Princess Louise Caroline Of Hesse-Kassel

Princess Louise Caroline of Hesse-Kassel (German: Luise Karoline von Hessen-Kassel) was born on 28 September 1789 and died on 13 March 1867. She was a German princess and served as the consort of Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg. She is recognized as a matriarch of the House of Glücksburg.

Early life

Louise Caroline was born at Gottorp, Schleswig, in the Duchy of Schleswig. Her father was Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel (19 December 1744 – 17 August 1836), and her mother was Princess Louise of Denmark (30 January 1750 – 12 January 1831). She had at least one notable sibling, an elder sister named Marie Sophie of Hesse-Kassel (28 October 1767 – 21 March 1852), who became Queen consort of Frederick VI of Denmark.

Marriage and offspring

In 1810, Louise Caroline married Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, who was a relative. Their marriage produced ten children:

1. Princess Luise Marie Friederike of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (23 October 1810 – 11 May 1869)

2. Princess Friederike Karoline Juliane of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (9 October 1811 – 10 July 1902)

3. Karl, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (30 September 1813 – 24 October 1878)

4. Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (23 October 1814 – 27 November 1885)

5. Prince Wilhelm of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (10 April 1816 – 5 September 1893)

6. Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (8 April 1818 – 29 January 1906), later known as Christian IX of Denmark

7. Princess Luise, Abbess of Itzehoe (18 November 1820 – 30 November 1894)

8. Prince Julius of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (14 October 1824 – 1 June 1903)

9. Prince Johann of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (5 December 1825 – 27 May 1911)

10. Prince Nikolaus of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (22 December 1828 – 18 August 1849)

Her son, Prince Christian, was named third-in-line to the throne of Denmark under King Christian VIII in 1847. He succeeded his childless maternal second cousin, King Frederick VII of Denmark, on 15 November 1863, following the death of Hereditary Prince Ferdinand.

Her grandchildren included notable European royals: King Frederik VIII of Denmark, Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom, Empress Marie Feodorovna of Russia, King George I of Greece, and Crown Princess Thyra of Hanover.

At her death, she was the last surviving grandchild of Frederick V of Denmark.