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The Landgraviate of Hesse (German: Landgrafschaft Hessen) was a Landgraviate of the Holy Roman Empire. It existed as a unity from 1264 to 1567, when it was divided between the sons of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse.
History
In the early Middle Ages Hesse had been part of the Landgraviate of Thuringia, but following the War of Thuringian Succession it was inherited by the younger son of Henry II, Duke of Brabant. Henry I, Landgrave of Hesse, also called Henry the Child, became the first Landgrave of Hesse in 1246.
Between 1458 and 1500 the landgraviate was divided in Upper Hesse and Lower Hesse.
The Landgraviate rose to primary importance under Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse also called Philip the Magnanimous who embraced Protestantism in 1524 and thereafter took steps to create a protective alliance of Protestant princes and powers.
Upon the death of Philip I in 1567, the Landgraviate was divided between his sons from his first marriage into the:
- Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel) (later electorate of Hesse, 1567–1806 and 1813–66, incorporated in the kingdom of Prussia): William IV of Hesse
- Landgraviate of Hesse-Marburg (1567–1650, incorporated in the landgraviates of Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Darmstadt): Louis IV of Hesse
- Landgraviate of Hesse-Rheinfels (1567–83, incorporated in the landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel): Philip II of Hesse
- Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt (1567–1806, later Grand Duchy of Hesse and the Rhine 1806–1918, incorporated in the Weimar Republic): Georg of Hesse
See also
External links
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