Although he spent most of his later years in Eschwege, he still frequently visited Wanfried to support the local artisans. In both Eschwege and Wanfried, he commissioned numerous works of art for himself and his court. Christian died of a stroke on 21 October 1755 on the steps of the church in Eschwege. He was buried in the family crypt in the Hülfensberg. His widow moved to Frankfurt, where she died on 11 December 1757. With his death, the Hesse-Wanfried line died out after 88 years. His territory fell to Hesse-Rotenburg. He was engaged to Maria Augusta, the daughter of Prince Anselm Francis of Thurn und Taxis. However, Emperor Charles VI requested a cancellation of the betrothal for political reasons, so that she could marry Duke Charles Alexander of Württemberg, the governor of Serbia, which she did in May 1727. Christian mourned his great love for a long time. He finally married at the age of 42 with his niece, Maria Franziska of Hohenlohe-Bartenstein, the daughter of his sister Sophie Leopoldine. The marriage remained childless.