Background
She was born after her father"s death and remained unmarried.
She was born after her father"s death and remained unmarried.
We have a very incomplete picture of her life. In fact we only know a few unusual facts, such as that she remained unmarried. This was unintended; her mother"s relatives tried to arrange a marriage into the House of Wittelsbach for her in 1573.
Another criticism was that among her personnel were a widwife and the sister-in-law of an executioner.
She was supported by the Lutheran Count Palatine Richard of Simmern-Sponheim, who tried to stem Calvinist offensive, together with the Counts of Hanau-Lichtenberg. Maria died on 15 February 1605 in Frankfurt.
The fact that she died in Frankfurt is a further indication that she led quite an independent life for a lady of her era. She was buried in the Church of Saint Mary in Hanau.
As with many female members of aristocratic families of the period who did not belong to important royal houses, the research into her life shows many gaps. As this conflict was not only about religion, but also about which member of the House of Hanau would act as regent for whom, Count Palatine John Casimir intervened immediately when Count Philip V of Hanau-Lichtenberg offered Maria accommodation in his castle in Babenhausen.