Rulers of Hesse
Encyclopedia
This is a list of rulers of Hesse during the history of Hesse
on west-central Germany
. These rulers belonged to a dynasty collectively known as the House of Hesse
and the House of Brabant, originally the Reginar. Hesse was ruled as a Landgraviate, Electorate
and later as a Grand duchy
until 1918.
The title of all of the following rulers was "Landgrave" unless otherwise noted.
Lower Hesse
Hesse-Kassel
Hesse-Rotenburg
Hesse-Wanfried
Hesse-Rheinfels
Hesse-Marburg
Hesse-Rheinfels
Hesse-Darmstadt
Hesse-Homburg
1925 the Line of Hesse-Philippsthal became extinct
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
on west-central Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. These rulers belonged to a dynasty collectively known as the House of Hesse
House of Hesse
The House of Hesse is a European royal dynasty from the region of Hesse, originally and still formally the House of Brabant.-History:The origins of the House of Hesse begin with the marriage of Sophie of Thuringia, daughter of Louis IV, Landgrave of Thuringia and Elizabeth of Hungary with Henry...
and the House of Brabant, originally the Reginar. Hesse was ruled as a Landgraviate, Electorate
Prince-elector
The Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Roman king or, from the middle of the 16th century onwards, directly the Holy Roman Emperor.The heir-apparent to a prince-elector was known as an...
and later as a Grand duchy
Grand duchy
A grand duchy, sometimes referred to as a grand dukedom, is a territory whose head of state is a monarch, either a grand duke or grand duchess.Today Luxembourg is the only remaining grand duchy...
until 1918.
The title of all of the following rulers was "Landgrave" unless otherwise noted.
Hesse, 1264–1458
- Henry I the ChildHenry I, Landgrave of HesseHenry I of Hesse "the Child" was the first Landgrave of Hesse. He was the son of Henry II, Duke of Brabant and Sophie of Thuringia.-Life:...
, 1264–1308 - Otto the ElderOtto I, Landgrave of HesseOtto I of Hesse , Landgrave of Hesse.He was a son of Henry I, Landgrave of Hesse and his first wife Adelheid of Brunswick-Lunenburg. Following the death of his father in 1308, he inherited Upper Hesse, the "Land on the Lahn", which included Marburg, Giessen, Grünberg and Alsfeld...
, son of Henry I, 1308–1328 in Upper Hesse (Marburg), reunited Hesse in 1311 - John, son of Henry I, 1308–1311 in Lower Hesse (Kassel)
- Henry II the IronHenry II, Landgrave of HesseHenry II of Hesse called "the Iron" was Landgrave of Hesse from 1328 - 1376.Henry was the son of Otto I, Landgrave of Hesse and Adelheid of Ravensburg...
, son of Otto I, 1328–1376- Louis the Junker, son of Otto I, 1336–1345 residing in Grebenstein
- Hermann I the Elder, son of Otto I, 1336–1370 residing in Nordeck
- Otto the Younger, son of Henry II the Iron, co-regent 1340–1366
- Hermann II the LearnedHermann II, Landgrave of HesseHermann II of Hesse was Landgrave of Hesse from 1376 to 1413.Hermann II, called "the Learned" was born in 1345 in Grebenstein castle, the son of Louis the Junker. He studied in Paris and in Prague. After the death of Otto, the intended heir to the throne, Henry II appointed his own nephew...
, son of Louis the Junker, 1376–1413, co-regent since 1367 - Louis I the PeacefulLouis I, Landgrave of HesseLouis I of Hesse , called "the Peaceful" was Landgrave of Lower Hesse from 1413-1458....
1413–1458
Lower HesseLower HesseLower Hesse a historic designation for an area in northern Hesse, Germany.The term Lower Hesse originated in the Middle Ages for the so-called "lower principality" of Hesse, which was separated until 1450 from the so-called "upper principality" by the area Ziegenhain...
(Kassel), 1458–1500
- Louis II the FrankLouis II, Landgrave of HesseLouis II of Hesse , called Louis the Frank, was the Landgrave of Lower Hesse from 1458 - 1471....
, eldest son of Louis the Peaceful, 1458–1471 - William I the ElderWilliam I, Landgrave of HesseWilliam I of Hesse was the Landgrave of Hesse from 1471 to 1493.His parents were Louis the Frank and Mechthild, daughter of Count Louis I of Württemberg...
, son of Louis II, 1471–1493 - William II the MiddleWilliam II, Landgrave of HesseWilliam II was Landgrave of Lower Hesse from 1493 and Landgrave of Upper Hesse after the death of his cousin, William III, Landgrave of Upper Hesse in 1500....
, son of Louis II, 1493–1509, reunited Hesse in 1500
Upper Hesse (Marburg), 1458–1500
- Henry III the Rich, younger son of Louis the Peaceful, 1458–1483
- Louis III the Younger (died 1478)
- William III the YoungerWilliam III, Landgrave of HesseWilliam III "the Younger", Landgrave of Hesse ruled on the part of the county known as Upper Hesse, with residence in Marburg....
, 1483–1500
- 1500 reunited with Lower Hesse under William II
Hesse, 1500–1567
- Philip I the MagnanimousPhilip I, Landgrave of HessePhilip I of Hesse, , nicknamed der Großmütige was a leading champion of the Protestant Reformation and one of the most important of the early Protestant rulers in Germany....
, son of William II, 1509–1567. Eldest son William IV the WiseWilliam IV, Landgrave of Hesse-KasselWilliam IV of Hesse-Kassel , also called William the Wise, was the first Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel . He was the founder of the oldest line, which survives to this day.-Life:...
, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel; second son Louis IVLouis IV, Landgrave of Hesse-MarburgLandgrave Louis IV of Hesse-Marburg was the son of Landgrave Philip I of Hesse and his wife Christine of Saxony. After the death of his father in 1567, Hesse was divided among his sons and Louis received Hesse-Marburg including Marburg and Giessen.Louis received his education at the court of...
Landgraves of Hesse-MarburgHesse-MarburgThe Landgraviate of Hesse-Marburg was a German landgraviate, and independent principality, within the Holy Roman Empire, that existed between 1485 and 1500, and between 1567 and 1604/1650....
; third son Philip the YoungerPhilip II, Landgrave of Hesse-RheinfelsPhilip II of Hesse-Rheinfels , also called Philip the Younger, was the first Landgrave of Hesse-Rheinfels.Philip was the third son of Landgrave Philip the Magnanimous and Christine of Saxony . After his father's death in 1567, the Landgraviate of Hesse was divided between the four sons out of the...
Landgrave of Hesse-RheinfelsHesse-RheinfelsHesse-Rheinfels was created as a cadet line of Hesse for Philip II, Landgrave of Hesse-Rheinfels , landgrave from 1567 until 1583, and as a cadet line of Hesse-Kassel for Ernest, Landgrave of Hesse-Rheinfels , landgrave from 1627 until 1658.-First creation:Philip was the third son of Philip the...
; fourth son George IGeorge I, Landgrave of Hesse-DarmstadtGeorge I of Hesse-Darmstadt was the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1567 to 1596.Born on 10 September 1547 in Kassel, he was the fourth son of Philip I the Magnanimous of Hesse and Christine of Saxony....
Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt.
Hesse-KasselHesse-KasselThe Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel or Hesse-Cassel was a state in the Holy Roman Empire under Imperial immediacy that came into existence when the Landgraviate of Hesse was divided in 1567 upon the death of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse. His eldest son William IV inherited the northern half and the...
, 1567–1803
| Image | Name | Start term | | End term | | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William IV William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel William IV of Hesse-Kassel , also called William the Wise, was the first Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel . He was the founder of the oldest line, which survives to this day.-Life:... Wilhelm IV |
31 March 1567 | 25 August 1592 | eldest son of Philip the Magnanimous. Called "the Wise." | |
| Maurice Maurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel -External links:... Moritz |
25 August 1592 | 17 March 1627 | ||
| William V William V, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel William V of Hesse-Kassel was the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel in the Holy Roman Empire from 1627 to 1637.... Wilhelm V |
17 March 1627 | 21 September 1637 | ||
 |
William VI William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel , known as William the Just, was Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel from 1637 to 1663.-Life:... Wilhelm VI |
21 September 1637 | 16 July 1663 | |
| William VII William VII, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel William VII of Hesse-Kassel was Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel.- Life :William was the eldest son of Landgrave William VI of Hesse-Kassel and his wife, Hedwig Sophie of Brandenburg. William VII inherited the landgraviate when his fatehr died in 1663... Wilhelm VII |
16 July 1663 | 21 November 1670 | ||
.jpg) |
Charles Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel Karl I was Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel from 1670 till his death.Born at Kassel, he was the son of Wilhelm VI of Hesse-Kassel and Hedwig Sophia of Brandenburg, daughter of Georg Wilhelm, Elector of Brandenburg. After the early death of his father, his mother ruled as regent until 1675... Karl |
21 November 1670 | 23 March 1730 | |
 |
Frederick I Frederick I of Sweden Frederick I, , was a prince consort of Sweden from 1718 to 1720, and a King of Sweden from 1720 until his death and also Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel from 1730... Friedrich I |
23 March 1730 | 25 March 1751 | also King of Sweden from 1720. Hesse-Kassel under the regency of his brother, William, later Landgrave William VIII. |
| William VIII Wilhelm VIII |
25 March 1751 | 1 February 1760 | brother of Frederick I; already regent from 1730 | |
| Frederick II Friedrich II |
1 February 1760 | 31 October 1785 | ||
 |
William IX William I, Elector of Hesse William I, Elector of Hesse was the eldest surviving son of Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and Princess Mary of Great Britain, the daughter of George II.-Early life:... Wilhelm IX |
31 October 1785 | 15 May 1803 | became elector of Hesse as William I in 1803. |
Hesse-RotenburgHesse-RotenburgHesse-Rotenburg is a former German landgraviate created from the landgraviate of Hesse-Cassel in 1627. Independence ended in 1834 when the estates not bequeathed to princes Victor and Chlodwig of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfurst were reunited with Hesse-Kassel.-History:The line of Hesse-Kassel ...
, 1627–1834
- HermanHerman IV, Landgrave of Hesse-RotenburgLandgrave Hermann IV of Hesse-Rotenburg , was the first Landgrave of the semi-independent Landgraviate of Hesse-Rotenburg...
, third son of Maurice, 1627–1658 - ErnestErnest, Landgrave of Hesse-RheinfelsLandgrave Ernest of Hesse-Rheinfels-Rotenburg , was from 1649 to 1658 his death Landgrave of Hesse-Rheinfels and from 1658 until his death Landgrave of Hesse-Rheinfels-Rotenburg. Because his brothers died young, all later Landgraves in the Rotenburg Quarter are descendants of Ernest...
, fifth son of Maurice, 1658–1693 - WilliamWilliam, Landgrave of Hesse-RotenburgWilliam I "the Elder" of Hesse-Rotenburg was from 1683 until his death Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg. He was a son of Ernest I of Hesse-Rotenburg-Rheinfels and his wife, Countess Maria Eleonore of Solms-Lich...
, 1693–1725 - Ernest LeopoldErnest Leopold, Landgrave of Hesse-RotenburgErnst Leopold of Hesse-Rotenburg was landgrave of Hessen-Rheinfels-Rotenburg between 1725 and 1749.Born in Langenschwalbach, he was a son of landgrave William of Hesse-Rotenburg and Maria Anna of Löwenstein-Wertheim .He died in Rotenburg in 1749.-Marriage and issue:He married his first cousin...
, 1725–1749 - ConstantineConstantine, Landgrave of Hesse-RotenburgConstantine of Hessen-Rotenburg was Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg from 1749 until his death....
, 1749–1778, inherited Eschwege in 1755 - Emanuel, 1778–1806 (died 1812)
- 1806 annexed by the Kingdom of Westphalia, 1813 restored under the supremacy of the Elector of Hesse
- Victor AmadeusVictor Amadeus, Landgrave of Hesse-RotenburgVictor of Hesse-Rotenburg was the last Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg. Victor was also the Prince of Corvey from 1815 and Duke of Ratibor from 1821...
, 1813–1834
- 1834 extinct, reunited with Hesse-Kassel"
Hesse-Eschwege, 1632-1655
- Frederick, eighth son of Maurice, 1632-1655
- 1655 extinct, fell to Hesse-Rotenburg
Hesse-WanfriedHesse-WanfriedThe mini-state Hesse-Wanfried existed from about 1700 to 1731. It was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire in the area of the today's Land of Hesse...
, ~1700–1755
- Charles, Landgrave of Hesse-Wanfried-(Rheinfels) (1649–1711); sovereign ~1700–1711
- William IIWilliam II, Landgrave of Hesse-Wanfried-RheinfelsWilliam II, Landgrave of Hesse-Wanfried-Rheinfels was a son of the Landgrave Charles of Hesse-Wanfried and his first wife, Sophie Magdalene of Salm-Reifferscheid...
, Landgrave of Hesse-Wanfried-(Rheinfels) (1671–1731); sovereign 1711–1731 - Christian, Landgrave of Hesse-Wanfried-(Rheinfels) (1689–1755); sovereign 1731–1755
- 1755 united with Hesse-Rotenburg
Hesse-RheinfelsHesse-RotenburgHesse-Rotenburg is a former German landgraviate created from the landgraviate of Hesse-Cassel in 1627. Independence ended in 1834 when the estates not bequeathed to princes Victor and Chlodwig of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfurst were reunited with Hesse-Kassel.-History:The line of Hesse-Kassel ...
, 1627–1658
- ErnestErnest, Landgrave of Hesse-RheinfelsLandgrave Ernest of Hesse-Rheinfels-Rotenburg , was from 1649 to 1658 his death Landgrave of Hesse-Rheinfels and from 1658 until his death Landgrave of Hesse-Rheinfels-Rotenburg. Because his brothers died young, all later Landgraves in the Rotenburg Quarter are descendants of Ernest...
, fifth son of Maurice, 1627–1658
- 1658 united with Hesse-Rotenburg
Hesse-Philippsthal
- PhilipPhilip of Hesse-PhilippsthalPhilip of Hesse-Philippsthal was the son of William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and Hedwig Sophia of Brandenburg...
, son of William VI, 1663–1721 - Charles ICharles I, Landgrave of Hesse-PhilippsthalCharles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal was a member of the House of Hesse and Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal from 1721 until his death.- Life :...
, 1721–1770 - WilliamWilliam, Landgrave of Hesse-PhilippsthalWilliam of Hesse-Philippsthal was a member of the House of Hesse and Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal from 1770 until his death.- Life :...
, 1770–1806 (died 1810)
- 1806 annexed by the Kingdom of Westphalia, 1813 restored under the supremacy of the Elector of Hesse
- Louis, 1813–1816
- Ernest ConstantineErnest Constantine, Landgrave of Hesse-PhilipptshalErnest Constantine, Landgrave of Hesse-Philipptshal was a member of the House of Hesse and Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal from 1816 until his death.- Life :...
, 1816–1849 - Charles IICharles II, Landgrave of Hesse-PhilippsthalCharles II of Hesse-Philippsthal was a member of the House of Hesse and was Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal from 1849 until 1866.- Life :...
, 1849–1866
- 1866 annexed by Prussia
Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld
- WilliamWilliam, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal-BarchfeldWilliam of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld was a member of the House of Hesse and was Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld from 1721 to 1761.- Life :...
, son of Philip, 1721–1761 - Frederick, 1761–1772
- Adolf, 1772–1803
- Charles, 1803–1806
- 1806 annexed by the Kingdom of Westphalia, 1813 restored under the supremacy of the Elector of Hesse
- Charles, 1813–1854 (restored)
- Alexis, 1854–1866
- 1866 annexed by Prussia
Hesse-MarburgHesse-MarburgThe Landgraviate of Hesse-Marburg was a German landgraviate, and independent principality, within the Holy Roman Empire, that existed between 1485 and 1500, and between 1567 and 1604/1650....
, 1567–1604
| Image | Name | Start term | | End term | | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louis IV Louis IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Marburg Landgrave Louis IV of Hesse-Marburg was the son of Landgrave Philip I of Hesse and his wife Christine of Saxony. After the death of his father in 1567, Hesse was divided among his sons and Louis received Hesse-Marburg including Marburg and Giessen.Louis received his education at the court of... Ludwig IV |
31 March 1567 | 9 October 1604 | second son of Philip the Magnanimous. |
- 1604 extinct and disputed between Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Darmstadt, 1648 divided between the two lines
Hesse-RheinfelsHesse-RheinfelsHesse-Rheinfels was created as a cadet line of Hesse for Philip II, Landgrave of Hesse-Rheinfels , landgrave from 1567 until 1583, and as a cadet line of Hesse-Kassel for Ernest, Landgrave of Hesse-Rheinfels , landgrave from 1627 until 1658.-First creation:Philip was the third son of Philip the...
, 1567–1583
| Image | Name | Start term | | End term | | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philip II Philip II, Landgrave of Hesse-Rheinfels Philip II of Hesse-Rheinfels , also called Philip the Younger, was the first Landgrave of Hesse-Rheinfels.Philip was the third son of Landgrave Philip the Magnanimous and Christine of Saxony . After his father's death in 1567, the Landgraviate of Hesse was divided between the four sons out of the... |
31 March 1567 | 20 November 1583 | third son of Philip the Magnanimous. Called "the Younger." |
- 1583 extinct and divided between Hesse-Kassel, Hesse-Marburg and Hesse-Darmstadt
Hesse-DarmstadtLandgraviate of Hesse-DarmstadtThe Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt was a member state of the Holy Roman Empire. It was formed in 1567 following the division of the Landgraviate of Hesse between the four sons of Philip I, the last Landgrave of Hesse....
, 1567–1806
| Image | Name | Start term | | End term | | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George I George I, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt George I of Hesse-Darmstadt was the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1567 to 1596.Born on 10 September 1547 in Kassel, he was the fourth son of Philip I the Magnanimous of Hesse and Christine of Saxony.... Georg I |
31 March 1567 | 7 February 1596 | fourth son of Philip the Magnanimous | |
| Louis V Louis V, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt Louis V of Hesse-Darmstadt was the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1596 to 1626.He was born on 24 September 1577 as the son of George I, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt and Magdalene of Lippe.... Ludwig V |
7 February 1596 | 27 June 1626 | son of George I. | |
| George II George II, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt George II of Hesse-Darmstadt, was the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1626 - 1661. He was the son of Ludwig V and Magdalena von Brandenburg.He married Sophia Eleonore of Saxony on April 1, 1627... Georg II |
27 June 1626 | 11 June 1661 | son of Louis V. | |
| Louis VI Louis VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt Louis VI of Hesse-Darmstadt was Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1661 to 1678.He was the eldest of three sons of the Landgrave George II of Hesse-Darmstadt and Sophia Eleonore of Saxony.- Marriage and children :... Ludwig VI |
11 June 1661 | 24 April 1678 | son of George II | |
| Louis VII Louis VII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt Ludwig VII, Landgrave of Hessen-Darmstadt was a Hessian regent.Louis VII was the son of Landgrave Louis VI of Hesse-Darmstadt and his wife Maria Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf. Following the death of his father, he began to reign as landgrave On 24 April 1678... Ludwig VII |
24 April 1678 | 31 August 1678 | first son of Louis VI | |
 |
Ernest Louis Ernest Louis, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt Ernest Louis of Hesse-Darmstadt was Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1678 to 1739. His parents were Landgrave Louis VI of Hesse-Darmstadt and Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg .... Ernst Ludwig |
31 August 1678 | 12 September 1739 | second son of Louis VI |
 |
Louis VIII Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt Louis VIII was the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1739 to 1768. He was the son of Ernest Louis, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt and Margravine Dorothea Charlotte of Brandenburg-Ansbach.... Ludwig VIII |
12 September 1739 | 17 October 1768 | son of Ernest Louis |
 |
Louis IX Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt Louis IX of Hesse-Darmstadt was the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1768 - 1790. He was a son of Louis VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt, and Charlotte of Hanau-Lichtenberg and Müntzenberg.... Ludwig IX |
17 October 1768 | 6 April 1790 | son of Louis VIII |
| Louis X Louis I, Grand Duke of Hesse Louis I, Grand Duke of Hesse was Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt and later the first Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine.... Ludwig X |
6 April 1790 | 13 August 1806 | son of Louis IX. Became Grand Duke of Hesse 1806. |
Hesse-Butzbach, 1609–1643
- Philip IIIPhilip III, Landgrave of Hesse-ButzbachLandgrave Philip III of Hesse-Butzbach was Landgrave of Hesse-Butzbach from 1609 to 1643.- Life :...
, second son of George I of Hesse-Darmstadt, 1609–1643
Hesse-HomburgHesse-HomburgHesse-Homburg was formed into a separate landgraviate in 1622 by the landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt to be ruled by his son, although it did not become independent of Hesse-Darmstadt until 1668....
, 1622–1866
- Frederick IFrederick I, Landgrave of Hesse-HomburgFrederick I of Hesse-Homburg , was the first Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg and founder of the eponymous family line.- Life :...
, third son of George I of Hesse-Darmstadt, 1622–1638 - William ChristophWilliam Christoph, Landgrave of Hesse-HomburgWilliam Christoph of Hesse-Homburg was the second Landgraf of Hesse-Homburg...
, 1638–1681, sold Homburg to his brother George Christian in 1669, but retained Bingenheim (Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg-Bingenheim)- Margareta Elisabetha of Leiningen-Westerburg-Schaumburg, Regent 1638–1648
- George Christian, 1669–1671 Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
- Under mortgage to two merchants (1671–1673) and the Landgraves of Hesse-Darmstadt (1673–1679)
- Frederick IIFrederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-HomburgFrederick II of Hesse-Homburg , also known as the Prince of Homburg was Landgraf of Hesse-Homburg. He was also a successful and experienced general for the crowns of both Sweden and of Brandenburg, but is best remembered as the eponymous hero of Heinrich von Kleist's play Der Prinz von Homburg.-...
, son of Fredrick I, 1679–1708, Commander general of the army of BrandenburgBrandenburgBrandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
(The Prince of Homburg), redeemed Homburg in 1679, regained Bingenheim in 1681 - Frederick III JacobFrederick III, Landgrave of Hesse-HomburgFrederick III James of Hesse-Homburg was a Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg- Life :...
, 1708–1746, Cavalry general in the NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... - Frederick IVFrederick IV, Landgrave of Hesse-HomburgFrederick IV Charles Louis William of Hesse-Homburg , was Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg.- Life :...
, 1746–1751 - Frederick V, Landgrave of Hesse-HomburgFrederick V, Landgrave of Hesse-HomburgFrederick V Louis William Christian , Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg was from 1751 to his death landgrave of Hesse-Homburg...
, 1751–1806- Ulrike Louise von Solms-Braunfels, Regent 1751–1766
- 1806 Annexed by Hesse-Darmstadt, 1815 restored on the Congress of ViennaCongress of ViennaThe Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
- Frederick VFrederick V, Landgrave of Hesse-HomburgFrederick V Louis William Christian , Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg was from 1751 to his death landgrave of Hesse-Homburg...
, 1815–1820 (restored) - Frederick VIFrederick VI, Landgrave of Hesse-HomburgFrederick VI reigned as Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg from 1820 until his death in 1829.-Biography:Born in Homburg, Hesse, on 30 July 1769, Friedrich Joseph Ludwig Carl August was the eldest son of the incumbent Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg, Frederick V, and his wife Caroline of Hesse-Darmstadt, the...
, 1820–1829, Cavalry general in AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the... - Louis William, 1829–1839, Infantry general in PrussiaPrussiaPrussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
- Philip, 1839–1846, Field marshal in Austria
- Gustav, 1846–1848, Cavalry general in Austria
- Ferdinand, 1848–1866, Cavalry general in Austria
- 1866 annexed by Prussia
Hesse-Itter, 1661–1676
- George III, second son of George II, 1661–1676
Electors of Hesse (-Kassel), 1803–1866
| Image | Name | Start term | | End term | | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
William I William I, Elector of Hesse William I, Elector of Hesse was the eldest surviving son of Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and Princess Mary of Great Britain, the daughter of George II.-Early life:... Wilhelm I |
15 May 1803 | 28 August 1807 | previously Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel as William IX; deposed |
| to the Kingdom of Westphalia Kingdom of Westphalia The Kingdom of Westphalia was a new country of 2.6 million Germans that existed from 1807-1813. It included of territory in Hesse and other parts of present-day Germany. While formally independent, it was a vassal state of the First French Empire, ruled by Napoleon's brother Jérôme Bonaparte... , 1807-1813 |
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William I William I, Elector of Hesse William I, Elector of Hesse was the eldest surviving son of Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and Princess Mary of Great Britain, the daughter of George II.-Early life:... Wilhelm I |
30 October 1813 | 27 February 1821 | restored |
 |
William II William II, Elector of Hesse -Biography:William was the eldest surviving son of William I, Elector of Hesse and Wilhelmina Caroline of Denmark and Norway. He succeeded as Elector of Hesse on his father's death in 1821.-Marriage and issue:On 13 February 1797 in Berlin, William married Princess Augusta of Prussia, fourth... Wilhelm II |
27 February 1821 | 20 November 1847 | His son Frederick William acted as regent from 30 September 1831 |
 |
Frederick William Frederick William, Elector of Hesse Frederick William I was, between 1847 and 1866, the last Elector of Hesse-Kassel .- Life :... Friedrich Wilhelm |
20 November 1847 | 20 September 1866 | regent for his father from 30 September 1831. The electorate was annexed by Prussia in 1866 |
- 1866 annexed by Prussia
Grand Dukes of Hesse (-Darmstadt) and by Rhine, 1806–1918
| Image | Name | Start term | | End term | | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louis I Louis I, Grand Duke of Hesse Louis I, Grand Duke of Hesse was Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt and later the first Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine.... Ludwig I |
13 August 1806 | 6 April 1830 | previously Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt as Louis X from 1790 | |
| Louis II Louis II, Grand Duke of Hesse Louis II was Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine from 1830 until 5 March 1848 . He was the son of Louis I, Grand Duke of Hesse.... Ludwig II |
6 April 1830 | 16 June 1848 | ||
| Louis III Louis III, Grand Duke of Hesse Louis III was Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine from 1848 until his death. He was succeeded by his nephew, Louis IV.... Ludwig III |
16 June 1848 | 13 June 1877 | ||
 |
Louis IV Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse Louis IV , was the fourth Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, reigning from 13 June 1877 until his death... Ludwig IV |
13 June 1877 | 13 March 1892 | |
| Ernest Louis Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse Ernest Louis Charles Albert William , was the last Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine from 1892 until 1918... Ernst Ludwig |
13 March 1892 | 9 November 1918 |
Hesse-Kassel since 1866
- Frederick William I, the former Elector, 1866–1875
- Landgrave Frederick William II of Hesse-Kassel, 1875–1884, son of Prince William of Hesse-Kassel.
- Landgrave Frederick William III of Hesse, 1884–1888
- Landgrave Alexander Frederick, 1888–1925 (abdicated, d. 1945)
- Landgrave Frederick Charles, 1925–1940, elected King of FinlandFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
with the name (Fredrik) Kaarle I in 1918 but renounced the throne the same year - Landgrave Philip, 1940–1980
- Moritz, Landgrave of Hesse (born 1926), 1980–present
Hesse-Philippsthal 1866-1925
- Charles IICharles II, Landgrave of Hesse-PhilippsthalCharles II of Hesse-Philippsthal was a member of the House of Hesse and was Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal from 1849 until 1866.- Life :...
the former Landgrave, 1866–1868 - Ernest 1868-1925
1925 the Line of Hesse-Philippsthal became extinct
Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld since 1866, Hesse-Philippsthal since the extinction of the main line 1925
- Alexis the former Landgrave, 1866–1905
- Chlodwig 1905-1954, head of the house of Hesse-Philippsthal since 1925
- WilhelmWilhelm, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal-BarchfeldWilhelm, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld is the current head of the branch of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld, one of the two remaining branches of the House of Hesse.-Early life and family:...
1954–present
Hesse-Darmstadt 1918–1968
- Ernest LouisErnest Louis, Grand Duke of HesseErnest Louis Charles Albert William , was the last Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine from 1892 until 1918...
the former Grand Duke, 1918–1937 - George DonatusGeorg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of HesseGeorg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse was the first child of Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse and Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich....
1937 - LouisPrince Louis of Hesse and by RhineLouis, Prince of Hesse and by Rhine was the youngest son of Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse by his second wife Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich....
1937–1968
- In 1968 the Line of Hesse-Darmstadt became extinct; the last Prince adopted the head of the Hesse-Kassel as his heir
External links
- The History Files: Rulers of Hesse
- Genealogy of the Hessian noble family