Princess Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt (1757–1830)

As the youngest daughter, with eight siblings, Louise's education was important to improve her marriage prospects. Since Louis IX showed little interest in his children, it was vital to get Louise married off and a matter also in the hands of her mother, becoming known as the "great Landgräfin" and von Zweibrücken due to her expert international dynastic politics in ancien regime Europe. In 1773 Louise travelled with her mother and sisters

Nevertheless, this journey was not without influence on Louise, since on the way to Russia Caroline had learned of another female regent of a small German state –

Marriage

At the end of this acquaintance, under the influence of the governor in Erfurt from the

The marriage was wholly dynastic in purpose (her sisters were married off to

I know one, thin as the lily / Whose pride is only innocence. / No one – not even Solomon – ever saw her like.
(J'en sais une, mince comme lys/ Dont la fierté n'est qu'innocence./ Nul – pas même Salomon – n'en vit de pareille.)

After four years of marriage, in 1779 Louise finally gave birth her first child, who was not the hoped-for male heir but a daughter; named after her mother, she lived for only five years. Louise's next pregnancy, in 1781, produced a second daughter who died immediately after birth. At this time the Weimar ducal court also went through its

Napoleonic Wars

Louise had her great moment in October 1806. Despite her childhood and her early experiences in Weimar, she was a great influence in literary circles. The

Two days after the battle she ended up opposing

In 1815 her politicking during the war ensured that at the

Issue