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Rulers of Hesse

Hesse is a region of west-central Germany. Originally the western part of the Landgraviate of Thuringia, in the mid 13th Century it was inherited by the younger son of Henry II, Duke of Brabant, and became a distinct political entity. From the late 16th century it was generally divided into several branches, the most important of which were those of Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Darmstadt. During the Napoleonic Period, the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel changed his title to Elector of Hesse (1803), while the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt became the Grand Duke of Hesse and the Rhine (1806). Electoral Hesse was annexed by Prussia in 1866 after the Six Weeks War, but Grand Ducal Hesse lasted until the end of the German monarchies in 1918.

Table of contents
1 Landgraves of Hesse, 1247-1567
2 Landgraves of Hesse-Kassel, 1567-1803
3 Landgraves of Hesse-Darmstadt, 1567-1806
4 Electors of Hesse, 1803-1866
5 Grand Dukes of Hesse and the Rhine, 1806-1918
6 Heads of the House of Hesse-Kassel since 1866
7 Heads of the House of Hesse and the Rhine, 1918-1968

Landgraves of Hesse, 1247-1567

Landgraves of Hesse-Kassel, 1567-1803

Landgraves of Hesse-Darmstadt, 1567-1806

Electors of Hesse, 1803-1866

Grand Dukes of Hesse and the Rhine, 1806-1918

Heads of the House of Hesse-Kassel since 1866

Heads of the House of Hesse and the Rhine, 1918-1968

In 1968 the House of Hesse and the Rhine became extinct.