William V, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel

Who was William V, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel?

William V of Hesse-Kassel was the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel in the Holy Roman Empire from 1627 to 1637.

William was born in Kassel, the son of Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and Agnes of Solms-Laubach. Agnes died shortly after the birth of William and his father subsequently married Countess Juliane of Nassau-Dillenburg. After losing much of the Hesse-Kassel territory to the Darmstadt line and leaving the family in financial ruin Maurice abdicated in favor of his son.

William, having come to rule in unfavorable circumstances and in the midst of the Thirty Years' War, continued to suffer losses of territory and wealth. William served as Landgrave for ten years—a tenure marked by defeats and losses.

William's widow, Amalie Elisabeth von Hanau-Münzenberg, served as regent for her son William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel until he came of age in 1650. Under her leadership many of the lands lost by her father-in-law and husband were regained through various foreign alliances and battles.

In 1650, William's son, William VI, began his rule as Landgrave, and continued the Hesse-Kassel line which almost perished under Maurice and William V.