Elisabeth of Hesse, Electress Palatine


Elisabeth of Hesse was a German noblewoman, by birth a member of the House of Hesse and by virtue of marriage Electress of Pfalz-Simmern.

Early life

She was born as the seventh child and fourth daughter of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse and his wife, Duchess Christine of Saxony, daughter of George, Duke of Saxony.

Family

On 8 July 1560 she married Louis VI, Elector Palatine. They had twelve children in just fifteen years, but only four of them survived childhood:
  1. Anna Marie, married Charles IX of Sweden
  2. Elisabeth, died in infancy.
  3. Dorothea Elisabeth, died in infancy.
  4. Dorothea, died in childhood.
  5. Frederick Philip, died in infancy.
  6. Johann Friedrich, died in infancy.
  7. Ludwig, died in infancy.
  8. Katharina, died unmarried.
  9. Christine, died unmarried.
  10. Frederick IV, Elector Palatine.
  11. Philip, died in infancy.
  12. Elisabeth, died in infancy.

Later life and death

She died a year before her husband and was buried on April 1, 1582, in the Church of the Holy Spirit.