Magdalene was born in 1558[1] as the youngest daughter of Count Philip IV of Waldeck-Wildungen and his third wife Countess Jutta of Isenburg-Grenzau.

Magdalene married at Hanau Castle [de][2][note 2] on 5 February 1576[2][3][4][note 3] to Count Philip Louis I of Hanau-Münzenberg (21 November 1553[3][6] – Hanau, 4 February 1580[3]), the eldest son of Count Philip III of Hanau-Münzenberg and Countess Palatine Helena of Simmern.

[7] Philip Louis succeeded his father in 1561 and was first under the regency of his uncle Count John VI the Elder of Nassau-Siegen[8] (Philip III of Hanau-Münzenberg and John VI the Elder of Nassau-Siegen were both sons of Countess Juliane of Stolberg-Wernigerode[7]).

[9] Philip Louis died "Donnerstag nach Purificationis Mariæ, zwischen 4 und 5 Uhr Nachmittag durch eine Ohnmacht, welche ihre Gnaden ganz unversehentlich über Tisch und dem Spielen ankommen" ("Thursday after Purificationis Mariæ, between 4 and 5 o'clock in the afternoon by a fainting which His Grace completely unexpectedly suffered at the table and at the games").

John the Middle died aged 62 and was buried in the St. Nicholas Church [de] in Siegen[12][13][29][30] on 5/15 November 1623.