Landgrave William of Hesse-Cassel

Prince William of Hesse

Prince William of Hesse-Kassel

Marriage and children

Children of marriage:

Karoline Friederike Marie of Hesse-Kassel (15 August 1811 - 10 May 1829).
Marie Luise Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel (9 May 1814 - 28 July 1895). Married Prince Frederick Augustus of Anhalt-Dessau.
Louise of Hesse (7 September 1817- 29 September 1898). Married King Christian IX of Denmark.
Friedrich Wilhelm (26 November 1820 - 14 October 1864). Head of House of Hesse-Kassel. Married first Grand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaievna of Russia, a daughter of Nicholas I of Russia and Charlotte of Prussia, and second Anna of Prussia.
Auguste Sophie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel (30 October 1823 - 17 July 1899. Married Charles Frederick, Baron of Nasbyholm (Blixen-Fineke).
Sophie Wilhelmine of Hesse-Kassel (18 January - 20 December 1827).

The early fortunes of the Rothschild family were made through a conjunction of financial intelligence and the wealth of Prince William. In 1785 the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel died, leaving his immense wealth (largely gained through the loan of Hessian mercenaries,not least to Great Britain during the American Revolution) to the young Prince William. During the Napoleonic wars the Prince saw necessary to have his fortune hidden from Napoleon by using his long standing Jewish friend's home in Frankfurt. This money then saw its way through to Nathan Mayer, (N.M.) in London, where it helped fund the British movements through Portugal and Spain. The interest made from this venture was reaped by the budding jewish bankers, who used it to swiftly develope their fortune and prestige in Europe and Britain. It was not long before their riches outweighed that of their benefactor, the Prince William of Hesse-Kassel.