Hesse

Hesse is also the name of the German writer Hermann Hesse, as well as the German mathematician Otto Hesse. See also Hesse (disambiguation)

History

In the early Middle Ages, Hesse was a part of Thuringia, but in the War of the Thuringian Succession (1247-64) Hesse gained its independence and became an earldom within the Holy Roman Empire. The state existed until the death of Philipp I of Hesse in 1567. Despite his earlier intentions, it was split up among his four sons from his first marriage (Philipp was a bigamist) into much smaller states: Hessen-Kassel, Hesse-Darmstadt, Hessen-Rheinfels and the also previously existing Hessen-Marburg. As the latter two lines died out quite soon (1583 and 1605, respectively), Hessen-Kassel ("Northern Hessen") and Hessen-Darmstadt ("Southern Hessen") were the two core states within the Hessian lands. Several collateral lines split off during the centuries, such as in 1622, when Hesse-Homburg split off from Hessen-Darmstadt.

Related Topics:
Thuringia - War of the Thuringian Succession - 1247 - 64 - Earldom - Holy Roman Empire - Philipp I of Hesse - 1567 - Bigamist - Hessen-Kassel - Hesse-Darmstadt - Hessen-Rheinfels - Hessen-Marburg - 1583 - 1605 - 1622 - Hesse-Homburg

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Hessen-Kassel was called the Electorate of Hessen from 1803 on, although since the end of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, there was no more emperor to elect anymore. In 1866 it was annexed by Prussia, together with the Free City of Frankfurt, Hessen-Homburg and the duchy of Nassau, which established the province of Hessen-Nassau.

Related Topics:
1803 - Holy Roman Empire - 1806 - 1866 - Prussia - Free City - Frankfurt - Nassau - Hessen-Nassau

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Hessen-Darmstadt was called the Grand Duchy of Hessen from 1806 on. It managed to defend its autonomy because in the War of 1866 it had sided with the winning Prussia.

Related Topics:
1806 - War of 1866

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After World War II in 1945, the state of Hessen was established within the United States occupation zone. It combined the former state of Hessen(-Darmstadt) and the Prussian province of Hessentory along the lower Lahn River, which became a part of Rhineland-Palatinate).

Related Topics:
World War II - 1945 - United States - Rhineland-Palatinate

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See also Rulers of Hessen.

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