Rulers of Hesse

This is a list of monarchs of Hesse () during the history of Hesse on west-central Germany. These monarchs belonged to a dynasty collectively known as the House of Hesse and the House of Brabant,Burke's Royal Families of the World Volume I Europe & Latin America , London 1977 p. 202 originally the Reginar. Hesse was ruled as a landgraviate, electorate and later as a grand duchy until 1918.

The title of all of the following monarchs was "landgrave" () unless otherwise noted.

Table of monarchs
 Monarch BornReignDeathRuling partConsortNotes Henry I the Child  24 June 12441264–130821 December 1308Landgraviate of HesseAdelaide of Brunswick-Lüneburg I1263seven childrenMatilda of Cleves1276seven childrenSon of Henry II of Brabant, founded the House of Hesse. John  12781308–131114 February 1311Lower HesseAdelaide of Brunswick-Lüneburg II1306one childDivided Hesse with his brother. Otto I the Elder 12721308–131117 January 1328Upper HesseAdelaide of Ravensberg1297Marburgfive childrenDivided Hesse with his brother. After the latter's death with no descendants, he reunited Hesse.1311–1328Landgraviate of Hesse Henry II the Iron  12991328–13763 June 1376Landgraviate of HesseElisabeth of Thuringia1321five children Sons of Otto I, ruled jointly. Louis (I) the Junker  13051336–13452 February 1345Landgraviate of HesseElisabeth of Sponheim-Kreuznach15 October 1340three children Herman I the Elder  13051336–13701370Landgraviate of HesseUnmarried Otto II the Younger  13221336–1366December 1366Landgraviate of HesseElisabeth of Cleves1338no children Herman II the Learned  13411376–141324 May 1413Landgraviate of HesseJoanna of Nassau-Weilburg 3 February 1377no childrenMargaret of Nuremberg15 October 1383Kulmbacheight children  Louis I the Peaceful  6 February 14021413–145817 January 1458Landgraviate of HesseAnna of Saxony8 September 1433Kasselfive children At his death divided Hesse again. Louis II the Frank  7 September 14381458–14718 November 1471Lower HesseMatilda of Württemberg-Urach(1438–1495)1454four childrenChildren of Louis I, divided Hesse between them. Henry III associated his son Louis III in a co-rulership. Henry III the Rich  15 October 14401458–148313 January 1483Upper HesseAnna of Katzenelnbogen1458six children Louis III the Younger  November 14611474–14782 July 1478Upper HesseUnmarried William I the Elder  4 July 14661471–14938 February 1515Lower Hesse Anna of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel17 February 1488Mündenfive childrenDidn't have male heirs. Abdicated in 1493 and his possession passed to his brother, also named William. Regency of Herman IV, Archbishop of Cologne and Hans Hofman of Dörnberg (1483-1489)Died without heirs. William III the YoungerWilliam III ascended first, despite being younger than William II, which is reflected on their apparent exchanged numbering.  8 September 14711483–150017 February 1500Upper HesseElisabeth of the Palatinate12 February 1496Heidelbergno children William II the Middle100px 29 April 14691493–150011 July 1509Lower HesseYolande of Vaudémont9 November 1497one childAnna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin20 October 1500Kasselthree childrenIn 1500 reunited Hesse after the death of his cousin William II.1500–1509Landgraviate of Hesse Regencies of the Estates of Hesse (1509-1514) and Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1514-1518)After his death Hesse was divided between his legitimate sons. Philip I the Magnanimous 100px 13 November 15041509–156731 March 1567Landgraviate of HesseChristine of Saxony11 December 1523Kasselten childrenMargarethe von der Saale14 March 1540Rotenburg(bigamous and morganatic)nine children William IV the Wise 100px 24 June 15321567–159225 August 1592Hesse-Kassel Sabine of Württemberg11 February 1566Marburgeleven childrenChildren of Philip I, divided the land between them:
 William IV received Kassel
 Louis IV received Marburg, which after his childless death was divided between his brothers;
 Philip II received Rheinfels, which after his childless death was divided between his brothers;
 George I received Darmstadt. Louis IV the Elder 100px 27 May 15371567–16049 October 1604Hesse-Marburg Hedwig of Württemberg10 May 1563Stuttgartno childrenMaria of Mansfeld4 July 1591Marburgno children Philip II the Younger  22 April 15411567–158320 November 1583Hesse-Rheinfels Anna Elisabeth of Palatinate-Simmern18 January 1569Heidelbergno children George I the Pious 100px 10 September 15471567–15967 February 1596Hesse-Darmstadt Magdalene of Lippe17 August 1572Kasselten childrenEleonora of Württemberg25 May 1589one child Marburg and Rheinfels redivided between Kassel and Darmstadt Maurice the Learned 100px 25 May 15721592–163215 March 1632Hesse-Kassel Agnes of Solms-Laubach23 September 1593Kasselfour childrenJuliane of Nassau-Siegen22 May 1603Dillenburgfourteen children Louis V the Faithful 100px 24 September 15771596–162627 July 1626Hesse-Darmstadt Magdalene of Brandenburg5 June 1598Berlineleven children Children of George I, redivided the land:
 Louis V kept Darmstadt;
 Philip III received Butzbach, which after his death was reannexed to Darmstadt;
 Frederick I received Homburg. Philip III  26 December 15811596–164328 April 1643Hesse-Darmstadt(at Butzbach) Anna Margaretha von Diepholz29 July 1610Darmstadtno childrenChristina Sophia of East Frisia2 June 1632Aurichno children Frederick I 100px 5 March 15851596–16389 May 1638Hesse-Homburg Margaret Elisabeth of Leiningen-Westerburg10 August 1622Butzbachsix children Butzbach reannexed to Darmstadt George II 100px 17 March 16051626–166111 June 1661Hesse-Darmstadt Sophia Eleonore of Saxony1 April 1627Torgaufifteen children Children of Louis V, redivided the land:
 George II kept Darmstadt;
 John received Braubach, which after his childless death returned to Darmstadt. John  17 June 16091626–16511 April 1651Hesse-Darmstadt(at Braubach)Johannetta of Sayn-Wittgenstein30 September 1647Friedewaldno children Braubach reannexed to Darmstadt William V the Stable 100px 13 February 16021632–163721 September 1637Hesse-Kassel Amalie Elisabeth of Hanau-Münzenberg21 September 1619twelve children Children of Maurice, redivided the land:
 William V kept Kassel;
 Frederick received Eschwege, which after his childless death returned to Kassel;
 Herman IV received Rotenburg, which after his childless death merged in Rheinfels;
 Ernest received Rheinfels, which after Herman IV's death merged with Rotenburg, retaining the name Rotenburg. Frederick 100px 9 May 16171632–165524 September 1655 Hesse-Kassel(at Eschwege) Eleonora Catherine of the Palatinate-Zweibrücken 8 September 1646Stockholmsix children Herman IV 15 August 16071627–165825 March 1658Hesse-Rotenburg Sophie Juliane of Waldeck31 December 1633Waldeckone childKunigunde Juliane of Anhalt-Dessau2 February 1642Weimarno children Ernest100px 8 December 16231649–16582 May 1693Hesse-Rheinfels Maria Eleonore of Solms-LichJune 1647Frankfurttwo children1658–1693Hesse-Rotenburg Eschwege reannexed to Kassel; Rheinfels merged in Rotenburg Regency of Amalie Elisabeth of Hanau-Münzenberg (1637-1650)William VI 100px 23 May 16291637–166316 July 1663Hesse-Kassel Hedwig Sophie of Brandenburg19 July 1649Cöllnseven children Regency of Margaret Elisabeth of Leiningen-Westerburg (1638-1648) Sold his lands to his brother, George Christian. William Christoph 113x113px13 November 16251638–166927 August 1681Hesse-Darmstadt-Homburg Sophia Eleonore of Hesse-Darmstadt21 April 1650Darmstadttwelve childrenAnna Elisabeth of Saxe-Lauenburg2 April 1665Lübeck(annulled 1672)no children Louis VI 100px 25 January 16301661–167824 April 1678Hesse-Darmstadt Maria Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp24 November 1650Gottorpeight children Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg5 December 1666Gothaeight children Children of George II, redivided the land:
 Louis VI kept Darmstadt;
 George III received Itter, which after his childless death was reannexed to Darmstadt George III  29 September 16321661–167619 July 1676Hesse-Darmstadt(at Itter) Dorothea Auguste of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Franzhagen5 May 1661one childJuliane Alexandrine of Leinigen-Heidenheim21 July 1667three children Regency of Hedwig Sophie of Brandenburg (1663-1677) Children of William VI. With their mother as regent, they redivided the land:
 William VII kept Kassel, which after his sudden death was inherited by his brother, Charles I;
 Philip received Philippsthal. William VII 100px 21 June 16511663–167021 November 1670Hesse-Kassel Unmarried Charles I 100px  3 August 16541670–173023 March 1730Hesse-Kassel Maria Amalia of Courland21 May 1673Kasselfourteen children Philip 100px  14 December 16551663–172118 June 1721Hesse-Philippsthal Catherine of Solms-Laubach14 April 1680eight children George Christian 100px 13 November 16251669–167127 August 1681Hesse-Homburg Anna Catharina Pogwitsch11 October 1666Hamburgno children Retained his brother's land. Hesse-Homburg became under mortgage to two merchants (1671–1673) and to the Landgraves of Hesse-Darmstadt (1673–1679). Hesse-Homburg returned then to George Christian's brother, Frederick. Louis VII 100px 22 June 1658167831 August 1678Hesse-Darmstadt Unmarried Regency of Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1678-1688)  Ernest Louis 100px 15 December 16671678–173912 September 1739Hesse-Darmstadt Dorothea Charlotte of Brandenburg-Ansbach1 December 1687Darmstadtfive children Frederick II 100px 13 November 16251679–170827 August 1681Hesse-Homburg Margareta Brahe12 May 1661Stockholmno childrenLouise Elisabeth of Courland23 October 1670Cöllntwelve childrenSophie Sybille of Leiningen-Westerburg1691three children The land returned to the Hesse-Homburg-branch in 1679. William the Elder  15 May 16481693–172520 November 1725Hesse-Rotenburg Maria Anna of Löwenstein-Wertheim3 March 1669Rocheforteight children Children of Ernest, redivided the land:
 William kept Rotenburg;
 Charles received Wanfried. Charles  19 July 16491693–17113 March 1711Hesse-Wanfried Sophie Magdalene of Salm-Reifferscheidbefore 1675five childrenAlexandrine Juliane of Leiningen-Dagsburgbefore 1703eleven children Frederick III Jacob 100px 19 May 1673 1708–1746 8 June 1746Hesse-Homburg Elisabeth Dorothea of Hesse-Darmstadt14 February 1700Butzbachnine childrenChristiane Charlotte of Nassau-Ottweiler17 October 1728Saarbrückenno children  William II the Younger  25 August 16711711–17311 April 1731Hesse-Wanfried Ernestine of the Palatinate-Sulzbach19 September 1719no children Left no heirs. His lands were inherited by his brother, Christian. Charles I 23 September 16821721–17708 May 1770Hesse-Philippsthal Caroline Christine of Saxe-Eisenach24 November 1725Eisenachfive children Children of Philip, redivided the land:
 Charles I kept Philippsthal;
 William received Barchfeld. William 100px1 April 16921721–176113 May 1761Hesse-Barchfeld Charlotte Wilhelmine of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym31 October 1724Hoymfifteen children Ernest Leopold 100px 15 June 1684 1725–174929 November 1749Hesse-Kassel-Rotenburg Eleonore of Löwenstein-Wertheim9 November 1704Frankfurtten children Frederick I  100px 28 April 16761730–17515 April 1751Hesse-Kassel Louise Dorothea of Prussia31 May 1700Berlinno childrenUlrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden24 March 1715Stockholmno children Also King of Sweden. Left no heirs. Hesse-Kassel under the regency of his brother, William, later Landgrave William VIII. Christian  17 July 16891731–1755 21 October 1755 Hesse-Wanfried Maria Franziska of Hohenlohe-Bartensteinc.1730no children Left no heirs. His lands reverted to Hesse-Rotenburg. Wanfried reannexed to Rotenburg Louis VIII 100px 5 April 16911739–176817 October 1768Hesse-Darmstadt Charlotte of Hanau-Lichtenberg5 April 1717Hanausix children Frederick IV Charles  15 April 17241746–17517 February 1751Hesse-Darmstadt-Homburg Ulrike Louise of Solms-Braunfels10 October 1746Hungentwo children Nephew of Frederick IV. Constantine 24 May 17161749–177830 December 1778Hesse-RotenburgSophia von Starhemberg1745eleven childrenJeanne Henriette de Bombelles27 May 1775no children William VIII 100px  10 March 16821751–17601 February 1760Hesse-Kassel Dorothea Wilhelmine of Saxe-Zeitz 27 September 1717Zeitzthree children Brother of Frederick V; already regent from 1730 Regency of Ulrike Louise of Solms-Braunfels (1751-1766) Between 1806 and 1815 the Landgraviate was annexed to the Kingdom of Westphalia. Frederick V 100px 30 January 17481751–182020 January 1820Hesse-Homburg Caroline of Hesse-Darmstadt27 September 1768Darmstadteleven children Frederick II 100px  14 August 17201760–178531 October 1785Hesse-Kassel Mary of Great Britain8 May 1740London(by proxy)28 June 1740Kassel(in person)four childrenPhilippine of Brandenburg-Schwedt10 January 1773Berlinno children  Frederick 17271761–17771777Hesse-Barchfeld Sophia Henrietta of Salm-Grunbach1772no children Left no heirs. His brother Adolf inherited the land. Louis IX 100px 15 December 17191768–17906 April 1790Hesse-Darmstadt Caroline of the Palatinate-Zweibrücken12 August 1741Zweibrückeneight children Children of Louis VIII, divided their inheritance:
 Louis IX received his father's inheritance;
 Caroline Louise received his mother's inheritance in Hanau-Lichtenberg, which then passed to Baden. Caroline Louise 100px 11 July 17231768–17838 April 1783Hesse-Darmstadt(at Hanau-Lichtenberg) Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Baden28 January 1751five children William 100px29 August 17261770–18068 August 1810Hesse-Philippsthal Ulrika Eleonora of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld22 June 1755Tournainine children Between 1806 and 1813 the Landgraviate was annexed to the Kingdom of Westphalia. Adolph 100px29 June 17431777–180317 July 1803Hesse-Barchfeld Louise of Saxe-Meiningen18 October 1781Meiningensix children  Charles Emmanuel 5 June 17461778–180623 March 1812Hesse-Kassel-RotenburgLeopoldina of Liechtenstein1 September 1771Felsbergtwo children Between 1806 and 1813 the Landgraviate was annexed to the Kingdom of Westphalia. Rotenburg briefly annexed to the Kingdom of Westphalia (1806-1813) William I 100px  3 June 17431785–18071813–182127 February 1821Landgraviate of Hesse-KasselElectorate of Hesse-Kassel Wilhelmina Caroline of Denmark1 September 1764Copenhagenfour children Created Prince-elector of Hesse as His Royal and Serene Highness in 1803. Between 1807 and 1813 the Grand-Duchy was annexed to the Kingdom of Westphalia. Louis I 100px 14 June 17531790–18306 April 1830Landgraviate of Hesse-DarmstadtGrand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt19 February 1777Darmstadtseven children Created Grand Duke of Hesse in 1806. Charles 100px27 June 17841803–185417 July 1854 Hesse-Barchfeld Auguste of Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen19 July 1816Öhringentwo childrenSophie of Bentheim and Steinfurt10 September 1823Steinfurtfour children Between 1806 and 1813 the Landgraviate was annexed to the Kingdom of Westphalia. Louis 100px29 August 17261813–18168 August 1810Hesse-Philippsthal Marie Franziska Berghe of Trips21 January 1791Susterentwo children Landgraviate recovered in 1813 by the hand of the Elector of Hesse. Victor Amadeus 100px2 September 17791813–183412 November 1834Hesse-RotenburgLeopoldine of Fürstenberg20 October 1799Pragueno childrenElisabeth of Hohenlohe-Langenburg10 September 1812Langenburgone childEleonora of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Krautheim and Gerlachsheim19 November 1831Gerlachsheimno children In 1834, Hesse-Rotenburg reunited with Hesse-Kassel. Rotenburg annexed to the Electorate of Kassel Ernest Constantine 100px8 August 17711816–184925 December 1849Hesse-PhilippsthalLouise of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt10 April 1796Rudolstadtfive childrenCaroline of Hesse-Philippsthal17 February 1812Kasseltwo children Landgraviate recovered in 1813 by the hand of the Elector of Hesse. Frederick VI 100px 30 July 17691820–18292 April 1829Hesse-Homburg Elizabeth of the United Kingdom7 April 1818Londonno children Left no heirs. The land was inherited by his brother. William II 100px  28 July 17771821–184720 November 1847Electorate of Hesse Kassel Augusta of Prussia13 February 1797Berlinsix childrenEmilie Ortlöpp8 July 1841(morganatic)eight childrenCaroline of Berlepsch8 July 1841Hanau(morganatic)no children  Louis William  29 August 17701829–183919 January 1839Hesse-Homburg Augusta Amalia of Nassau-Usingen1804(annulled 1805)no children Left no heirs. The land was inherited by his brother. Louis II 100px 26 December 17771830–184816 June 1848Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt Wilhelmine of Baden19 June 1804Karlsruheseven children Philip 100px 11 March 17791839–184615 December 1846Hesse-Homburg Rosalie Antonie Pototschnig1838(morganatic)no children Left no heirs. The land was inherited by his brother. Gustav  17 February 17811846–18488 September 1848Hesse-Homburg Louise of Anhalt-Dessau12 February 1818Dessauthree children Left no male heirs. The land was inherited by his brother. Frederick William 100px  20 August 18021847–18666 January 1875Electorate of Hesse Kassel Gertrude von Hanau26 June 1831(morganatic)nine children In 1866 the Electorate was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia. Electorate of Kassel annexed to the Kingdom of Prussia Louis III 100px 9 June 18061848–187713 June 1877Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt  Mathilde Caroline of Bavaria26 December 1833Munichno childrenMagdalene of Hochstadten1868(morganatic) no children Ferdinand 100px 26 April 17831848–186624 March 1866Hesse-Homburg Unmarried Left no male heirs. At his death the Landgraviate of Hesse-Homburg was briefly added to the territory of Louis III (Hesse-Darmstadt) before being annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia later in 1866. Homburg annexed to the Kingdom of Prussia Charles II 22 May 18031849–186612 February 1868 Hesse-PhilippsthalMarie of Württemberg9 October 1845Pokójtwo children In 1866 the Landgraviate was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia. Philippsthal annexed to the Kingdom of Prussia Alexis 100px13 September 18291854–186616 August 1905Hesse-Barchfeld Louise of Prussia17 June 1854Berlinno children In 1866 the Landgraviate was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia. Barchfeld annexed to the Kingdom of Prussia Louis IV 100px 12 September 18371877–189213 March 1892Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt  Alice of the United Kingdom1 July 1862East Cowesseven childrenAlexandrina Hutten-Czapska30 April 1884Darmstadt(morganatic, annulled 1884) no children Ernest Louis 100px 25 November 1868 1892–19189 October 1937Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha19 April 1894Coburg(annulled 21 December 1901)two childrenEleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich2 February 1905Darmstadttwo children Deposed in 1918, at the end of World War I.

Heads of the non-reigning House of Hesse
Hesse-Kassel since 1866

Friedrich Wilhelm I, the former Elector, titular Landgrave 1866–75 (1802–1875)
succeeded by his second cousin Friedrich Wilhelm II as below:

 Friedrich II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel (1720–1785)
  Friedrich III, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel-Rumpenheim (1747–1837)
  Wilhelm I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel-Rumpenheim (1787–1867)
  Friedrich Wilhelm II, titular Landgrave 1875–84 (1820–1884)
 Friedrich Wilhelm III, titular Landgrave 1884–88 (1854–1888)
 Alexander Friedrich, titular Landgrave 1888–1925, abdicated (1863–1945)
  Friedrich Karl, titular Landgrave 1925–40, elected King of Finland as Fredrik Kaarle I in 1918 but renounced the throne (1868–1940)
 Philipp, titular Landgrave 1940–80, head of entire House 1968 on extinction of Hesse-Darmstadt line (1896–1980)
  Moritz, titular Landgrave and Head of House 1980–2013 (1926–2013)
 Heinrich Donatus titular Landgrave and Head of House 2013–present (born 1966)
 Moritz, Hereditary Prince of Hesse (born 2007)
  Prince August of Hesse (born 2012)
  Prince Philipp Robin of Hesse (born 1970)
  Prince Tito of Hesse (born 2008)
  Prince Christoph of Hesse (1901–1943)
 Prince Karl Adolf Andreas of Hesse (1937–2022)
  Prince Christoph of Hesse (born 1969)
  Prince Rainer Christoph Friedrich of Hesse (born 1939)

Hesse-Philippsthal 1866–1925

 Charles II, formerly sovereign, titular Landgrave 1866–68 (1803–1868)
  Ernst Eugen, titular Landgrave 1868–1925 (1846–1925)

1925 the Line of Hesse-Philippsthal became extinct, passed to Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld

Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld since 1866, Hesse-Philippsthal since the extinction of the main line 1925

  Charles, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (1784–1854)
 Alexis, formerly sovereign, titular Landgrave 1866–1905 (1829–1905)
  Prince Wilhelm of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (1831–1890)
  Chlodwig, titular Landgrave 1905–54, inherited Hesse-Philippsthal as well in 1925 (1876–1954)
  Prince Wilhelm of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (1905–1942)
 Wilhelm, titular Landgrave 1954–present (born 1933)
 Prince Wilhelm of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (born 1963)
 Prince Wilhelm Ernst of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (born 2005)
  Prince Philipp August of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (born 2006)
  Prince Otto of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (1965–2020)
 Prince Max of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (born 1999)
  Prince Moritz of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (born 2007)
  Prince Hermann of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (1935–2019)
  Prince Alexis of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (born 1977)

Hesse-Darmstadt 1918–1968

 Ernst Ludwig, formerly sovereign, titular Grand Duke 1918–37 (1868–1937)
 George Donatus, titular Grand Duke 9 Oct – 16 Nov 1937
  Ludwig (V), titular Grand Duke 1937–1968

In 1968 the Line of Hesse-Darmstadt became Hesse-Nassau and Hesse-Kassel (1969–present)

References 

Category:Hesse
Category:German royalty