William IV of Hesse-Kassel (24 June 1532 – 25 August 1592), also called William the Wise, was the first Landgrave of the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel). He was the founder of the oldest line, which survives to this day.
William took a leading part in safeguarding the LutheranReformation, and was indefatigable in his endeavours to unite the different sections of Protestantism against Catholicism.[1] However, he was reluctant to use military force in this conflict.
As an administrator he displayed rare energy, issuing numerous ordinances, appointing expert officials, and in particular ordering his slender finances. By a law of primogeniture he secured his Landgraviate's land against such testamentary divisions as had diminished his father's estate.[1]
Astronomical workedit
William is most notable for his patronage of the arts and sciences. As a youth he had cultivated close connections with scholars and as a ruler he kept up this connection. His interest in astronomy may have been inspired by Petrus Apianus's Astronomicum Caesareum.[2]
William was a pioneer in astronomical research, and perhaps owes his most lasting fame to his discoveries in this branch of study. Most of the mechanical contrivances which made instruments of Tycho Brahe so superior to those of his contemporaries were adopted in Kassel about 1584. From then on the observations made in Hesse-Kassel seem to have been about as accurate as those of Tycho. However the resulting longitudes were 6' too great in consequence of the adopted solar parallax of 3'.[1]
Hessian star catalogueedit
The principal product of the astronomical observations was the Hessian star catalogue, a catalogue of about a thousand stars. The locations were determined by the methods usually employed in the 16th century, connecting a fundamental star by means of Venus with the sun, and thus finding its longitude and latitude, while other stars could at any time be referred to the fundamental star. It should be noticed that clocks, on which Tycho depended very little, were used at Kassel for finding the difference of right ascension between Venus and the sun before sunset. Tycho preferred observing the angular distance between the sun and Venus when the latter was visible in the daytime.[1]
The Hessian star catalogue was published in Historia coelestis (Augsburg, 1666) by Albert Curtz, and a number of other observations are to be found in Coeli et siderum in eo errantium observationes Hassiacae (Leiden, 1618), edited by Willebrord Snell.[1]
R. Wolf, in his Astronomische Mittheilungen, No. 45 (Vierteljahrsschrift der naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Zurich, 1878), has given a resume of the manuscripts still preserved at Kassel, which throw much light on the methods adopted in the observations and reductions.[1]
In addition William had a few illegitimate children. Most significant and favored among these was Philipp von Cornberg (1553–1616), William's son by Elisabeth Wallenstein. Philipp was ennobled by his father and became the ancestor of the current Barons von Cornberg.
Ancestorsedit
Ancestors of William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
^ abcdefOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "William IV. of Hesse". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 672.
william, landgrave, hesse, kassel, william, hesse, kassel, june, 1532, august, 1592, also, called, william, wise, first, landgrave, landgraviate, hesse, kassel, hesse, cassel, founder, oldest, line, which, survives, this, william, ivportrait, kaspar, borcht, 1. William IV of Hesse Kassel 24 June 1532 25 August 1592 also called William the Wise was the first Landgrave of the Landgraviate of Hesse Kassel or Hesse Cassel He was the founder of the oldest line which survives to this day William IVPortrait by Kaspar van der Borcht 1577Landgrave of Hesse KasselReign31 March 1569 25 August 1592SuccessorMauriceBorn24 June 1532KasselDied25 August 1592 1592 08 25 aged 60 SpouseSabine of WurttembergIssueMore Anna Maria Countess of Nassau Weilburg Hedwig Countess of Schaumburg Maurice Landgrave of Hesse Kassel Christine Duchess of Saxe EisenachHouseHesse Kassel founder Hesse by birth FatherPhilip I Landgrave of HesseMotherChristine of Saxony Contents 1 Life 1 1 Landgrave 2 Astronomical work 2 1 Hessian star catalogue 3 Family and children 4 Ancestors 5 References 6 External linksLife editLandgrave edit William was born in Kassel the eldest son of Landgrave Philip the Magnanimous and Christine of Saxony After his father s death in 1567 the Landgraviate of Hesse was divided between the four sons out of the late Landgrave of Hesse s first marriage and William received the portion around the capital Kassel the Landgraviate of Hesse Kassel William took a leading part in safeguarding the Lutheran Reformation and was indefatigable in his endeavours to unite the different sections of Protestantism against Catholicism 1 However he was reluctant to use military force in this conflict As an administrator he displayed rare energy issuing numerous ordinances appointing expert officials and in particular ordering his slender finances By a law of primogeniture he secured his Landgraviate s land against such testamentary divisions as had diminished his father s estate 1 Astronomical work editWilliam is most notable for his patronage of the arts and sciences As a youth he had cultivated close connections with scholars and as a ruler he kept up this connection His interest in astronomy may have been inspired by Petrus Apianus s Astronomicum Caesareum 2 William was a pioneer in astronomical research and perhaps owes his most lasting fame to his discoveries in this branch of study Most of the mechanical contrivances which made instruments of Tycho Brahe so superior to those of his contemporaries were adopted in Kassel about 1584 From then on the observations made in Hesse Kassel seem to have been about as accurate as those of Tycho However the resulting longitudes were 6 too great in consequence of the adopted solar parallax of 3 1 Hessian star catalogue edit The principal product of the astronomical observations was the Hessian star catalogue a catalogue of about a thousand stars The locations were determined by the methods usually employed in the 16th century connecting a fundamental star by means of Venus with the sun and thus finding its longitude and latitude while other stars could at any time be referred to the fundamental star It should be noticed that clocks on which Tycho depended very little were used at Kassel for finding the difference of right ascension between Venus and the sun before sunset Tycho preferred observing the angular distance between the sun and Venus when the latter was visible in the daytime 1 The Hessian star catalogue was published in Historia coelestis Augsburg 1666 by Albert Curtz and a number of other observations are to be found in Coeli et siderum in eo errantium observationes Hassiacae Leiden 1618 edited by Willebrord Snell 1 R Wolf in his Astronomische Mittheilungen No 45 Vierteljahrsschrift der naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Zurich 1878 has given a resume of the manuscripts still preserved at Kassel which throw much light on the methods adopted in the observations and reductions 1 Family and children editWilliam was married to Sabine of Wurttemberg daughter of Christoph Duke of Wurttemberg They had the following children Anna Maria of Hesse Kassel 27 January 1567 21 November 1626 married on 8 June 1589 to Louis II Count of Nassau Weilburg Hedwig of Hesse Kassel 30 June 1569 7 July 1644 married on 11 September 1597 to Ernst of Schaumburg Agnes of Hesse Kassel 30 June 1569 5 September 1569 Sofie of Hesse Kassel 10 June 1571 18 January 1616 Maurice Landgrave of Hesse Kassel 25 May 1572 15 March 1632 succeeded as landgrave on William IV s death in 1592 Sabine of Hesse Kassel 12 May 1573 29 November 1573 Sidonie of Hesse Kassel 29 June 1574 4 April 1575 Christian of Hesse Kassel 14 October 1575 9 November 1578 Elisabeth of Hesse Kassel 11 May 1577 25 November 1578 Christine 19 October 1578 19 August 1658 married on 14 May 1598 to John Ernst Duke of Saxe Eisenach Juliane born and died 9 February 1581In addition William had a few illegitimate children Most significant and favored among these was Philipp von Cornberg 1553 1616 William s son by Elisabeth Wallenstein Philipp was ennobled by his father and became the ancestor of the current Barons von Cornberg Ancestors editAncestors of William IV Landgrave of Hesse Kassel8 Louis II Landgrave of Hesse4 William II Landgrave of Hesse9 Matilda of Wurttemberg Urach2 Philip I Landgrave of Hesse10 Magnus II Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin and Gustrow5 Anna of Mecklenburg Schwerin11 Sophie of Pomerania Wolgast1 William IV Landgrave of Hesse Kassel12 Albert III Duke of Saxony6 George Duke of Saxony13 Sidonie of Podebrady3 Christine of Saxony14 Casimir IV Jagiellon7 Barbara Jagiellon15 Elizabeth of AustriaReferences edit a b c d e f nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 William IV of Hesse Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 28 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 672 Hockey Thomas 2009 The Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers Springer Publishing ISBN 978 0 387 31022 0 Retrieved August 22 2012 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to William IV Landgrave of Hesse Kassel Biographical data and references at The Galileo Project William IV Landgrave of Hesse KasselHouse of HesseBorn 24 June 1532 Died 25 August 1592Regnal titlesPreceded byPhilip I of Hesse Landgrave of Hesse Kassel1567 1592 Succeeded byMaurice Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William IV Landgrave of Hesse Kassel amp oldid 1176637195, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
