Maurice (; 25 May 1572 – 15 March 1632) was the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel) in the Holy Roman Empire from 1592 to 1627.

Maurice was born in Kassel as the son of William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, and of his wife Sabine of Württemberg.

Although Maurice had been raised in the Lutheran faith, he converted to Calvinism in 1605. On the principle Cuius regio eius religio, Maurice's subjects were also required to convert to Calvinism. Maurice's conversion was controversial since the Peace of Augsburg had only settled religious matters betweens Roman Catholics and Lutherans and had not considered Calvinists. Maurice tried to introduce Calvinism to the lands which he had inherited from the extinct Hesse-Marburg branch of his family. Such a change of faith was contrary to the inheritance rules and resulted in an ongoing conflict with the Hesse-Darmstadt branch. It also brought him into conflict with the Holy Roman Emperor, Matthias.

Maurice's actions ruined Hesse-Kassel financially. In 1627 he abdicated in favour of his son William V. Maurice died in Eschwege. He was an expert composer and serious musician. He discovered and supported Heinrich Schütz and employed John Dowland.

Marriages and issue

On 23 September 1593, Maurice married Agnes of Solms-Laubach (1578-23 November 1602). They had six children.

• Otto (24 December 1594-7 August 1617)
• Elisabeth (24 March 1596-16 December 1625)
• Child (24 January 1597)
• Child (August 1599)
• Maurice (14 July 1600-11 August 1612)
• William V (13 February 1602-21 September 1637).

On 22 May 1603, Maurice married Juliane of Nassau-Dillenburg (3 September 1587-15 February 1643). They had 14 children.

• Philipp (26 November 1604-17 June 1626)
• Agnes (13 May 1606-28 May 1650), married John Casimir, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
• Herman (15 August 1607-25 March 1658)
• Juliane (7 October 1608-11 December 1628)
• Sabine (5 July 1610-21 May 1620)
• Magdalene (25 August 1611-12 February 1671)
• Maurice (13 June 1614-16 February 1633)
• Sofie (12 September 1615-22 November 1670)
• Friedrich (9 May 1617-24 September 1655)
• Christian (5 February 1622-14 November 1640)
• Ernst (17 December 1623-12 May 1693)
• Christine (9 July 1625-25 July 1626)
• Philipp (28 September 1626-8 July 1629)
• Elisabeth (23 October 1628-10 February 1633)

External links

de:Moritz (Hessen-Kassel) es:Mauricio I de Hesse-Kassel fr:Maurice de Hesse-Cassel it:Maurizio d'Assia-Kassel nl:Maurits van Hessen-Kassel no:Moritz av Hessen-Kassel ru:????? (???????? ??????-???????????) sv:Moritz den lärde av Hessen-Kassel

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