Biography
Born at the New Palace in Gießen, she was a daughter of George II, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt and Sophia Eleonore of Saxony. Her siblings included Louis of Hesse-Darmstadt, future Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt and Anna Sophia, Abbess of Quedlinburg.
Elisabeth Amalie was brought up strictly by her mother who was a Lutheran. She had an attractive appearance with striking blond hair, a trait she kept until her old age and which was inherited by her daughters Eleonor Magdalene and Dorothea Sophie, the latter being known in particular for her blonde hair.
On 3 September 1653 she was married at Langenschwalbach to Count palatine Philip William of Neuburg, who later became Prince-elector of the Palatinate. Her husband was some twenty years older than she and was the heir to the Electoral Palatinate which was a one of the most important states within the Holy Roman Empire.
She converted to Catholicism on 1 November 1653 in the presence of the elector and archbishop of Cologne, Maximilian Henry of Bavaria.
The 37-year long marriage was regarded as extremely happy and over its course, produced 17 children, many of which have descendants today. In the early years of their marriage, the couple lived in Düsseldorf, where they founded churches and monasteries. Later they moved to Neuburg, where she died after outliving her husband by almost 20 years.
The writer William Nakatenus dedicated his work The Heavenly Palm little garden to her.
Read more about this topic: Landgravine Elisabeth Amalie Of Hesse-Darmstadt
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