Background
Magdalena was the daughter of Count Bernhard VIII of Lippe (1527–1563) from his marriage to Catherine (1524–1583), daughter of Count Philip III of Waldeck-Eisenberg. After her father"s death, she moved to the court of Landgrave William IV of Hesse-Kassel, where she was regarded as a natural beauty.
Career
She was a Countess of Lippe by birth. Here, she met George. William paid the expenses of the marriage.
The marriage was a happy one.
Magdalena was regarded as so virtuous, pious and benevolent, that she was sometimes compared to Saint Elisabeth. She died in 1587, after 15 years of marriage, at the age of 35.
She was buried in the choir of the city church of Darmstadt. Her famous epitaph can still be found behind the high altar.
Philip William (1576-1576), Hereditary prince
Louis V (1577–1626), Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
married in 1598 princess Magdalene of Brandenburg (1582-1616)
Christine (1578–1596)
married in 1595 Count Frederick Magnus of Erbach (1575-1618)
Elisabeth (1579–1655)
married in 1601 Count John Casimir of Nassau-Weilburg-Gleiberg (1577-1602)
Marie Hedwig (1580–1582)
Philip III (1581–1643), Landgrave of Hesse-Butzbach
married firstly, in 1610, Countess Anna Margarethe of Diepholz (1580-1629)
married secondly, in 1632, Countess Christine Sophie of East Frisia (1600-1658)
Anna (1583–1631)
married in 1601 Count Albert Otto of Solms-Laubach (1576-1610)
Frederick I (1585–1638), Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
married in 1622 Countess Margarethe of Leiningen-Westerburg (1604-1667)
Magdalene (1586-1586)
John (1587-1587).