Elephant, 16 April 1821[6]
Austrian Empire: Grand Cross of the Order of St. Stephen, 1821[7]
Ernestine duchies: Grand Cross of the Saxe-Ernestine House Order, April 1834[8]| Ancestors of William II, Elector of Hesse |
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