List of rulers of Hesse

Monarchy of Hesse
Provincial/State

Ernest Louis
Details
Style His Royal Highness
First monarch Henry I (as Landgrave)
Last monarch Ernest Louis (as Grand Duke)
Formation 1264
Abolition 9 November 1918
Appointer Hereditary
Pretender(s) Donatus (as Landgrave)
Royal Standard of the Grand Duke of Hesse 19031918

This is a list of rulers of Hesse (German: Hessen) 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,[1] 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" (German: Landgraf) unless otherwise noted.

Landgraviate of Hesse

Further information: Landgraviate of Hesse

Hesse, 1264–1458

Lower Hesse (Kassel), 1458–1500

Upper Hesse (Marburg), 1458–1500

1500 reunited with Lower Hesse under William II

Hesse, 1500–1567

Hesse-Kassel, 1567–1803

Image Name Start term End term Note
William IV
Wilhelm IV
31 March 1567 25 August 1592 eldest son of Philip the Magnanimous. Called "the Wise."
Maurice
Moritz
25 August 1592 17 March 1627  
William V
Wilhelm V
17 March 1627 21 September 1637  
William VI
Wilhelm VI
21 September 1637 16 July 1663  
William VII
Wilhelm VII
16 July 1663 21 November 1670  
Charles
Karl
21 November 1670 23 March 1730  
Frederick I
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
Wilhelm IX
31 October 1785 15 May 1803 created Prince-elector of Hesse as His Royal and Serene Highness William I in 1803.

Hesse-Rotenburg, 1627–1834

  • Moritz, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel 1592–1627 (1572–1632)
    • Hermann, Landgrave 1627–58 (1607–1658), third son
    • Ernst, Landgrave of Hesse-Rheinfels 1627–1658, Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg 1658–93 (1623–1693), fifth son
      • Wilhelm, Landgrave 1693–1725 (1648–1725)
        • Ernst Leopold, Landgrave 1725–49 (1684–1749)
          • Konstantin, Landgrave 1749–78 (1716–1778), inherited Wanfried-Rheinfels in 1755
            • Emanuel, Landgrave 1778–1806 (1746–1812)
              • Viktor Amadeus, Landgrave 1813–34, Prince of Corvey 1815–34, Duke of Ratibor 1821–34 (1779–1834), see notes below
1806 annexed by the Kingdom of Westphalia, 1813 restored under the supremacy of the Elector of Hesse
1834 extinct, reunited with Hesse-Kassel

Hesse-Eschwege, 1632–1655

1655 extinct, fell to Hesse-Rotenburg

Hesse-Wanfried, c. 1700 – 1755

  • Karl, Landgrave 1700–11 (1649–1711), second son of Ernst, Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg
1755 united with Hesse-Rotenburg

Hesse-Rheinfels, 1627–1658

1658 Ernst inherited Hesse-Rotenburg as well, see above

Hesse-Philippsthal, 1663–1866 (end of sovereignty)

  • Philipp, Landgrave 1663–1721 (1655–1721), third son of Wilhelm VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
    • Karl I, Landgrave 1721–70 (1682–1770)
      • Wilhelm, Landgrave 1770–1806 (1726–1810), see note below for 1806
        • Ludwig, Landgrave 1813–16 (1766–1816), see note below for 1813
        • Ernst Konstantin, Landgrave 1816–49 (1771–1849)
          • Charles II, Landgrave, sovereign 1849–66 (1803–1868)
1806 annexed by the Kingdom of Westphalia, 1813 restored under the supremacy of the Elector of Hesse
1866 annexed by Prussia

Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld, 1721–1866 (end of sovereignty)

  • Wilhelm, Landgrave 1721–61 (1692–1761), third son of Philipp, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal
    • Friedrich, Landgrave 1761–77 (1727–1777)
      • Adolf, Landgrave 1777–1803 (1743–1803)
        • Karl, Landgrave 1803–06, 1813–54 (1784–1854)
          • Alexis, Landgrave, sovereign 1854–66 (1829–1905)
1806 annexed by the Kingdom of Westphalia, 1813 restored under the supremacy of the Elector of Hesse
1866 annexed by Prussia

Hesse-Marburg, 1567–1604

Image Name Start term End term Note
Louis IV
Ludwig IV
31 March 15679 October 1604second son of Philip the Magnanimous.
1604 extinct and disputed between Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Darmstadt, 1648 divided between the two lines

Hesse-Rheinfels, 1567–1583

Image Name Start term End term Note
Philip II31 March 156720 November 1583third son of Philip the Magnanimous. Called "the Younger."
1583 extinct and divided between Hesse-Kassel, Hesse-Marburg and Hesse-Darmstadt

Hesse-Darmstadt, 1567–1806

Image Name Start term End term Note
George I
Georg I
31 March 1567 7 February 1596 fourth son of Philip the Magnanimous
Louis V
Ludwig V
7 February 1596 27 June 1626 son of George I.
George II
Georg II
27 June 1626 11 June 1661 son of Louis V.
Louis VI
Ludwig VI
11 June 1661 24 April 1678 son of George II
Louis VII
Ludwig VII
24 April 1678 31 August 1678 first son of Louis VI
Ernest Louis
Ernst Ludwig
31 August 1678 12 September 1739 second son of Louis VI
Louis VIII
Ludwig VIII
12 September 1739 17 October 1768 son of Ernest Louis
Louis IX
Ludwig IX
17 October 1768 6 April 1790 son of Louis VIII
Louis X
Ludwig X
6 April 1790 13 August 1806 son of Louis IX. Became Grand Duke of Hesse 1806.

Hesse-Butzbach, 1609–1643

Philip III, Landgrave 1609–43 (1581–1643), second son of George I of Hesse-Darmstadt

1643 line extinct, returned to Hesse-Darmstadt

Hesse-Homburg, 1622–1866

  • Friedrich I, Landgrave 1622–38 (1585–1638), third son of George I of Hesse-Darmstadt
under mortgage to two merchants (1671–1673) and the Landgraves of Hesse-Darmstadt (1673–1679), redeemed by Friedrich II
1806 Annexed by Hesse-Darmstadt, 1815 restored by the Congress of Vienna
1866 line extinct, returned to Hesse-Darmstadt

Hesse-Braubach, 1626–1651

Johann, Landgrave 1626–51 (1609–1651), second son of Ludwig V of Hesse-Darmstadt

1651 line extinct, returned to Hesse-Darmstadt

Hesse-Itter, 1661–1676

Georg III, Landgrave 1661–76 (1632–1676), second son of Georg II of Hesse-Darmstadt

1676 line extinct, returned to Hesse-Darmstadt

Electors of Hesse (-Kassel), 1803–1866

Image Name Start term End term Note
William I
Wilhelm I
15 May 1803 28 August 1807 previously Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel as William IX; deposed
to the Kingdom of Westphalia, 1807–1813
William I
Wilhelm I
30 October 1813 27 February 1821 restored
William II
Wilhelm II
27 February 1821 20 November 1847 His son Frederick William acted as regent from 30 September 1831
Frederick William
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
Ludwig I
13 August 1806 6 April 1830 previously Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt as Louis X from 1790
Louis II
Ludwig II
6 April 1830 16 June 1848  
Louis III
Ludwig III
16 June 1848 13 June 1877  
Louis IV
Ludwig IV
13 June 1877 13 March 1892  
Ernest Louis
Ernst Ludwig
13 March 1892 9 November 1918  

Heads of the non-reigning House of Hesse

Hesse-Kassel since 1866

Friedrich Wilhelm I, the former Elector, titular Landgrave 1866–75 (1802–1875)

succeeded by his second cousin Friedrich Wilhelm II as below:
  • Friedrich II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel (1720–1785)
    • Friedrich III, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel-Rumpenheim (1747–1837)
      • Wilhelm I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel-Rumpenheim (1787–1867)
        • Friedrich Wilhelm II, titular Landgrave 1875–84 (1820–1884)
          • Friedrich Wilhelm III, titular Landgrave 1884–88 (1854–1888)
          • Alexander Friedrich, titular Landgrave 1888–1925, abdicated (1863–1945)
          • Friedrich Karl, titular Landgrave 1925–40, elected King of Finland as Fredrik Kaarle I in 1918 but renounced the throne (1868–1940)
            • Philipp, titular Landgrave 1940–80, head of entire House 1968 on extinction of Hesse-Darmstadt line (1896–1980)
              • Moritz, titular Landgrave and Head of House 1980–2013 (1926–2013)
                • Heinrich Donatus titular Landgrave and Head of House 2013–present (born 1966)
                • Prince Philipp Robin of Hesse (born 1970)
                  • Prince Tito of Hesse (born 2008)
            • Prince Christoph of Hesse (1901–1943)
              • Prince Karl Adolf Andreas of Hesse (born 1937)
                • Prince Christoph of Hesse (born 1969)
              • Prince Rainer Christoph Friedrich of Hesse (born 1939)

Hesse-Philippsthal 1866–1925

  • Charles II, formerly sovereign, titular Landgrave 1866–68 (1803–1868)
    • Ernst Eugen, titular Landgrave 1868–1925 (1846–1925)
1925 the Line of Hesse-Philippsthal became extinct, passed to Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld

Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld since 1866, Hesse-Philippsthal since the extinction of the main line 1925

  • Charles, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (1784–1854)
    • Alexis, formerly sovereign, titular Landgrave 1866–1905 (1829–1905)
    • Prince Wilhelm of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (1831–1890)
      • Chlodwig, titular Landgrave 1905–54, inherited Hesse-Philippsthal as well in 1925 (1876–1954)
        • Prince Wilhelm of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (1905–1942)
          • Wilhelm, titular Landgrave 1954-present (born 1933)
            • Prince Wilhelm of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (born 1963)
              • Prince Wilhelm Ernst of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (born 2005)
              • Prince Philipp August of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (born 2006)
            • Prince Otto of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (born 1965)
              • Prince Max of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (born 1999)
              • Prince Moritz of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (born 2007)
          • Prince Hermann of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (born 1935)
            • Prince Alexis of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (born 1977)

Hesse-Darmstadt 1918–1968

In 1968 the Line of Hesse-Darmstadt became Hesse-Nassau and Hesse-Kassel (1969–present)

See also

References

  1. Burke's Royal Families of the World Volume I Europe & Latin America ISBN 0-85011-023-8, London 1977 p. 202
  2. Christian died childless and the lands passed to his first cousin once removed Constantine (died 1778)

External links

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