European Kingdoms

Hessen-Darmstadt (Hesse)
AD 1567 - 1806

Hessian States All Modern States Central Europe Saxon States The Rus / Old Russia

The process of dividing and sub-dividing the German territorial duchies in Europe and electorates was one which eventually served to weaken all of the Holy Roman empire's states, save Austria. Some of these divisions were never undone by succeeding generations. In fact, there could sometimes be as many landgraves or dukes as there were heirs.

The complicated divisions and swapping of territory and names are sometimes tricky to cover in detail, with much of the more intricate details rarely being covered by English language publications. Each of the rulers of these divisions usually continued to hold the title of landgraf ('landgrave' in English).

The Hessian 'Landgraviate' had been elevated to the 'Duchy of Hesse' in 1500, after which it had been heavily involved in the Protestant Reformation and its various conflicts (see feature link). The main body of its territory was comprised of various regions to the east of Nassau, and between the River Lippe to the north and just below the Maine in the south. Formerly the Chatti tribe of the first century AD, the Hessians formed a semi-independent territory out of the collapse of the much larger stem duchy of Franconia.

From 1509, Duke Philip 'the Magnanimous' was the single most influential figure in the history of all of the various Hessian territories. One of the political leaders of the Protestant Reformation, it was during his reign that Hesse played a role of great importance in the Reich, meaning 'empire' - in this case the Austrian-dominated Holy Roman empire. Hesse's city of Frankfurt-am-Main was for a long time a free imperial city, serving as the location in which German emperors were crowned.

Following Philip's death, Hesse was divided into the regions of Hessen-Kassel, Hessen-Marburg, Hessen-Rheinfels and Hessen-Darmstadt, one each for Philip's four sons. Hessen-Darmstadt was formed out of the Obergrafschaft ('upper county') of the former 'Imperial Immediacy' of the county of Katzenelnbogen, an 'immediacy' being a district which answered directly to the Holy Roman emperor rather than a local overlord or prince.

Having been created in 1095 to comprise the Obergrafschaft ('upper county') and Untergrafschaft ('lower county'), it witnessed four centuries of rule by its own Katzenelnbogen counts before the line died out in 1497. It was inherited by Hesse thanks to the 1458 marriage between Henry III of Upper Hesse and Count Philipp's daughter, Anna of Katzenelnbogen.

The rulers of Hessen-Darmstadt continued to hold the title of landgraf, although they formed 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.

Darmstadt's territory was located in the south of Hesse, formed around the city of Darmstadt. Also located within Hessen-Darmstadt was the city of Frankfurt-am-Main, while the area to the south of Frankfurt is heavily forested, especially around the Odenwald (the Forest of Odes, to the south of Darmstadt), which leads to the famous Black Forest and onto the Alps. The city of Darmstadt is also very close to the (now restored) ruins of Frankenstein Castle.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from Coercion, Capital, and European States, Charles Tilly, 1992, from Historisches Lexikon der deutschen Länder (Historical Dictionary of German States), Gerhard Köbler, 1995, from Medieval Lands: Thuringia, Charles Cawley, from Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, Historischen Kommission bei der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vol 11 (1880, in German), and from External Links: Euratlas, and Historical Atlas of Germany, and Genealogy.eu.)

1567 - 1596

Fourth son of Philip I of Hesse. First landgrave in Darmstadt.

1596 - 1626

Son. Numbering continued from Hessen-Marburg.

1596

Ludwig's younger brother, Philipp, forms the short-lived cadet branch of Hessen-Butzbach as Philipp III, continuing the numbering which had started with Philip of Hesse and which had continued with Philipp II of Hessen-Rheinfels.

Burg Frankenstein (better known in English as Frankenstein Castle) sits on a high hill in the Odenwald, overlooking the city of Darmstadt, possibly serving as the inspiration for Mary Shelley's Gothic novel of the same name

1604

The Ydulfings of Hessen-Marburg die without producing a successor, the only ruler for this branch being Ludwig's uncle, Ludwig IV. Maurice of Hessen-Kassel claims back the title and attempts to impose Calvinism upon its subjects, contrary to the rules of inheritance.

This causes disagreements between him and his cousin, Ludwig V of Hessen-Darmstadt, because Ludwig also inherits a portion of Hessen-Marburg's lands. The disagreements evolve into armed conflict between the two in the Thirty Years' War from 1618. These issues are not resolved until the signing of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648.

1622

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

1626

Upon the death of Ludwig V, Hessen-Darmstadt is again sub-divided. His eldest son becomes George II, landgrave of the main portion of Hessen-Darmstadt. George's younger brother, Johann, becomes head of the short-lived cadet branch of Hessen-Braubach.

The official residence of the landgraves of Hessen-Homburg was Bad Homburg Castle, originally constructed from the twelfth century but largely pulled down and rebuilt under the direction of Landgrave Frederick II in the 1670s-1680s

1626 - 1661

Eldest son. Hessen-Braubach went to his brother.

1643

Philip III of Hessen-Butzbach dies at the age of sixty-one, having been badly burned during an accident at a sweat cure in Bad Ems. As a result of his not having produced an heir, his newfound line of Hessen-Butzbach ends with him. His holdings, including the Landgrafenschloss in Butzbach itself, are reintegrated back into Hessen-Darmstadt.

1644 - 1648

The Marburger Succession Conflict between Kassel and Darmstadt is a result of Kassel claiming back both Rheinfels and Marburg (the latter in 1604) and attempting to impose Calvinism there against the rules of inheritance.

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), along with a portion of Upper Hesse, the former Benedictine territory of Hersfeld, and part of Hessen-Marburg.

1651

Landgraf Johann of Hessen-Braubach has produced no offspring, so with his death the Hessen-Braubach line also dies out. The title (and possibly any lands which go with it) are passed to George, son of George II, who will further benefit following his father's death in 1661.

St Elizabeth's Church in Marburg became the traditional location for internments of the rulers of Hesse from the thirteenth century onwards

1661 - 1678

Eldest son. Hessen-Darmstadt-Itter went to his brother.

1661

Upon Ludwig's accession, the cadet line of Hessen-Darmstadt-Itter is formed for his younger brother, George III. The younger George also holds the title of landgrave of Hessen-Braubach. This constant dividing and sib-dividing of territories is endemic amongst the German principalities, weakening them all while the Holy Roman empire retains overall mastery.

1671 - 1673

Landgrave George Christian of Hessen-Homburg, a confirmed adventurer if ever there is one, sells Homburg to two of his biggest creditors, Johann Christian von Boyneburg and a banker by the name of Johann Ochs from Frankfurt. Wanting to realise the value of their newfound asset they sell Homburg to Ludwig VI of Hessen-Darmstadt in 1673.

1676

Although Landgraf George of Hessen-Darmstadt-Itter has become the father of two daughters, neither apparently marries so the line dies out. That title and any lands are reintegrated back into Hessen-Darmstadt, along with the Hessen-Braubach title.

1678

Eldest son. Ruled for 4 months. Died from an infection.

1678 - 1739

Half-brother. Francophile who plunged Darmstadt into debt.

1681

The territories of Homburg and Bingenheim are reunited along with their titles by Frederick II. Upon his accession he becomes the landgrave of a Hessen-Homburg which now has no sub-divisions. Unfortunately he soon has to sell Bingenheim to Ernst Ludwig of Hessen-Darmstadt in exchange for monetary compensation.

George III held the title to Hessen-Braubach thanks to the death of an elderly relative, and in 1661 was handed Hessen-Darmstadt-Itter upon the death of his father, Landgraf George II of Hessen-Darmstadt

1736

Ernst's eldest son, the future Ludwig VIII, had in 1717 married Countess Charlotte of Hanau-Lichtenberg. Despite her death in 1726, her inheritance still stands as the only offspring of Count Johann Reinhard III of Hanau-Lichtenberg.

The count himself has done as much as he can to ensure that much of his lands pass to Ernst and his son (Johann's grandson), Ludwig. Now, with the death of the seventy year-old count, Hessen-Darmstadt gains Hanau-Lichtenberg. Hessen-Kassel gains Hanau-Münzenberg.

1739 - 1768

Eldest son, by Charlotte of Hanau-Lichtenberg.

1747

Ludwig VIII has decided to reclaim Hessen-Homburg for himself. His troops march in and Ludwig claims to be the legal guardian of Landgrave Frederick IV, despite the latter already being twenty-three years of age.

Frederick is an adult in the eyes of the law and is also married by now. The Holy Roman emperor and the Aulic Council review the case, although Frederick IV dies of a 'chest disease' in the meantime.

His three year-old son succeeds him as Frederick V. The emperor confirms his mother as his regent, despite Ludwig's protestations (Ludwig is ordered out of the landgraviate in 1756).

1768 - 1790

Eldest son.

1790 - 1806

Eldest son. Became Grand Duke Ludwig I.

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.

Napoleon commands at the Battle of Rivoli, 14-15 January 1797, the first French campaign in Italy against Austria, and the start of Bonaparte's highly successful command of the French forces in Italy

1803

Hessen-Darmstadt is 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 have also been lost). It gains Kurmainz, Kurpfalz, and the Kurkolinsche duchy of Westfalen (Westphalia) from the Catholic 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 the landgraviate of Hessen-Homburg), but loses Katzenelnbogen.

With all those territorial reshufflings having been agreed, Landgrave Ludwig X is elevated by Napoleon to the status of grand duke, with Hessen-Darmstadt becoming a Grand Duchy.

Grand Dukes of Hessen-Darmstadt (and the Rhine) (Hesse)
AD 1806 - 1919

Hessian States All Modern States Central Europe Saxon States The Rus / Old Russia

Following the death of Phillip 'the Magnanimous' of Hesse, his holdings were divided in four for his sons: Hessen-Kassel, Hessen-Marburg, Hessen-Rheinfels and this particular division, Hessen-Darmstadt. Hessen-Darmstadt was formed out of the Obergrafschaft ('upper county') of the former 'Imperial Immediacy' of the county of Katzenelnbogen, an 'immediacy' being a district which answered directly to the Holy Roman emperor rather than a local overlord or prince.

In 1803 Hessen-Darmstadt was enlarged by a sharing out of previously imperial free towns and church states to compensate for land which had been lost on the west bank of the Rhine to revolutionary France (a few districts in Baden and Nassau were also lost). It gained Kurmainz, Kurpfalz, and the Kurkolinsche duchy of Westfalen (Westphalia) from the Catholic Church. It also gained the grafschaft of Erbach and the landgraviate of Hessen-Homburg.

The French Revolution did more to change the German principalities than three hundred years of obedience to the Holy Roman empire had ever done. Firstly it forced many of the principalities to take part in the various wars of coalition against France. These all failed and the main Central European protagonists, Austria and Prussia, had to agree peace treaties.

The most notable of these was the Peace of Luneville which compensated several German princes for losses of territory to France by assigning to them the aforementioned ecclesiastical land in Germany. Then the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte and his dominance on both sides of the Rhine ended the Holy Roman empire itself in 1806.

Imperial France was now the master of the minor German principalities. During Napoleon's reorganisation of them into his new 'Confederation of the Rhine', and Hessen-Darmstadt was granted all remaining imperial possessions within its borders. Landgrave Ludwig X of Hessen-Darmstadt was elevated by Napoleon to the status of grand duke (grossherzog), with Hessen-Darmstadt becoming a grand duchy. Its neighbour was not so fortunate. Having partially mobilised against Napoleon, Hessen-Kassel was erased, its territory being incorporated into the new kingdom of Westphalia.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from Das frühere Kurhessen - Ein Geschichtsbild, Otto Bähr, from Geschichte des Landes Hessen, Karl Ernst Demandt, from Kurfürstentum (Kassel Lexikon), Ewald Grothe, from Kurhessens Ministerialvorstände der Verfassungszeit 1831-1866, Harald Höffner, from Die Kurhessen im Feldzuge von 1814: Ein Beitrag zur hessischen Kriegsgeschichte, Carl Renouard, from Die Kurhessische Verfassung von 1831 im Rahmen des deutschen Konstitutionalismus, Christian Starck, from Louis and Victoria: The Family History of the Mountbattens, Richard Hough (Second Edition, 1984), from The First World War, John Keegan (Vintage Books, 2000), and from The New York Times, 14 November 1918.)

1806 - 1830

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. This expansion probably coincides with France's defeat of Austria at the Battle of Wagram.

Following the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte 1814, the Congress of Vienna took on board much of his vital restructuring of the German principalities, with the result that a map of the new Confederation of German States in 1815-1817 looked very different to maps of the previous century (click or tap on map to view full sized)

1813

Napoleon loses control of Germany. The short-lived kingdom of Westphalia is dismantled and Hessen-Kassel is 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.

Hessen-Kassel remains an electorate despite the lack of a Holy Roman empire because being known as the 'Electorate of Hesse' differentiates it from the grand duchy of Hessen-Darmstadt, the junior of the two states which is now superior in rank thanks to its title.

1814 - 1815

The Congress of Vienna makes further changes to Hessen-Darmstadt's borders in 1814, with the former county of Katzenelnbogen which had been annexed by the French in 1806 now being passed to Nassau-Weilburg.

Ludwig becomes Grossherzog von Hessen und bei Rhein. He exchanges Westfalen with Prussia for Isenberg-Birstein, Worms, Alzey, and Bingen. The landgraviate of Hessen-Homburg is re-established in 1815, its independence being recognised by Hessen-Darmstadt (under duress).

Like many of the German states, Kurfürst William I of Hessen-Kassel inherited his father's eighteenth century military forces and they remained largely unchanged by 1806, far from ready to be able to resist the new and overwhelmingly efficient military tactics being employed by the French empire

The latter is recognised as a member of the German Confederation in 1817, while Hessen-Homburg is its smallest sovereign state.

1830 - 1848

Eldest son. His brother founded Hessen-Battenberg branch.

1848

An economic crisis in 1847 is the final straw for the French working classes, after a steady worsening in their general conditions. In a year of European revolutions in 1848 (Galicia, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Lombardy-Ventia, and Wallachia also experience problems), they revolt against the government and the monarchy is overthrown.

Hessen-Darmstadt experiences its own difficulties during the German Revolution of the same year. The rapid industrialisation of the Rhineland has formed a large working class. Much of the German effort in the revolution is directed against an autocratic Prussia, but in Hessen-Darmstadt Ludwig II resigns his position.

Garibaldi in his distinctive red jacket hails victory during the Italian War of Unification, largely sparked by the events of 1848, in which Austria was removed of its dominance of the country

1848 - 1877

Son. No heir, and predeceased by his brother, Charles.

1866

Prussia fights the Austro-Prussian War against Austria, essentially as a decider to see which of the two powers will be dominant in Central Europe. As an officer who has been serving in the Austrian army, Alexander of Hesse (father of Prince Louis of Hessen-Battenberg) holds a senior position in Hessen-Darmstadt's much smaller army during the war.

Prussia gains the newly-created kingdom of Italy as an ally in the south and several minor German states in the north. Austria and its southern German allies are crushed in just seven weeks (giving the conflict its alternative title of the Seven Weeks' War), and Prussia is now unquestionably dominant.

Bismark oversees the seizure of four of Austria's northern German allies, the kingdom of Hanover, the electorate of Hessen-Kassel, and the duchy of Nassau-Weilburg, along with the free city of Frankfurt.

Austria's slow-moving forces were outpaced by Prussia's fully modern army during the Austro-Prussian War, which decided the power balance in Central Europe, as shown in this oil by Georg Bleibtreu

Prussia also subsumes Schleswig and Holstein, although the former has technically been Prussian since 1864, and forces Saxe-Lauenberg into personal union (annexation in all but name, which turns into fact in 1876). Many of these gains ensure that Prussian territories in the east and west are now connected through the Rhineland and Westphalia.

The new, Prussian-dominated North German Confederation gains members in Anhalt-Dessau, Bremen, Brunswick, Hamburg, Lippe-Detmold, Lübeck, Mecklenburg-Schwerin Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Strelitz Neustrelitz, Oldenburg, Reuss, Saxe-Altenburg, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Saxe-Meiningen, Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, and the kingdom of Saxony.

It also gains Schaumburg-Lippe Bückeburg, Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt Rudolstadt, Schwarzburg-Sondershausen Sondershausen, and Waldeck-Pyrmont Arolsen. Furthermore, Prince Karl Eitel Frederick of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen is invited to rule the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia.

Hessen-Darmstadt, despite being a supporter of the defeated of Austria in the Austro-Prussian War, only loses some territory (Hessen-Homburg, regained for a few months following the death of its last landgrave, and the northern urban district of Biedenkopf, on the River Lahn) but retains its independence.

The Wetterau formed an important part in the creation of early Hesse, although it lay to the north, immediately beyond Frankfurt and outside the core Hessian lands

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.

1868

Prince Louis Alexander of Hessen-Battenberg is aged fourteen when, influenced by Princess Alice, wife of his cousin, Prince Louis/Ludwig of Hesse (the later Grand Duke Ludwig IV), and daughter of Queen Victoria of Great Britain, he joins the Royal Navy. In doing so he also becomes a naturalised British subject.

1871

The remarkable victory over the French empire in 1871 allows Prussia to declare the 'Second German Empire' (or 'reich') under the former Prussian King William I, now Emperor William. Pursuing an aggressive policy of integration within Germany under Chancellor Bismarck, the new empire incorporates the grand duchy of Baden as a state under its overall control.

Bavaria, Hessen-Darmstadt, Lippe, Saxony, and Württemberg are also forcibly included within the empire as vassal states and all must obey ordered which are given from Berlin.

The Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 swept away any surviving myth of the greatness of France's military capabilities when the highly modernised Prussian forces drove them back to the gates of Paris

1877 - 1892

Nephew. Ludwig II gndson. m Alice dau of Victoria of Britain.

1888

Alexander, son of Ludwig II, had concluded a morganatic marriage with Julia Hauke, thereafter known as Princess Julia of Battenberg. For this act he had effectively been barred from acceding to Darmstadt's title.

As the daughter of John Maurice Hauke, a high ranking officer of German origin in the army of Congress Poland, Julia had not been considered worthy of the lineage of Hesse, so this special title has been created for her and her descendants. It is now that her son, Prince Louis Alexander, succeeds his father and becomes the first male head of the House of Hessen-Battenberg.

1892 - 1919

Brother of Czarina. Ancestor of Lord Louis Mountbatten.

1914 - 1918

The German empire moves swiftly to support its ally, Austria-Hungary, in a long-anticipated Great War (later more readily known as the First World War, or World War I). At the start it is successful against the Russian invasion of Prussia, routing their army at the Battle of Tannenberg, and in the west its armies reach the northern outskirts of Paris.

Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig serves at the kaiser's military headquarters. But as the diplomatic, and social situation worsens in Germany in late 1918, the country loses its Austrian ally on 3 November. Emperor William II is forced to abdicate on 9 November and the next day he flees to neutral Holland. The war officially ends on 11 November.

Kaiser Wilhelm II of Prussia and the German empire inspects his troops on the eve of war in 1914, a war which none of the tributary German principalities had any chance of escaping

1919 - 1933

After the fall of the German empire, Hesse is proclaimed a republic by revolutionaries within its own borders. They declare that all ducal lands and properties have been confiscated and all hereditary entails have been abolished.

The state is recreated as a constituent part of the new federal Germany. The grand dukes maintain their status and title as hereditary dukes of Hesse but with no power or position in the new state.

Hereditary Heirs of Hesse (and the Rhine) (Hesse)
AD 1919 - 1968

Hessian States All Modern States Central Europe Saxon States The Rus / Old Russia

The duchy of Hesse had been divided in 1567 into Hessen-Kassel, Hessen-Marburg, Hessen-Rheinfels, and this particular division, Hessen-Darmstadt. In 1803 Hessen-Darmstadt was enlarged by a sharing out of previously imperial free towns and church states to compensate for land which had been lost on the west bank of the Rhine to revolutionary France. In 1806 the landgraviate was raised to the rank of grand duchy of Hessen-Darmstadt.

Although the now-electorate of Hessen-Kassel had been absorbed into the kingdom of Prussia in 1866-1867, Hessen-Darmstadt continued to survive as an independent entity. In 1871, following its humiliating defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War, Prussia announced the founding of the German empire.

Darmstadt and a host of other smaller German principalities were forcibly incorporated as federated sub-kingdoms and states. Unfortunately for these sub-kingdoms, they were dismantled following the German submission at the end of the First World War. Hesse was proclaimed a republic from within its own borders, and was recreated as a constituent part of the new federal Germany. The grand duke maintained his status and title but with no power or position in the new state.

Following the German defeat at the end of the Second World War, the modern 'Federal German State' of Hesse was formed, 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 part of Hessen-Darmstadt), and the northern district of now-hereditary Hessen-Kassel (old Casl and Cassel).

Having suffered badly from 'firestorm' bombing during the latter stages of the war, Darmstadt itself prospered during the post-war years. Today it is known as the 'City of Science' for its collection of universities and scientific organisations.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from Prince Louis of Battenberg: Admiral of the Fleet, Mark Kerr (Longmans, Green and Co, 1934), from The New York Times, 14 November 1918, from The First World War, John Keegan (Vintage Books, 2000), and from External Links: The London Gazette Issue 30374, 9 November 1917, and The Evening Independent. 23 November 1937.)

1919 - 1937

Lost his state in 1919. Retained title and status.

1919

Germany adopts the democratic 'Weimar constitution' following the abolition of the German empire. This new Germany consists of the former German kingdoms and duchies, all of which have now been abolished, which include Baden, Bavaria, Hesse, Lippe, Saxony and Württemberg.

Unfortunately, personal property in Hesse which belongs to the former Prince Louis of Hessen-Battenberg (now Louis Mountbatten of Milford-Haven) becomes worthless as the mark collapses amid massive political instability in Germany. Louis and his wife are forced to sell their home in Kent in England and also Louis' service medals to make ends meet.

Darmstadt's apparently peaceful marketplace photographed in 1919 belies the revolutionary atmosphere which removed the ruling grand duke from power and controlled the duchy until the formation of the Weimar republic restored order

1933

The Third Reich ('third empire' of Germany, which claims the first (Holy Roman) and second (German) empires as its forebears in order to attain a level of legitimacy) is established under Adolf Hitler's dictatorial Nazi rule, sweeping away the Weimar republic. The federal constitution is suspended.

1937

Ernst Ludwig dies after a long illness at his home, Schloß Wolfsgarten, near Darmstadt. He receives what amounts to a state funeral on 16 November 1937 and is buried next to his daughter, Elisabeth, in a new open air burial ground next to the New Mausoleum which he had built in Rosenhöhe Park in Darmstadt.

1937

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

1937

Shortly after the funeral of Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig, Georg Donatus, with his heavily-pregnant wife Cecilie, their two young sons, Georg's mother, the Grand Duchess Eleonore, the children's nurse, a family friend, and a pilot and two crewmen all fly from Darmstadt bound for Great Britain. George's uncle, Prince Ludwig, is due to be married there.

Adolf Hitler at the height of his rule over Nazi Germany envisioned a 'Greater Germany' covering a vast swathe of Central Europe with 'living room' for Germans and a subservient Slavic population in the east to handle manual work

The plane strikes a factory chimney near Ostend and crashes in flames, killing all aboard. The remains of a newborn baby are found in the wreckage, indicating that Cecilie had gone into labour during the flight, possibly explaining the attempt to land the plane in poor visibility. The deceased family members are also buried at the Rosenhöhe Park in Darmstadt.

1937 - 1968

Uncle. Died. Claim passed to Hessen-Kassel's heirs.

1939

Adolf Hitler authorises the invasion of Czechoslovakia on 15 March 1939. The Nazi invasion of Poland on 1 September is the trigger for the Second World War. With both France and Great Britain pledged to support Poland, both countries have no option but to declare war against Germany on 3 September.

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 Hessian 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.

A divided Berlin of the 1950s still heavily featured great swathes of wartime damage, although West Berlin was quicker to recover as West Germany itself quickly modernised

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, and by a family pact (made in 1902) Moritz's still-living father becomes inheritor of the ducal title of Hesse and the Rhine. All subsequent inheritors to the ducal titles are descendants of landgraves of Hessen-Kassel.