Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
| Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg | |
|---|---|
| Landgravine consort of Hesse-Darmstadt | |
 |
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| Born |
8 January 1640 Coburg |
| Died | 24 August 1709 (aged 69) Butzbach |
| Spouse | Louis VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt |
| Issue |
Ernest Louis, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt George, Imperial Field Marshal Sophie Louise, Princess of Oettingen-Oettingen Philip Johann Heinrich Elisabeth Dorothea, Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg Frederick |
| House | House of Wettin |
| Father | Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha |
| Mother | Princess Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg |
Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (8 January 1640 – 24 August 1709), was a German princess and a member of the House of Wettin in the Ernestine branch of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. By marriage she was Landgravine of Hesse-Darmstadt and Landgravine-Regent from 1678 to 1688.
Elisabeth Dorothea was the eldest daughter and eldest surviving child of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha by his wife Elisabeth Sophie, the only daughter of John Philip, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg. Six years after her marriage, her father inherited the Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg and assumed new arms and titles.
On 5 December 1666, Elisabeth Dorothea married Louis VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt at Schloss Friedenstein at Gotha. The groom was a close friend of her brother Prince Frederick and a widowed father of six children. She bore her husband eight further children, two daughters and six sons; one died in infancy and another was killed in battle ten months before her own death. Landgrave Louis VI died on 24 April 1678 and was succeeded by the eldest son of his first marriage, Louis VII, who reigned only 18 weeks and 4 days before dying of dysentery on 31 August 1678 in Gotha.
Like his father, Louis VII designated his stepmother as regent of Hesse-Darmstadt in his will. The Imperial Court (Reichskammergericht) demanded that she reign jointly with a group of councillors led by Weiprecht of Gemmingen, but the politically wise and energetic Elisabeth prevented them from taking their oaths; this relegated them to the position of advisors and allowed her free rein. Darmstadt flourished under her rule.
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