Landgraviate of Hesse

Landgraviate of Hesse Landgrafschaft Hessen
1264–1567
Flag Coat of arms
Status	State of the Holy Roman Empire
Capital	Kassel, Marburg
Government	Monarchy
Landgrave
• 1264–1308	Henry I the Child
• 1509–1567	Philip I the Magnanimous
Historical era	Middle Ages, Reformation
• Partitioned from Thuringia	1264
• Partitioned in twain	1458–1500
• Partitioned in four	1567
Preceded by Succeeded by Thuringia Hesse-Kassel Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt Hesse-Marburg Hesse-Rheinfels

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

• Rulers of Hesse

External links

• Map of the Landgraviate of Hesse under Philip I the Magnanimous