Grand Duchy of Hesse

The Grand Duchy of Hesse () was a former state that existed in modern-day Germany. It was formed in 1806 after the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire as a result of the actions of Napoleon, who then elevated the former Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt to the level of grand duchy. For this reason, this state was occasionally known simply as Hesse-Darmstadt.

History
Because Hesse-Darmstadt was a member of Napoleon's Confederation of the Rhine, it was forced to give up a considerable amount of territory at the 1815 Congress of Vienna. The territory of the Duchy of Westphalia, which Hesse-Darmstadt received from the 1803 Reichsdeputationshauptschluss, was given to the Kingdom of Prussia. However, it received some territory on the western bank of the Rhine, including the important federal fortress at Mainz.  

The Grand Duchy changed its name to the Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine () in 1816. 

Subdivisions of Hesse
200px|left|thumb|The three provinces of the Grand Duchy of Hesse: Upper Hesse, Starkenburg and Rhenish Hesse
The Grand Duchy of Hesse was divided into three provinces:
 Starkenburg: (Capital: Darmstadt) Right bank of the Rhine, south of the Main
 Rhenish Hesse, (Capital: Mainz) Left bank of the Rhine, territory gained from the Congress of Vienna
 Upper Hesse (Capital: Giessen) North of the Main, separated from Starkenburg by the Free City of Frankfurt, which was later annexed by Prussia in 1866.

Other websites
Das Großherzogtum Hessen 1806–1918 
Großherzogtum Hessen (Kreise und Gemeinden) 1910 

References

Category:Former states in Germany
Category:States of the Confederation of the Rhine
Category:States of the German Confederation
Category:States of the German Empire
Category:States of the North German Confederation
Category:1806 establishments in Europe
Category:1800s establishments in Germany
Category:1918 disestablishments in Germany