Landgravine Auguste of Hesse-Homburg

Landgravine Auguste Fredericka of Hesse-Homburg (full German name: Auguste Friederike, Landgräfin von Hessen-Homburg; 28 November 1776, Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Landgraviate of Hesse-Homburg, Holy Roman Empire^{[citation needed]} – 1 April 1871, Ludwigslust, Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a German noblewoman.

Landgravine Auguste
Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Born	(1776-11-28)28 November 1776 Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Landgraviate of Hesse-Homburg, Holy Roman Empire
Died	1 April 1871(1871-04-01) (aged 94) Ludwigslust, Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Burial	Helena Paulovna Mausoleum, Ludwigslust
Spouse	Frederick Louis, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin ​ ​ (m. 1818; died 1819)​
Names German: Auguste Friederike
Father	Frederick V, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
Mother	Landgravine Caroline of Hesse-Darmstadt

Background and early life

A portrait photograph of Auguste, taken in 1850.

Auguste was the sixth child and fourth daughter of Frederick V, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg and his wife Landgravine Caroline of Hesse-Darmstadt, in turn daughter of Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt. She was a member of the House of Hesse and a Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg by birth. Through her marriage, she became a member of the House of Mecklenburg and Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Because all her older sisters married very early, Auguste became by 1793 in the primary caretaker of her parents, and a particular support to her ailing father.

Life

In Homburg on 3 April 1818, the 41-years-old Auguste married Frederick Louis, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, twice a widower and father of four surviving children. The marriage was suggested by the late second wife of the Hereditary Grand Duke, Princess Caroline Louise of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (Auguste's first-cousin) at her deathbed.

The union was childless and lasted only 18 months until Frederick Louis' death on 29 November 1819. She was a devoted stepmother for her husband's children, taking responsibility for their upbringing and education. She developed a particularly close relationship with her stepdaughter Helene, second child and only daughter of her cousin Caroline Louise.

Auguste, who never remarried, remained in Mecklenburg-Schwerin for the rest of her life, dying in Ludwigslust aged 94. She was buried at the Helena Paulovna Mausoleum, next to her husband and his two previous wives.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Landgravine Auguste of Hesse-Homburg

8. Landgrave Kasimir Wilhelm of Hesse-Homburg 4. Frederick IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg 9. Countess Christine Charlotte of Solms-Braunfels 2. Frederick V, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg 10. Friedrich Wilhelm, Prince of Solms-Braunfels 5. Countess Ulrike Louise of Solms-Braunfels 11. Countess Sophie Magdalena Benigna of Solms-Laubach-Utphe 1. Landgravine Auguste of Hesse-Homburg 12. Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt 6. Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt 13. Countess Charlotte of Hanau-Lichtenberg 3. Landgravine Caroline of Hesse-Darmstadt 14. Christian III, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken 7. Countess Palatine Caroline of Zweibrücken 15. Caroline of Nassau-Saarbrücken