Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel


Maurice of Hesse-Kassel, also called Maurice the Learned or Moritz, was the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel in the Holy Roman Empire from 1592 to 1627.

Life

Maurice was born in Kassel as the son of William IV, [Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel], and of his wife Sabine of Württemberg.
Although Maurice had been raised in the Lutheran faith, he converted to Calvinism in 1605. On the principle Cuius regio eius religio, Maurice's subjects were also required to convert to Calvinism. Maurice's conversion was controversial since the Peace of Augsburg had only settled religious matters between Roman Catholics and Lutherans and had not considered Calvinists. Maurice tried to introduce Calvinism to the lands which he had inherited from the extinct Hesse-Marburg branch of his family. Such a change of faith was contrary to the inheritance rules, and resulted in an ongoing conflict with the Hesse-Darmstadt branch. It also brought him into conflict with the Holy Roman Emperor, Matthias, [Holy Roman Emperor|Matthias].
English strolling players were frequent visitors to, and performers in, towns and cities in Germany and other European countries, including Kassel, during the 16th and 17th centuries. Landgraf Moritz was a great supporter of the performing arts and even built the first permanent theatre in Germany, named the Ottoneum, in 1605. This building still exists today but as a Natural History Museum.
In 1609, Maurice played a leading role in mediating the Treaty of Dortmund, which aimed to determine the succession of Julich-Cleves-Berg. He did so with support from King Henry IV of France.
Maurice's actions ruined Hesse-Kassel financially. In 1627 he abdicated in favour of his son William V. Five years later he died in Eschwege. He was not only a serious musician but an expert composer. The leading musical figures whom he supported included Heinrich Schütz and John Dowland.

Marriages and issue

On 23 September 1593, Maurice married Agnes of Solms-Laubach. They had six children:
On 22 May 1603, Maurice married Countess Juliane of Nassau-Siegen. They had fourteen children: