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The Holy Roman Empire Constitution

The last years of the Holy Roman Empire

The Napoleonic Germany

The German Ruling Houses




Last updated: Jan 24, 2009



Hesse ( Hessen )


The House of Hesse descended from the ancient immediate family of Louvain that ruled in the Duchy of the Lower Lotharingia and Brabant since the 12th century until 1404 (N.1) [12: 1839; p.84-86] [13: tome I; p.52-68] [4: tome III; p.281-284] [9: 1919; p.42-43].

After the extinction of the reigning House of Thuringia, and the War of the Thuringian Succession (1247–1264), most of the Landgraviate of Thuringia passed to the Margrave of Misnia; Hesse, the Western part of the Landgraviate of Thuringia passed to Heinrich I "the Child" (+1308), son of Heinrich II (+1248), Duke of Lotharingia, Brabant & Limburg, and Sophie of Thuringia (+1275) (N.2).
Heinrich I "the Child" (+1308), became the first Landgrave of Hesse, and in 1292 he was recognized as Imperial Prince [4: tome III; p.281].

In 1450, Landgrave Ludwig I of Hesse (+1458), acquired the Counties of Ziegenhain and Nidda [4: tome III; p.282-483] [9: 1919; p.42].

Four sons of Landgrave Philip I "the Magnanimous" (+1567) divided his lands and founded four branches, Kassel, Marburg, Rheinfels and Darmstadt. The branch of Rheinfels became extinct in 1650, the one of Marburg in 1650; their possessions passed to the Landgraves of Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Darmstadt. Wilhelm IV (+1592) and Georg I (+1596), sons of Landgrave Philipp I, founded, respectively, the branch of Kassel and Darmstadt of the House of Hesse.

Notes:
1. Jocelyn / Josceline (+1180), son of Godfrey "the Bearded" of Louvain (+ 1139), Duke of Lower Lorraine, married Agnes, an heir to the Percy family, and took this surname. Jocelyn founded the second House of Percy in England that became extinct in the male line in 1670, with the death of Josceline Percy, Earl of Northumberland.
2. When the House of Brabant became extinct in the male line in 1355, the Landgrave of Hesse advanced claims to Brabant, but without result.




1. Kassel -1866] [12: 1839; p.86-89] [9: 1919; p.44].


Landgrave Wilhelm IV (+1592) founded the branch of Kassel of the House of Hesse.

Wilhelm V (+1637), Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, and Ernst (+1693), sons of Moritz (+1632), founded, respectively, the ruling Kassel and appanage Rotenburg branches [12: 1839; p.96-97] (N.1).

In 1648, by the Peace of Westphalia, the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel received the secularized Imperial immediate Abbey of Hersfeld with the title of Prince of Hersfeld.

Wilhelm VII (+1670), Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, and Philipp (+1721), sons of Wilhelm VI (+1663), founded, respectively, the ruling Kassel and appanage Philippstahl branches [12: 1839; p.92] (N.2).

In 1730-1751, Hesse-Kassel was united with Sweden and Pomerania (N.3).

In 1803, the Final Recess of the Imperial Deputation gave the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel the Dignity of Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire [3: Abtheilung II; Band I; p.356].

In Aug 1806, with the abolition of the Holy Roman Empire, the Elector-Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel became a sovereign ruler.

In 1806, Emperor Napoleon I of France dispossessed the Elector of Hesse-Kassel for his support of Prussia during the War of the Fourth Coalition.

In 1807, the territory of Hesse-Kassel became a part of the Kingdom of Westphalia.

In 1813, the Elector of Hesse-Kassel was restored in his possessions following Napoleon's defeat (N.4).

In 1815, the Congress of Vienna gave the Elector of Hesse-Kassel the title of Grand Duke of Fulda.

In 1815, the Elector of Hesse-Kassel joined the German Confederation.

In 1866, Elector Friedrich-Wilhelm of Hesse-Kassel (+1875) sided with the Austrian Empire in the Austro-Prussian War, and after the Prussian victory, he was dispossessed, and his lands were annexed by Prussia.

In 1875, with the death of Elector Friedrich-Wilhelm, the direct Kassel branch became extinct in the male line (N.5).



Notes:
1. In 1834, the appanage branch of Rotenburg became extinct in the male line with the death of Victor, Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg, Duke of Ratibor / Racibórz and Prince of Corvey.
2. Wilhelm (+1761), son of Landgrave Philip of Hesse-Philippstahl, founded the appanage sub-branch of Barchfeld [12: 1839; p.95].
3. In 1720, Queen Ulrika-Eleonora of Sweden, and Duchess of Fore Pomerania, abdicated in favor of her husband Friedrich (+1750), son of Landgrave Karl I of Hesse-Kassel. In 1730, Friedrich succeeded in Hesse-Kassel. The union of Sweden and Hesse-Kassel lasted until Friedrich's death in 1751.
4. Although the Holy Roman Empire was now defunct after 1806, the rulers of Hesse-Kassel retained their title of Elector.
5. Elector Friedrich-Wilhelm left children of his unequal marriage with Gertrud Falkenstein (+1882), who bore the title of Princes of Hanau.




List of the Rulers

Wilhelm I (IX as Landgrave) (1743-1821) [1760-1806, 1813-1821]
Wilhelm II (1777-1847) [1821-1847]
Friedrich-Wilhelm (1802-1875) [1847-1866]




Titles [13: tome I; p.69]

1751-1803

Landgrave of Hesse;
Prince of Hersfeld;
Count of Katzenelnbogen, Diez, Ziegenhain, Nidda, Schaumburg, Hanau;


1803-1816

HRE Prince-Elector;
Landgrave of Hesse;
Prince of Hersfeld, Hanau, Fritzlar;
Count of Katzenelnbogen, Diez, Ziegenhain, Nidda, Schaumburg;


1817-1831

Prince-Elector & Sovereign Landgrave of Hesse;
Grand Duke of Fulda;
Prince of Hersfeld, Hanau, Fritzlar, Isenburg;
Count of Katzenelnbogen, Diez, Ziegenhain, Nidda, Schaumburg;


1831-1866

Prince-Elector of Hesse,
Grand Duke of Fulda;
Prince of Hersfeld, Hanau, Fritzlar, Isenburg;
Count of Katzenelnbogen, Diez, Ziegenhain, Nidda, Schaumburg;




Voices in the Imperial Circle assemblies in 1789 [2: p.13-14]

The Upper Rhine:
= The Bench of Secular Princes:
- Hesse-Kassel;
- Hersfeld;

= The Bench of Counts & Lords:
- Hanau-Münzenberg;

Franconia:
= The Bench of Secular Princes:
- Henneberg-Schmalkaden;

The Lower Rhine-Westphalia:
- Schaumburg-Hesse;




Voices in the Imperial Assembly in 1789 [2: p.3-4, 7, 9]

Individual voices in the Council of Princes:
- Hesse-Kassel;
- Hersfeld;

Curial voices in the Council of Princes:
= the Counts of Westphalia =
- % Schaumburg;

= the Counts of Wetterau =
- Hanau-Münzenberg (-);




Territorial Possessions in 1789 [2: p.16-21, 45-46]

The Imperial Circle of the Upper Rhine:
- % Hesse;
- Nidda;
- % Katzenelnbogen;
- % Ziegenhain;
- Epstein / Eppstein;
- Hersfeld;
- % Hanau;
- % Münzenberg;

The Imperial Circle of the Lower Rhine-Westphalia:
- % Schaumburg / Shauenburg;
- % Hoya;

The Imperial Circle of Franconia:
- % Henneberg (Schmalkaden);




Voices in the Imperial Assembly in 1803 [3: Abtheilung II; Band I; p.356-360]
(Changes by the Final Recess of the Imperial Deputation)

Voices in the Council of Electors:
- Hesse-Kassel;

Individual voices in the Council of Princes:
- Hanau;
- Hesse-Kassel;
- Hersfeld;
- Fritzlar;




Territorial Acquisitions and Losses since 1789 [13: tome I; p.70, 159-160] [13: tome I; p.174-175]

- In 1794, the French armies occupied the possessions of the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel on the left bank of the Rhine (Rheinfels, St.Goar, Pfalzfeld, etc.). In 1801, the Treaty of Treaty of Lunéville recognized these territorial losses.

- In 1803, by the Final Recess of the Imperial Deputation, the Elector of Hesse-Kassel acquired some possessions of the secularized Archbishopric of Mainz (Fritzlar, Naumburg, Neustadt, Amöneburg, etc.) and the Imperial City of Gelnhausen, the Imperial Village of Holzhausen, etc.

- 1815, by decisions of the Congress of Vienna, the Elector of Hesse-Kassel acquire a portion of the former Grand Duchy of Frankfurt (Fulda, etc.), and ceded % the Lower Katzenelnbogen, Plesse, Frauense with Gosperode, Vacha, Grossauheim, Grosskrotzenburg, Oberrodenbach, etc.

- In 1815-1816, the Elector of Hesse-Kassel exchanged some territories with his neighbors.








2. Darmstadt [9: 1919; p.43].

Landgrave Georg I (+1596), founded the Darmstadt branch of the House of Hesse.

Ludwig V and Friedrich I, Georg I's sons, founded, respectively, the direct Darmstadt and Homburg branches.




2.1. Darmstadt -1918] [12: 1839; p.99-100].

Landgrave Ludwig V (+1626) continued the direct Darmstadt branch.

In 1803, after the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt acquired new territories by the Final Recess of the Imperial Deputation, he acepted the titles of Duke of Westphalia & Angaria, and Count-Palatine of the Rhine.

In July 1806, the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt became a sovereign ruler and received the title of Grand Duke when he left the Holy Roman Empire and joined the Confederation of the Rhine as founding member [3: Abtheilung II; Band I; p.157].

In 1815, Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt joined the German Confederation.

In 1867, the Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt joined the North German Confederation (only for his possessions confined to those parts which were situated North of the Main).

In 1871, the Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt joined the German Empire.

In the course of the November Revolution of 1918, the Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt was deposed.

Notes:
1.
2. Prince Alexander (+1888), the third son Grand Duke Ludwig II of Hesse-Darmstadt, left children of his unequal marriage with Julia of Hauke (+1895), who bore the title of Princes of Battenberg.
In 1879, Prince Alexander of Battenberg (+1893), the second son of Alexander and Julia, became Prince of Bulgaria. In 1886, he resigned the throne, and left Bulgaria.




List of the Rulers

Ludwig IX (1719-1790) [1741-1790]
// 1741 in Hanau-Lichtenberg; 1768 in Hesse-Darmstadt
Ludwig I (X as Landgrave) (1753-1830) [1790-1830]
Ludwig II (1777-1848) [1830-1848]
Ludwig III (1806-1877) [1848-1877]
Ludwig IV (1837-1892) [1877-1892]
Ernst-Ludwig (1868-1937) [1892-1918]



Titles [13: tome I; p.70]

1768-1803

Landgrave of Hesse;
Prince of Hersfeld;
Count of Katzenelnbogen, Diez, Ziegenhain, Nidda, Hanau, Schaumburg, Isenburg, Büdingen;


1803-1806

Landgrave of Hesse;
Duke in Westphalia, Angaria;
Count-Palatine of the Rhine;
Prince of Hersfeld, Starkenburg;
Count of Arnsberg;
Count of Katzenelnbogen, Diez, Ziegenhain, Nidda, Hanau, Schaumburg, Isenburg, Büdingen;
Lord of Friedberg, Wimpfen;


1806-1816

Grand Duke of Hesse;
Duke in Westphalia;


1816-1918 [12: 1839; p.100]

Grand Duke of Hesse, the Rhine;




Voices in the Imperial Circle assemblies in 1789 [2: p.13-14]

The Upper Rhine:
= The Bench of Secular Princes:
- Hesse-Darmstadt;

= The Bench of Counts & Lords:
- Hanau-Lichtenberg;




Voices in the Imperial Assembly in 1789 [2: p.3, 7]

Individual voices in the Council of Princes:
- Hesse-Darmstadt;


Curial voices in the Council of Princes:
= the Counts of Wetterau =
- Hanau-Lichtenberg (-);




Territorial Possessions in 1789 [7: p.41-42] [2: p.18-21, 46]

The Imperial Circle of the Upper Rhine:
- % Hesse;
- % Katzenelnbogen;
- % "Hanau-Lichtenberg" with Pirmasens, Lichtenau, etc.;


The Knightly Circle of Franconia: [3: Abtheilung I; Band II; p.243]
- Ernsthofen;


Non-sovereign outside the Empire:
= under the French Suzerainty =
- % "Hanau-Lichtenberg"




Voices in the Imperial Assembly in 1803 [3: Abtheilung II; Band I; p.358-360]
(Changes by the Final Recess of the Imperial Deputation)

Individual voices in the Council of Princes:- Hesse-Darmstadt;
- Westphalia;
- Starkenburg;




Territorial Acquisitions and Losses since 1789 [13: tome I; p.164-167]

- In 1789, the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt lost feudal rights in his possessions under the French Suzerainty.

- In 1794, the French armies occupied the possessions of the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt on the left bank of the Rhine (% Hanau-Lichtenberg, Ochsenstein, etc.).
- In 1801, the Treaty of Treaty of Lunéville recognized these territorial losses.

- In 1803, by the Final Recess of the Imperial Deputation, the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt ceded Lichtenau, % Katzenelnbogen, Braubach, Bad-Ems, Epstein, Kleeberg, etc., and acquired some possessions of the secularized Archbishoprics of Mainz (Starkenburg, etc.) and of Köln (Westphalia, Arnsberg, etc.), some possessions of the secularized Bishopric of Worms, the Imperial Cities of Friedberg and Wimpfen, and a portion of the Palatinate of the Rhine (Brensbach, Nieder-Kainsbach, Lindenfels, Otzberg, Umstadt, etc.).

- In July 1806, by the Confederation of the Rhine Act, the Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt mediatized Hesse-Homburg, the Burgraviate of Friedberg, Königstein, Wittgenstein with Berleburg, Erbach, Breuberg, a portion of the of possessions of the Houses of Solms, the possessions of the Count of Schlitz, etc.

- In 1810, the Grand Duke of Baden ceded to Hesse-Darmstadt some of his possessions: Amorbach, Miltenberg, Heubach / Kleinheubach, Umpfenbach, etc.

- In 1815, the Congress of Vienna restored the independence of the Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg, and gave to the Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt territories that constituted the Rhine Hesse / Rheinhessen (Mainz, Worms, Alzey, Wöllstein, Bingen, Oppenheim, Wörrstadt, Bechtheim, Nieder-Olm, Ingelheim, etc..

- In 1815-1817, the Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt exchanged some territories with his neighbors, ceding Westphalia, Arnsberg, Wittgenstein, Amorbach, Miltenberg, Umpfenbach, etc., and acquiring Bad-Vilbel, Kreuznach, Mosbach, etc.

- In 1816, the mediatized Principality of Isenburg came under the sovereignty of Hesse-Darmstadt.

- In March 1866, the branch of Hesse-Homburg became extinct in the male line, and Hesse-Homburg passed to the Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt, while Meisenheim fell to Prussia. In September 1866, however, the Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt was forced to cede his new possession to Prussia, as he had supported Austria during the war between these two powers.









2.2. Homburg +1866 [12: 1839; p.103-104]

In 1622, Friedrich I (+1638), son of Landgrave Georg I of Hesse-Darmstadt, received Homburg as appanage and founded the Homburg branch. His possessions were under the Territorial Supremacy of Hesse-Darmstadt.

In 1768, by the contract between the Darmstadt and Homburg branches known as Vergleichspunktuation, the Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg became an Imperial immediate territorial ruler.

In July 1806, the Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg lost his status of territorial ruler, when, by the Confederation of the Rhine Act, Hesse-Darmstadt mediatized his lands.

In 1815, the Congress of Vienna restored the Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg as a territorial ruler, and recognized his sovereignty.

In 1817, the Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg joined the German Confederation.

In March 1866, the branch of Hesse-Homburg became extinct in the male line.




List of the Rulers

Friedrich V (1748-1820) [1751-1806; 1814-1820]
Friedrich VI (1769-1829) [1820-1829]
Ludwig (1770-1839) [1829-1830]
Philipp (1779-1846) [1830-1846]
Gustav (1781-1848) [1846-1848]
Ferdinand (1783- Mar 1866) [1848-Mar 1866]




Titles


>-1806 [13: tome I; p.70]

Landgrave of Hesse;
Prince of Hersfeld;
Count of Katzenelnbogen, Dietz, Ziegenhain, Nidda, Schaumburg, Isenburg, Büdingen;


1815-1866 [ 12: 1839; p.103] [13: tome I; p.70, 142]

Sovereign Landgrave of Hesse;
Prince of Hersfeld;
Count of Katzenelnbogen, Dietz, Ziegenhain, Nidda, Schaumburg, Isenburg, Büdingen;




Territorial Possessions in 1789

The Imperial Circle of the Upper Rhine:
- % Hesse;




Territorial Acquisitions and Losses since 1789 [12: 1839; p.103]

In 1815, the Landgraves of Hesse-Homburg acquired Meisenhelm on the left bank of the Rhine.




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