Electorate of Hesse: Map & History
Electorate of Hesse is mapped in the atlas for 1803 CE – 1867 CE, with a peak mapped extent of about 13,815 km².
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The Electorate of Hesse, also known as Hesse-Kassel or Kurhessen, was the title used for the former Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel after an 1803 reform where Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor elevated its ruler to the rank of Elector, thus giving him a vote in any future elections to the emperorship. When the Holy Roman Empire was abolished in 1806, William I, Elector of Hesse, chose to retain the title of Elector, even though there was no longer an Emperor to elect. In 1807, with the Treaties of Tilsit, the area was annexed to the Kingdom of Westphalia, but in 1814, the Congress of Vienna restored the electorate.
Modern Countries Once Part of Electorate of Hesse
At its mapped extent, Electorate of Hesse covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Electorate of Hesse's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Electorate of Hesse in Depth
History
The Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel originated in 1567 with the division of the Landgraviate of Hesse between the heirs of Philip I of Hesse ("the Magnanimous") after his death. Philip's eldest son, William IV, received Hesse-Kassel, which comprised about half the area of the Landgraviate of Hesse, including the capital, Kassel. William's brothers received Hesse-Marburg and Hesse-Rheinfels, but their lines died out within a generation, and the territories then reverted to Hesse-Kassel and to the Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt.
The reign of the Landgrave William IX was an important epoch in the history of Hesse-Kassel. Ascending the throne in 1785, he took part in the War of the First Coalition against French First Republic a few years later, but in 1795 the Peace of Basel was signed.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Electorate of Hesse (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Electorate of Hesse: Key Facts
| Capital | Kassel |
|---|---|
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Founded | 1814 |
| Dissolved | August 1866 |
Preceded by
Succeeded by
- Hesse-Nassau
Facts from Wikidata Q529605 (CC0).
Electorate of Hesse Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Electorate of Hesse appears, with the other states of the time.
Electorate of Hesse Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 13,815 km² in 1830 CE.
Electorate of Hesse: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Electorate of Hesse exist?
Electorate of Hesse is dated to 1803 CE – 1867 CE, in the Industrial era.
What was the capital of Electorate of Hesse?
The capital of Electorate of Hesse was Kassel.
How large was Electorate of Hesse at its peak?
At its peak in 1830 Electorate of Hesse covered about 13,815 km².
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