Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel
The Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel (German: Landgrafschaft Hessen-Kassel), spelled Hesse-Cassel during its entire existence,[lower-alpha 1] was a state in the Holy Roman Empire that was directly subject to the Emperor. The state was created in 1567 when the Landgraviate of Hesse was divided upon the death of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse. His eldest son William IV inherited the northern half of the Landgraviate and the capital of Kassel. The other sons received the Landgraviate of Hesse-Marburg, the Landgraviate of Hesse-Rheinfels and the Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt.
Landgraviate of Hesse-Cassel Landgrafschaft Hessen-Kassel | |||||||||
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| 1567–1803 | |||||||||
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.svg) Coat of arms (1736–1804)
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.svg) Hesse-Kassel within the Holy Roman Empire in 1618 | |||||||||
| Status | Landgraviate | ||||||||
| Capital | Kassel | ||||||||
| Common languages | German, Hessian | ||||||||
| Religion |
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| Government | Absolute monarchy | ||||||||
| Landgrave | |||||||||
• 1567–1592 | William IV | ||||||||
• 1730–1751 | Frederick I, King of Sweden | ||||||||
• 1751–1760 | William VIII | ||||||||
• 1760–1785 | Frederick II | ||||||||
• 1785–1803 | William IX (Elector of Hesse to 1821) | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Established | 1567 | ||||||||
• Raised to Electorate | 1803 | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• 1775 | 300,000[1] | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Germany | ||||||||
During the Napoleonic reorganisation of the Empire in 1803, the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel was elevated to an Electorate and Landgrave William IX became an Imperial Elector. Many members of the Hesse-Kassel House served in the Danish military gaining high ranks and power in the Oldenburg realm due to the fact that many Landgraves were married to Danish princesses. Members of the family who are known to have served Denmark-Norway include Prince Frederik of Hesse-Kassel, Prince Frederick of Hesse-Kassel, and Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel. It had two votes to the Reichstag: one for itself and one for Hersfeld Abbey. It was later occupied by French troops and became part of the Kingdom of Westphalia, a French satellite state. The Electorate of Hesse was restored at the end of the Napoleonic Wars, though by that time there was no longer an emperor to elect.