Princess Hedwig Sophie of Brandenburg

Hedwig Sophia of Brandenburg
Hedwig Sophia of Brandenburg
Landgravine consort of Hesse-Kassel
Tenure	1649 – 16 July 1663
Born	14 July 1623; Berlin
Died	26 June 1683 (aged 59); Schmalkalden
Spouse	William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel (m. 1649; died 1663)
Issue	Charlotte Amelie, Queen of Denmark; William VII, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel; Luise; Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel; Philip, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal; Georg; Elisabeth Henriëtte, Electoral Princess of Brandenburg
House	Hohenzollern
Father	George William, Elector of Brandenburg
Mother	Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate

Hedwig Sophia of Brandenburg (14 July 1623, Berlin – 26 June 1683, Schmalkalden) was Landgravine consort of Hesse-Kassel by marriage to William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, and regent from 1663 until 1677 during the minority of her sons, William VII, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel.

Life

She was the daughter of George William, Elector of Brandenburg and Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate. She married William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel in 1649.

Regency

Upon the death of her spouse in 1663, he was succeeded by their son, William VII, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel. As his mother and guardian, she became regent. Her regency was terminated upon the death of her son in 1670, but as he was succeeded by her second son, Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, who was also a minor, she was confirmed as such again.

During her regency, she repaired the finances of the state, which had been drained during the Thirty Years' War, by raised taxes. She kept the peace despite French expansionism until 1673, when she allied with her brother in Brandenburg against France.

During her last years as regent, she delayed her mandate to the dislike of her son until she was forced to hand over the regency in 1677.