Christina of Saxony | |
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Landgravine consort of Hesse | |
Tenure | 11 December 1523 – 15 April 1549 |
Born | 25 December 1505 Dresden |
Died | 15 April 1549 Kassel | (aged 43)
Spouse | Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse |
Issue | Agnes, Electress of Saxony Anna, Countess Palatine of Zweibrücken William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel Philipp Ludwig Barbara, Duchess of Württemberg-Mömpelgard Louis IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Marburg Elisabeth, Electress Palatine Philip II, Landgrave of Hesse-Rheinfels Christine, Duchess of Holstein-Gottorp George I, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt |
House | Wettin |
Father | George, Duke of Saxony |
Mother | Barbara Jagiellon |
Christine of Saxony (25 December 1505 – 15 April 1549) was a German noblewoman, landgravine consort of Hesse by her marriage to Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse.[1] She was the regent of Hesse during the absence of her spouse in 1547–1549.
She was a daughter of George the Bearded, Duke of Saxony and Barbara Jagiellon. She married Landgrave Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse on 11 December 1523 in Kassel. The marriage was arranged to forge an alliance between Hesse and Saxony and was unhappy; Philip claimed to be disgusted by her and only shared her bed by duty. Christine was nevertheless frequently pregnant; she gave birth to ten children in twenty years, nine of whom lived to adulthood.
Whilst married to Christine, Philip practised bigamy and had another nine children with his other (morganatic) wife, Margarethe von der Saale; in 1540, Christine gave her consent to her husband's bigamy with his lover because of her view upon him as her sovereign.[clarification needed] Margarethe von der Saale, however, was never seen at court.
During Philip's absence and captivity during 1547–1549, Christine was regent jointly with her oldest son. She died before Philip's release in 1552.