He was the second son of Landgrave Ernest of Hesse-Rheinfels and Maria Eleonore of Solms-Lich.
After an inheritance dispute about the "Rotenburg Quarter", Charles received Hesse-Eschwege in 1667.
Alexandrine Juliane was the widow of Landgrave George III of Hesse-Itter-Vöhl.
Charles died in 1711 and was succeeded as Landgrave of Hesse-Wanfried by his son William II.
After William's death in 1731, he was succeeded by his half-brother Christian, who died childless in 1755, thereby ending the Hessen-Wanfried line.