Elisabeth Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt (1635-1709)

German Royalty. Born Elisabeth Amalie Magdalene, Princess of Hesse-Darmstadt, she was the daughter of George II, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt and his wife Sophia Eleonore of Saxony. She was raised in a strict manner by her Lutheran mother. Elisabeth married Philip William, Count Palatine of Neuburg, on 3 September, 1653 at Langenschwalbach. She was 18 and Philip's second wife, her husband was 35. She converted to Catholicism in November of 1653. By all accounts, the 37-year marriage was a very happy one, and they had 17 children, including Holy Roman Empress Eleonore Madeleine, Elector Palatine Johan Wilhelm, Elector Palatine Charles III Philip, Archbishop Francis Louis of Trier, Queen Maria Sophia of Portugal, and Queen Maria Anna of Spain. The couple lived in Düsseldorf, where they founded many churches and monasteries, before moving to Neuburg an der Donau. Philip William became Elector Palatine in 1685, but died just five years later on 2 September 1690. Elisabeth outlived her husband by almost 20 years, dying at Neuburg at the age of 74.

Bio by: Kristen Conrad