Houses of Hesse - branches and titles

[Gretchen]

In Switzerland they don't use the ß at all, which makes life a lot easier! 

Liechtenstein neither!
It´s only used in Germany and Austria and nowadays you can nearly always use "ss" when in former times you had to use "ß".

[Thomas_Hesse]

Many of the "Hesse-Others" as you call them  did only exist for few years. These splinter lines were founded because of lack of money.

The first Landgraf of Hessen-Darmstadt, Georg I, had two sons who got Landgravedoms of their own: Hessen-Braubach and Hessen-Butzbach.
Later they were joined by Hessen Homburg (which existed, like Hessen-Kassel, the eldest of the 4 "main-lines", until 1866 as independant states).

Hesse-Kassel produced Hessen-Philipsthal, Hessen-Philipsthal-Barchfeld, Hessen-Rumpenheim, Hessen-Eschwege etc etc.


As for Hesse-Darmstadt/Hesse and the Rhine: the Landgraf Ludwig X of Hesse Darmstadt had to join the Rhine-Alliance of Napoleon in 1806 and was created HRH Ludwig I Grand Duke of Hesse. In 1816 he was able to add the Rhine area to his Grand Duchy and so the title was extended Hesse AND THE RHINE.
So since 1816 the titles are Royal Highness for Grand Ducke/Duchess and Hereditary Grand Duke/Duchess; Grand Ducal Highness for the princes and princesses.
For the family members in England and Russia they were generally "the Darmstadts"

[allanraymond]

Hope you don't mind me pointing out a minor correction.

Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig married Princess Eleonore "Onor" of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich, Solms-Braunfels is another branch from the House of Solms.

You may find my Web Page at: http://www.btinternet.com/~allan_raymond/German_Kingdoms.htm , scroll down to Hesse-Cassel and Hesse-Darmstadt of some interest as a it gives some background to the Hesse (House of Brabant).

Allan Raymond

TB:

That makes sense.  I saw that evolution as a result of Prince Alexander of Hesse-Darmstadt's morganatic marriage to Countess Julia von Hauke.

According to a few sources, this is the evolution of the Hesse by Rhine family: Ernest Louis Charles Albert William (de: Ernst Ludwig Karl Albert Wilhelm), (25 November 1868-9 October 1937) was the last Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine from 1892 until his abdication in 1918. His nickname was Ernie.  Despite allegation from his first wife Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, that he was gay, he married Princess Eleonore of Solms-Braunfels, with whom he had two sons:  George Donatus of Hesse (1906-1937), who married Princess Cecilie of Greece (sister of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh), and had three children (2 boys and a girl).   The other son Louis of Hesse (1908-1968) married Margaret Campbell Geddes, with no issue. He adopted Prince Maurice of Hesse-Kassel as his heir.

Louis succeeded George in 1937 when he and his family died in a tragic plane crash en route to the UK.  His surviving daughter of age three was adopted by family members and dies a few years later of meningitis.

And so ends the Hesse-Darmstadt family.

[Marc]

Yes,linnea is right.There is also a family Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld.The present head is Prince Wilhelm Chlodwig who is the son of Prince wilhelm Ernst von Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld and Princess Marianne of Prussia!

[Learning]

Why is the title "by Rhine?" Is it a historical reference to the fact that Hesse is near the Rhine?

[Forum Admin]

They were the branch of the Hesse family who lived "bie Rhein", by the Rhine.

[Thomas_Hesse]

The Landgrafen of Hessen-Darmstadt were created Grand Dukes of Hesse (Großherzöge von Hessen) in 1806 after being forced to join Napoleon Ist's Rhine Alliance.
After Napoleons army had been defeated in 1815
their territory was enlarged to the western part, including cities near to the Rhine river, such as Mainz, Lorsch, Worms etc. Thats why the title was changed in "Hesse and the Rhine" (Hessen und bei Rhein)

[grandduchessella]

No, Ernst Ludwig was the last Grand Duke. The present head of the house is Prince Moritz of the Hesse-Kassel branch. The Hesse by the Rhine (Darmstadt) branch died out in the male line with the death of Prince Ludwig.

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes...Ernie's younger son and husband of Peg Hesse. Although he did not use the title of Grand Duke after WW I.

[grandduchessella]

Neither did his elder brother--who was the hereditary Grand Duke.

[Eric_Lowe]

Indeed. In that context, the last Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine was of course Ernie.

[Marlene]

and Ernie was stilll known as the Grossherzog even after 1918 - and for the next 19 years.  Actually Moritz is the Landgrave.

No, Ernst Ludwig was the last Grand Duke. The present head of the house is Prince Moritz of the Hesse-Kassel branch. The Hesse by the Rhine (Darmstadt) branch died out in the male line with the death of Prince Ludwig.

[Eric_Lowe]

Moritz is still known by his title of Langrave or just a curtesy address ?

[Thomas_Hesse]

The title "Landgraf" is out of courtesy - all the members of the hessian family have to bear the titles "Prince/ss and Landgraf/in of Hesse" in their passports so as to enable Moritz to officially hold the title Landgraf as the head of his family.
It seems that - like in Austria - all titles were abolished in 1918 (the head of the former royal bavarian house is just "Duke of Bavaria")

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes. They put their title as last names too.