European Kingdoms

Hesse

Hesse's earliest recorded ancestors were probably the Chatten or Chatti, a Germanic folk in existence over 2,000 years ago. They, along with the Cherusci, were the masters of Germania before Roman domination. 'Chatti' became 'Hessi', from which originates the state's name. The first recorded entry of a location within Hesse's territory dates from AD 782. The town mentioned was Eberstadt, then called Eberstadt im Rheingau, where a certain Walther, along with his wife, Williswinde, gave their entire property to the Lorsch Convent (Eberstadt has since been absorbed by Darmstadt). The first mention of Kassel is from AD 913, where it was referred to as Cassala. Hessian territory was formed from former Franconia.

The territory was divided during the period of the Frankish empire into several Gaue (or districts, these being Saxon Hessengau, Frankish Hessengau, Buchonia, and Oberlahngau), and these were ruled over by counts (Grafen). Under the weakened successors of Charlemagne the counts gradually become less responsible officials and more feudal lords. The church acquired much landed property in the region, and secular Hesse became parcelled up into numerous pockets of territory.

Most prominent amongst the Hessian nobility in the tenth and eleventh centuries were the Gisos, the counts of Gudensberg. The daughter of the fourth and last Giso married Count Louis I of Thuringia (1122). In 1130 he was raised to the rank of landgrave and recognised as overlord by the Hessians. So Hesse and Thuringia were united from 1130-1247. The male line of Thuringia became extinct with Henry Raspe (the brother-in-law of St Elizabeth of Thuringia) in 1247, so the Hessians selected Henry of Brabant (grandson of Elizabeth) as landgrave. Hesse was separated from Thuringia and after struggling against rival claimants, it was recognised as independent. Henry gained the title 'Prince of the Empire' from Adolph of Nassau in 1292.

The English form of the name is Hesse, the German, Hessen. For sake of clarity, the English 'Hesse' is used here to refer to the state in its singular form, while the divided states hold their German-form names.

1247 - 1263

Duchess Sophia

Niece of Henry Raspe. Established the landgraviate from 1247.

Landgraves of Hesse

Ruled by the Ydulfings, the capital was usually Marburg, with a co- or sub-ruler based in Kassel.

1263 - 1298

Henry I the Child, Prince of the Empire

Son of Duchess Sophia. First head of the House of Ydulfing.

1298 - 1328

Otto

In Marburg. Brother.

1298 - 1311

John

In Kassel.

1328 - 1377

Henry II the Iron

In Marburg. Son of Otto.

1328 - 1343

Ludwig / Louis I (II)

In Grubenstein.

1328 - 1367

Herman I

In Nordeck.

1377 - 1413

Herman II the Learned

1413 - 1458

Ludwig / Louis II (III) the Peaceful

Son.

1458

Hesse is greatly enlarged following a division of territory within the Holy Roman Empire. It is centered on the city of Kassel. The new ruler, Ludwig, creates a sub-landgraviate for his younger brother, Henry, which is based around the previous capital at Hessen-Marburg.

1458 - 1471

Ludwig / Louis III (IV)

In Kassel. Son.

1471 - 1493

William I the Elder

In Kassel. Son of Ludwig III. d.1515.

1471 - 1500

William II the Intermediate

In Kassel. Brother. Elevated to duke.

1500

Hesse is unified with remaining Hessen territories not already under its control (including Hessen-Marburg) to form a single, elevated duchy of Hesse.

Dukes of Hesse

Hesse was a single, unified and enlargened state from 1500. The main body of its territory was comprised of various regions east of Nassau, and between the River Lippe to the north and just below the Maine in the south.

1500 - 1509

William

Formerly Landgrave William II. d.1515.

1509 - 1567

Philip I the Magnanimous / Generous

Son. State divided between his four sons.

1567

Philip is one of the political leaders of the Reformation. This is the only time Hesse plays a role of great importance in the Reich (empire - in this case the Austrian-dominated Holy Roman Empire which covers most of Central Europe. Hesse's city of Frankfurt-am-Main was for a long time a free imperial city and the place where German emperors were crowned).

Following Philip's death, Hesse is divided into the regions of Hessen-Kassel, Hessen-Marburg, Hessen-Rheinfels and Hessen-Darmstadt, one each for Philip's four sons.

Further sub-dividing of Kassel and Darmstadt eventually leads to splinter states such as Hessen-Homburg, Hessen-Rumpenheim, Hessen-Philippsthal, Hessen-Philippsthal-Barchfeld, Hessen-Eschwege, Hessen-Rheinfels, Hessen-Rheinfels-Rotenburg, Hessen-Rheinfels-Wanfried, Hessen-Butzbach, Hessen-Brubach, Hessen-Darmstadt-Itter, Hessen-Marburg, and Hessen-Hanau, and ultimately to political obscurity for all of Hesse by the eighteenth century. Like most of the moderate North German states, by the fifteenth century Hesse had switched to the Protestant faith, Kassel becoming Calvinist, Darmstadt Lutheran.

Landgraves of Hessen-Kassel

Created from the division of the Duchy of Hesse, Kassel was the largest of the four new Hessen states, being the most senior and dominant, and owner of approximately half the former duchy's lands. From the capital at Kassel, the rulers of the northern half of Hesse continued to hold the title of landgrave. They built up strong connections with the Netherlands, and through them, with England. Troops were provided to England on numerous occasions, not least during the American Revolutionary War.

1567 - 1592

William IV

Eldest son of Philip I.

1583

Hessen-Rheinfels is claimed back following the death of Philip, although the title itself is not reclaimed.

1592 - 1627

Maurice the Learned

Became Protestant in 1605. Abdicated in favour of his son.

1604

Hessen-Marburg is claimed back following the death of Ludwig.

1627

Hessen-Eschwege is created for one of Maurice's younger sons (out of a total of at least six sons). Hessen-Rheinfels is recreated along with Hessen-Rotenburg for two further sons.

1627 - 1637

William V

Son. Forced to retire into exile during the Thirty Years War.

1637 - 1663

William VI

Came of age in 1650.

1637 - 1650

Amalie Elizabeth von Hanau

Mother & landgravine, acted as regent and regained Kassel.

1644 - 1648

The Marburger Succession Conflict between Kassel and Darmstadt is a result of Kassel claiming back both Rheinfels and Marburg. An ally of Sweden during the Thirty Years War, Hessen-Kassel fights some of its bitterest battles in the final four years of the war against Hessen-Darmstadt. Part of Hessen-Marburg is ceded to Darmstadt to end the quarrel over land.

1655

The cadet line of Hessen-Philippsthal is created for one of William VI's younger sons, Philip.

1663 - 1670

William VII

Son. Acceded as an infant, died young.

1663 - 1677

Hedwig Sophie von Brandenburg

Regent.

1670 - 1730

Charles / Karl (I)

Brother. First to hire out troops to foreign powers.

1730 - 1751

Frederick I

Son. Became king of Sweden (1720-1751) by marriage.

1736

Hessen-Kassel gains Hanau-Munzenberg upon the end of the line of Counts of Hanau.

1751 - 1760

William VIII

Brother. Represented Frederick in Kassel during his rule.

1760 - 1785

Frederick II

Son.

1760

Frederick II reverted to the Catholic Church in 1749. When this became known (probably around the time of his accession to the title), his father, the Hessian Estates, Prussia and Hanover all demand that he neither appoint any Catholics to public positions nor permit Catholic worship. Frederick is forced to agree, but his reign is not always shown in Hessian lists, his father's reign being extended to 1785 in his place.

1776 - 1783

Kassel supplies troops to England to fight in the American Revolutionary War. Approximately 15,000 to 20,000 Hessians or Hessian-led mercenaries are supplied.

1785 - 1803

William IX

Son.

1793 - 1795

Hessen-Kassel takes part in the fight against revolutionary France by supplying troops to the English crown. Peace between Kassel and France is declared at Basle.

1803

The state is enlarged by a sharing out of previously imperial free towns and church states to compensate for land lost to France (including Hessen-Rheinfels). The landgraviate is elevated by France's Napoleon Bonaparte, William securing the coveted title of Kurfürst (prince elector of the HRE).

Kurfürsts of Hessen-Kassel (zu Rumpenheim)

Elevated to elector status by the Holy Roman Emperor in 1803, the title was never resigned, even after the dissolution of the HRE in 1806.

A minor district of Hessen-Kassel was Rumpenheim, situated near Offenbach, in Rheinland-Pfalz (in 1802, and probably gained during the sharing out in 1803). Rumpenheim Castle in Kassel was named after it, and during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the rulers of Hessen-Kassel attach this name to their title, without their being any apparent division of the territory. Rumpenheim remained part of Hessen-Kassel after its absorption by Prussia in 1866. It continued to be claimed until at least 1880.

1803 - 1806

William / Wilhelm I

Formerly William IX. First Kurfürst of Hessen-Kassel.

1806

Wilhelm partially mobilises his army while France's Napoleon Bonaparte is destroying the Prussian army in October. The following month Bonaparte takes his revenge by dissolving the state and incorporating its territory into his younger brother's newly created Kingdom of Westphalia. Kassel becomes the capital of the new kingdom.

1806 - 1813

Jerome Bonaparte

King of Westphalia / Westfalia.

1813

Napoleon loses control of Germany. Westphalia is dismantled and Hessen-Kassel restored by the allied armies. The kurfürst gains the Nieder-Grafschaft of Katzenelnbogen, and the Prince-Bishopric (Grand Duchy) of Fulda, which connects his Hessian lands with those in Hanau. At the Congress of Vienna, William's request to be recognised as king of the Chatti is refused.

1813 - 1821

William I

Restored. Died 27 Feb.

1821 - 1847

William II

Son. A profligate ruler. Retired in 1831. Died 20 Nov.

1830

Following the July Revolution in Paris, a similar uprising occurs in Kassel. William II is compelled to give the land a constitution which ensures every citizen complete liberty of conscience and freedom to practice his religion. William retires to Hanau, appoints his son as regent and takes no further part in public affairs.

1847 - 1866

Frederick William

Son. A tyrant. Deposed by Prussia.

1850

As his control over the state is weakened, Frederick William is persuaded to leave Kassel along with the head of his administration. Austrian and Bavarian troops march into the electorate, in a direct challenge to Prussian supremacy in the area (1850-51). Although Frederick William returns, Hessen-Kassel is governed by the reconstituted federal diet.

1866

Hessen-Kassel is annexed by an empire-building Prussia (20 September) following the defeat of Austria in the Austro-Prussian War. Frederick William is made a prisoner in Stettin. The landgraves continue to hold their title but no real power. Hessen-Darmstadt is the only surviving Hessen state from this point. Hessen-Kassel is combined with Hessen-Homburg and renamed Hessen-Nassau and remains part of Prussia until the latter is unified within modern Germany at the close of World War II.

1866 - 1875

Landgrave Frederick William

Retained title but lost the landgraviate.

1875 - 1884

Landgrave Frederick William

Son.

1884 - 1925

Landgrave Alexander Frederick

Son. Renounced title. d.28 May 1940, Kassel.

1925 - 1940

Landgrave Frederick Charles

Brother. m Margarethe, younger sister of Kaiser Wilhelm II.

1940 - 1980

Landgrave Philipp

Son.

1968

Following the death of Prince Ludwig of Hessen-Darmstadt, Philipp becomes the new head of the House of Hesse (family pact signed in 1902).

Landgraves of Hessen-Marburg

Initially, Marburg was one of Hesse's key cities, and was usually the capital before Kassel. Once the landgraviate had been enlargened in 1458, Ludwig was able to grant his younger brother the newly created (sub-)landgraviate of Hessen-Marburg.

The landgraviate was re-created from the division of the Duchy of Hesse in 1567. Because of its previous status, Marburg was the secondmost senior branch of this new division of land. Its share of the former duchy's territory amounted to fully a quarter, but its ruling line died out quickly. Marburg is situated in central Hesse, being located on the River Lahn.

1458 - 1483

Henry III

Brother of Ludwig III.

Ludwig III

Son. Predeceased his father (in 1478).

1483 - 1500

William III the Younger

Brother.

1500 - 1567

William dies without issue, so Marburg is merged with the landgraviate of Hesse to form the Duchy of Hesse.

1567 - 1604

Ludwig / Louis IV

Second son of Philip I.

1604

The Ydulfings of Hessen-Marburg die without producing a successor. Hessen-Kassel claims back the land. This causes quarrels between Kassel and Hessen-Darmstadt.

Landgraves of Hessen-Rheinfels (-Rotenburg)

Created from the division of the Duchy of Hesse in 1567, Rheinfels was the third Ydulfing family branch. Its share of the former duchy's territory amounted to an eighth, but its ruling line died out quickly. It was situated near the Rhine in the west of Hesse.

1567 - 1583

Philip II

Third son of Philip I.

1583

The Ydulfing line of Hessen-Rheinfels dies without a successor. Hessen-Kassel claims back the land.

1627

Upon the resignation of Maurice the Learned of Hessen-Kassel in favour of his son, William V, two younger brothers found the joint cadet lines of Hessen-Rheinfels and Hessen-Rotenburg.

1627 - 1658

Hermann

Hessen-Rotenberg. Son of Maurice. No heir.

1627 - 1693

Ernst

Hessen-Rheinfels. Son of Maurice. United Rheinfels & Rotenberg.

1652

The Rheinfels and Rotenbergs revert to Catholicism.

1658

The Rotenberg title is united with that of Rheinfels.

1693

Ernst's elder son, William, continues to govern the House of Rheinfels-Rotenbergs. His second son, Karl, is created Landgrave of Hessen-Rheinfels-Wanfried.

1693 - 1725

William

Son.

1725 - 1749

Ernst

Son.

1749 - 1778

Constantine

Son.

1754

Rheinfels is removed from the family title, reducing it to Hessen-Rotenberg.

1778 - 1812

Karl Emanuel

Son.

1803

The Rheinfels territory is lost to the revolutionary French.

1812 - 1834

Victor Amadeus

Son. Also Duke of Ratibor & Prince of Corvey.

1834

Victor produces no legitimate offspring, so the Hessen-Rotenberg male line dies out.

1834 - 1869

Marie Adelheid

Sister.

1869

Marie had married Karl August, Prince of Hohenlohe-Bartenstein in 1811, so with her death, the title passes out of Hessian descent.

Landgraves of Hessen-Rheinfels-Wanfried

This was a minor division of the already minor Hessen-Rheinfels-Rotenberg line.

1693 - 1711

Karl

Younger son of Ernst.

1711 - 1731

William

Son.

1731

William dies without producing an heir.

Landgraves of Hessen-Eschwege

A cadet line apparently created for a younger son of Landgrave Maurice of Hessen-Kassel.

1617? - 1655

Frederick

Younger son of Maurice.

1655

Frederick dies without producing a surviving male heir.

Landgraves of Hessen-Philippsthal

A cadet line created for the younger son of Landgrave William VI of Hessen-Kassel.

1655 - 1736

Philip (III)

Third son of William VI.

1736

The two sons of Philip divide the landgraviate into Hessen-Philippsthal and Hessen-Philippsthal-Barchfeld.

1736 - 1770

Charles / Karl (II)

Son.

1770 - 1810

William

Son.

1810 - 1816

Ludwig

Son.

1816 - 1849

Ernst Constantine

Brother.

1849 - 1868

Charles / Karl

Son.

1868

The lines of Philippsthal and Philippsthal-Barchfeld gain certain castles and palaces from Kassel through Prussian management of the former landgraviate.

1868 - 1925

Ernst

Son. No heir.

1925

The line of Hessen-Philippsthal dies with Ernst. The title is merged with Hessen-Philippsthal-Barchfeld, which continues.

Landgraves of Hessen-Philippsthal-Barchfeld

Collateral line of Hessen-Philippsthal, which was divided upon the death of the former title-holder.

1736 - 1761

William

Brother of Charles of Hessen-Philippsthal.

1761 - 1777

Frederick

Son.

1777 - 1803

Adolf

Brother.

1803 - 1854

Karl

Son.

1868

The lines of Philippsthal and Philippsthal-Barchfeld gain certain castles and palaces from Kassel through Prussian management of the former landgraviate.

1854 - 1905

Alexis

Son.

1905 - 1954

Chlodwig

Nephew. Born 1876.

1925

The line of Hessen- Philippsthal dies out with Ernst. The title is merged with Hessen-Philippsthal-Barchfeld, and becomes simply Hessen-Philippsthal.

1954 - Present

William

Grandson. His father, William, died in Russia in 1942.

Hereditary Prince William

Son. b.1963.

Landgraves of Hessen-Darmstadt

Created from the division of the Duchy of Hesse in 1567, the rulers continued to hold the title Landgraf / Landgrave. Hessen-Darmstadt was the most junior of the four branches and, along with Rheinfels, the smallest of the four Hessen divisions, gaining just an eighth of the previous duchy's land. It is positioned in the south of Hesse.

Located in Hessen-Darmstadt are the cities of Frankfurt-am-Main and Darmstadt. The area to the south of Frankfurt is heavily forested, especially in the area of the Odenwald (Forest of Odes, south of Darmstadt), which leads to the famous Black Forest, and on to the Alps. Darmstadt is also very close to the ruins of Frankenstein Castle.

1567 - 1596

George I

Fourth son of Philip I.

1596 - 1626

Ludwig / Louis V the Faithful

Numbering continued from Hessen-Marburg.

1596

Ludwig's younger brother, Philipp, forms the short-lived cadet branch of Hessen-Butzbach.

1622

Ludwig V gains his title from his attachment to the emperor. Darmstadt is sub-divided so that the minor principality of Hessen-Homburg can be created for Ludwig's youngest brother.

1626 - 1661

George II

1626

George's younger brother, Johann, forms the short-lived cadet branch of Hessen-Braubach.

1644 - 1648

The Marburger Succession Conflict between Kassel and Darmstadt is a result of Kassel claiming back both Rheinfels and Marburg. An enemy of Kassel during the Thirty Years War, Hessen-Darmstadt fights some of its bitterest battles against its neighbour. Darmstadt gains power after the war and the Peace of Westphalia (1648), a portion of Upper Hesse, the former Benedictine territory of Hersfeld, and part of Hessen-Marburg.

1661 - 1678

Ludwig VI

1661

Upon Ludwig's accession, the cadet line of Hessen-Darmstadt-Itter is formed for his younger brother, George.

1678

Ludwig VII

1678 - 1739

Ernst Ludwig

Son of Ludwig VI.

1736

Hessen-Darmstadt gains Hanau-Lichtenberg upon the end of the line of counts of Hanau.

1739 - 1768

Ludwig VIII

1768 - 1790

Ludwig IX

1790 - 1806

Ludwig X

1793 - 1801

Hessen-Darmstadt fights against France as part of the Holy Roman Empire. It is forced into neutrality in 1799. Along with a defeated Austria, Hessen-Darmstadt makes peace at Luneville in 1801.

1803

State enlarged by a sharing out of previously imperial free towns and church states to compensate for land lost on the West Bank of the Rhine to France (a few districts in Baden and Nassau were also lost). It gained Kurmainz, Kurpfalz, and the Kurkolinsche Duchy of Westfalen (Westphalia) from the church.

1806

Hessen-Darmstadt is made a member of Napoleon's French-controlled Confederation of the Rhine (Rheinbund). In return it receives all remaining imperial possessions within its borders (including the Grafschaft of Erbach) and Landgrave Ludwig X is elevated by Napoleon to the status of Grand Duke.

Grand Dukes of Hessen-Darmstadt (and the Rhine)

Elevated by French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806. Ruler held the title of grand duke (grossherzog).

1806 - 1830

Ludwig I

First Grand Duke of Hessen-Darmstadt. Formerly Ludwig X.

1809

Darmstadt gains three Hessian domains of the German Order, the Fulda domain of Herbstein, and the estates of the Order of Malta in Hesse.

1814

The Congress of Vienna makes further changes to the state's borders. Ludwig becomes Grossherzog von Hessen und bei Rhein. He exchanges Westfalen with Prussia for Isenberg-Birstein, Worms, Alzey, and Bingen.

1830 - 1848

Ludwig II

Son. Second son founded Hessen-Battenberg branch.

1848 - 1877

Ludwig III

Son. No heir.

1866

Hessen-Darmstadt, a supporter of the defeated of Austria in the Austro-Prussian War, loses some territory ( Hessen-Homburg, regained for a few months following the death of its last landgrave) but retains its independence. Hessen-Kassel has been absorbed into Prussia, so, as the sole remaining Hessian state of note, Hessen-Darmstadt is now usually known as the Duchy of Hesse.

1871

Hesse becomes a member state of Prussia's German empire.

1877 - 1892

Ludwig IV

Nephew. Grandson of Ludwig II. m Alice dau of Victoria.

1892 - 1918

Ernst Ludwig

Brother of Czarina. Ancestor of Lord Louis Mountbatten.

1919 - 1933

Hesse is proclaimed a republic after the fall of the German empire. The grand dukes maintain their status and title as hereditary Dukes of Hesse but with no power or position in the new state.

1933 - 1945

Adolf Hitler suspends the constitution.

1945

The occupying US forces combine Prussian Hessen-Nassau and the Republic of Hesse to form the federal state of Hesse. In the process, some of the Hesse regions are to be relinquished, but this - in spite of the 'foreign' influence involved - more or less resembles the mergers of the nineteenth century, making Hesse a consistent geographical, cultural and historic unit since the thirteenth century.

Landgraves of Hessen-Homburg

A junior branch of Hessen-Darmstadt created by Ludwig V for his younger brother in 1622. The rulers held the title of landgrave, but were in effect junior rulers to Darmstadt's (to begin with). Hessen-Homburg consisted of the district of Homburg on the right side of the Rhine, and the district of Meisenheim, which was added in 1815, on the left side of the same river - little more than the city of Homburg and its environs.

1622 - 1638

Frederick I

Brother of Ludwig V.

1650

Homburg is sub-divided into Hessen-Homburg and Hessen-Homburg-Bingenheim by Frederick's first two sons.

1650 - 1681

William Christopher

Son. Landgrave of Bingenheim (1648-1681).

1668

Homburg becomes independent of Hessen-Darmstadt.

1669 - 1677

George Christian

Brother. No heir.

1681

Homburg and Bingenheim are reunited into one title by Frederick II.

1681 - 1708

Frederick II

Third son of Frederick I.

1708 - 1746

Frederick III

1746 - 1751

Frederick IV

Son of Kasimir Wilhem (d.1726). Nephew of Frederick III.

1751 - 1806

Frederick V

1806

The landgrave is driven out at the formation of the French-controlled Confederation of the Rhine, when Napoleon annexes the land to Hessen-Darmstadt.

1815

Hessen-Homburg is reinstated by the Congress of Vienna, and is then recognised as a member of the German Confederation (1817).

1815 - 1820

Frederick V

Restored.

1820

Following the death of Frederick V, five of his sons fill the title in succession. All are in their forties or fifties at the time.

1820 - 1829

Frederick VI Louis

Son.

1829 - 1839

Ludwig

Brother.

1839 - 1846

Philip

Brother.

1846 - 1848

Gustav

Brother.

1848 - 1866

Ferdinand

Brother. Succeeded Gustav at the age of 65. Died 24 March.

1866

The territory passes back to Hessen-Darmstadt. The Hessen-Homburg territory is taken by Prussia following Hessen-Darmstadt's defeat in the Austro-Prussian War.

Landgraves of Hessen-Butzbach

A cadet line formed by the younger brother of Landgrave Ludwig V of Hessen-Darmstadt.

1596 - 1643

Philipp

Brother of Ludwig V.

1643

Philipp has no offspring, so the line dies out.

Landgraves of Hessen-Braubach

A cadet line formed by the younger brother of Landgrave George II of Hessen-Darmstadt.

1626 - 1651

Johann

Brother of George II.

1651

Johann has no offspring, so the line dies out.

Landgraves of Hessen-Darmstadt-Itter

A cadet line formed by the younger brother of Landgrave Ludwig VI of Hessen-Darmstadt.

1661 - 1676

George

Brother of Ludwig VI.

1676

Although George had two daughters, neither apparently marries, so the line dies out.

House of Hessen-Battenberg

A junior branch of the family with no political power. Alexander, son of Ludwig II of Hessen-Darmstadt, made a morganatic marriage to Julia of Battenberg, and was effectively barred from acceding to Darmstadt's title. Julia was not considered worthy of the lineage of Hesse so this special title was created for her and her descendants.

Alexander of Hesse

Son of Ludwig II. m Julia of Battenberg. d.1888.

1888 - 1917

Prince Louis Alexander

Son.

Prince Alexander

Brother. Prince of Bulgaria (1879-1886). d.1893.

1917

The title of Hessen-Battenberg is altered to become that of Mountbatten, and survives through inheritance in England as the earldom of Mountbatten after titular links between England and Germany are severed.

1919

Hesse is proclaimed a republic.

1917 - 1921

Prince Louis Alexander

Altered title to Mountbatten at request of George V of England.

Alice Mountbatten

Dau. m Andrew of Greece, brother of Constantine I (1913-1922).

1921 - 1979

Earl Louis Francis

Brother. Earl Mountbatten of Burma. Viceroy of India.

Philip Mountbatten

Son of Alice. m Elizabeth II of England.

1979 - Present

Countess Patricia Edwina Victoria

Dau of Earl Mountbatten of Burma.

Hereditary Heirs of Hesse (and the Rhine)

The modern Federal German State of Hesse is divided into three federal administrative districts. These are the southern district of Hessen-Darmstadt; the middle district of Hessen-Giessen (for most of its history a part of Hessen-Darmstadt); and the northern district of Hessen-Kassel (old Casl and Cassel).

1918 - 1937

Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig

1937

Grand Duke Georg Donatus

Son. Killed in plane crash with wife, two sons and mother.

1937 - 1968

Grand Duke Ludwig (V)

Brother.

1968

The Ducal House of Hessen-Darmstadt comes to an end with the death of Ludwig. In 1960, Ludwig had adopted his distant cousin, Moritz, son of Landgrave Philipp of Hessen-Kassel, and by a family pact (made in 1902) Moritz's still-living father becomes inheritor of the ducal title of Hesse and the Rhine.

1968 - 1980

Landgrave Philipp

Landgrave of Hessen-Kassel. Died in Rome.

1980 - Present

Landgrave Moritz

Son. Landgrave of Hessen-Kassel.

Hereditary Prince Henry

Son.