Luise Friederike Amalie Alexandrine, Duchess of Nassau, née of Saxe-Hildburghausen

born: 28.01.1794 in Hildburghausen

died: 06.04.1825 in Biebrich

Luise, the first wife of Duke Wilhelm of Nassau, was a daughter of Duke Friedrich of Saxe-Hildburghausen (Duke of Saxe-Altenburg since 1826) and his wife Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Through her mother, she was a niece of Queens Luise of Prussia and Friederike of Hanover. The future kings of Prussia, Frederick William IV and William I, King George V of Hanover and Tsarina Alexandra Fyodorovna were cousins of the princess. She grew up with her six siblings in the castle of Hildburghausen. The reduced civil list of Duke Friedrich's imperial receivership meant a rather deprived childhood for her and her siblings.

On June 24, 1813, Luise married Wilhelm zu Nassau in Weilburg, who became Duke of Nassau as Wilhelm I three years later. Their marriage produced eight children, four of whom survived the early years. The eldest son, the later Duke Adolph zu Nassau, succeeded his father Wilhelm in 1839. After the birth of her youngest daughter Marie, Duchess Luise died. Marie (1825-1909) married Prince Hermann zu Wied (1814-1864) in 1842; their daughter Elisabeth zu Wied, who became known as the writer Carmen Sylva, was born in 1843.

Luisenplatz and Luisenstraße in Wiesbaden are named after Duchess Luise.