Background
She was one of the daughters of King Frederick V of Denmark (1723–1766), and his first wife Louise (1724–1751), daughter of King George II of Great Britain.
She was one of the daughters of King Frederick V of Denmark (1723–1766), and his first wife Louise (1724–1751), daughter of King George II of Great Britain.
Wilhelmina and William had grown up together and played together as children, as William had been evacuated to the Danish court during the Seven Years" War (1755-1763), and it was decided early on that they should marry when they became adults. The couple settled in Hanau. William succeeded in 1785 as Landgrave William IX of Hesse and in 1803 was raised to the rank of Elector of Hesse-Kassel as William I. The marriage was unhappy: her spouse was unfaithful and had many lovers, notably Karoline von Schlotheim, whom he had appointed Countess of Hessenstein.
Caroline herself was described as beautiful, distant, kind and sympathetic.
In 1804, she still spoke Danish without accent and had a strong attachment to her birth country. In 1806, Hesse was occupied by France.
She spent the duration of the Kingdom of Westphalia (1806-1813) in exile, among other places in Schleswig and in Prague. In 1813, the spouses returned to Kassel.
Landgravine Maria Frederica (1768–1839), married Alexius Frederick Christian, Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg
Landgravine Karoline Amalie (1771–1848), married Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Frederick (1772–1784)
William II (1777–1847).