List of rulers of Hesse
# List of rulers of Hesse

This is a list of rulers of Hesse (German: Hessen) during the history of Hesse on west-central Germany. These rulers belonged to a dynasty collectively known as the House of Hesse and the House of Brabant, 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 rulers was "landgrave" (German: Landgraf) unless otherwise noted.

## Landgraviate of Hesse

In the early Middle Ages the Hessengau territory (named after the Germanic Chatti tribes) formed the northern parts of the German stem duchy of Franconia along with the adjacent Lahngau. Upon the extinction of the ducal Conradines, these Rhenish Franconian counties were gradually acquired by Landgrave Louis I of Thuringia and his successors.

After the War of the Thuringian Succession upon the death of Landgrave Henry Raspe in 1247, his niece Duchess Sophia of Brabant secured the Hessian possessions for her minor son Henry the Child, who would become the first landgrave of Hesse and founder of the House of Hesse in 1246. The remaining Thuringian landgraviate fell to the Wettin margrave Henry III of Meissen. Henry I of Hesse was raised to princely status by King Adolf of Germany in 1292.

## Landgraves of Hesse

### House of Hesse

**Partitions of Hesse under Hesse family**

Landgraviate of Hesse (1264–1308) :

| Lower Hesse (1st creation) (1308–1311) | Lower Hesse (1st creation) (1308–1311) | Lower Hesse (1st creation) (1308–1311) | Lower Hesse (1st creation) (1308–1311) | Lower Hesse (1st creation) (1308–1311) | Upper Hesse (1st creation) (1308–1311) | Upper Hesse (1st creation) (1308–1311) |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Landgraviate of Hesse (from the Upper Hesse line) (1311–1458) |||||||
| Lower Hesse (2nd creation) (1458–1500) | Lower Hesse (2nd creation) (1458–1500) | Lower Hesse (2nd creation) (1458–1500) | Lower Hesse (2nd creation) (1458–1500) | Lower Hesse (2nd creation) (1458–1500) | Upper Hesse (2nd creation) (1458–1500) | Upper Hesse (2nd creation) (1458–1500) |
| Landgraviate of Hesse (from the Lower Hesse line) (1500–1567) |||||||
| Hesse-Kassel (1567–1803) | Hesse-Kassel (1567–1803) | Hesse-Kassel (1567–1803) | Hesse-Kassel (1567–1803) | Hesse- Rheinfels (1st creation) (1567–1583) | Hesse- Marburg (1567–1604) | Hesse- Darmstadt (1567–1806) |
| | | | | Hesse- Rheinfels (2nd creation) (1627–1658) | Hesse- Homburg (1st creation) (1622–1806) | |
| | | Raised to: Electorate of Hesse-Kassel (1st creation) (1803–1807) | | | Hesse- Homburg (1st creation) (1622–1806) | |
| Hesse- Barchfeld (1st creation) (1721–1807) | Hesse- Philippsthal (1st creation) (1663–1807) | Raised to: Electorate of Hesse-Kassel (1st creation) (1803–1807) | | Hesse- Wanfried (1700–1755) | Hesse- Homburg (1st creation) (1622–1806) | |
| Hesse- Barchfeld (1st creation) (1721–1807) | Hesse- Philippsthal (1st creation) (1663–1807) | Raised to: Electorate of Hesse-Kassel (1st creation) (1803–1807) | Hesse- Rotenburg (1st creation) (1627–1807) | Hesse- Rotenburg (1st creation) (1627–1807) | Hesse- Homburg (1st creation) (1622–1806) | |
| Hesse- Barchfeld (1st creation) (1721–1807) | Hesse- Philippsthal (1st creation) (1663–1807) | Raised to: Electorate of Hesse-Kassel (1st creation) (1803–1807) | Hesse- Rotenburg (1st creation) (1627–1807) | Hesse- Rotenburg (1st creation) (1627–1807) | Hesse- Homburg (1st creation) (1622–1806) | Raised to: Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt (1806–1918) |
| Annexed to the Kingdom of Westphalia | Annexed to the Kingdom of Westphalia | Annexed to the Kingdom of Westphalia | Annexed to the Kingdom of Westphalia | Annexed to the Kingdom of Westphalia | | |
| Hesse- Barchfeld (2nd creation) (1813–1866) | Hesse- Philippsthal (2nd creation) (1813–1866) | Electorate of Hesse-Kassel (2nd creation) (1813–1866) | Hesse- Rotenburg (2nd creation) (1813–1834) | Hesse- Rotenburg (2nd creation) (1813–1834) | Hesse- Homburg (2nd creation) (1815–1866) | |

**Table of rulers**

| Ruler | Ruler | Born | Reign | Death | Ruling part | Consort | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Henry I the Child | | 24 June 1244 | 1264–1308 | 21 December 1308 | Landgraviate of Hesse | Adelaide of Brunswick-Lüneburg I 1263 seven children Matilda of Cleves 1276 seven children | Son of Henry II of Brabant, founded the House of Hesse. |
| John | | 1278 | 1308–1311 | 14 February 1311 | Lower Hesse | Adelaide of Brunswick-Lüneburg II 1306 one child | Divided Hesse with his brother. |
| Otto I the Elder | | 1272 | 1308–1311 | 17 January 1328 | Upper Hesse | Adelaide of Ravensberg 1297 Marburg five children | Divided Hesse with his brother. After the latter's death with no descendants, he reunited Hesse. |
| Otto I the Elder | | 1272 | 1311–1328 | 17 January 1328 | Landgraviate of Hesse | Adelaide of Ravensberg 1297 Marburg five children | Divided Hesse with his brother. After the latter's death with no descendants, he reunited Hesse. |
| Henry II the Iron | | 1299 | 1328–1376 | 3 June 1376 | Landgraviate of Hesse | Elisabeth of Thuringia 1321 five children | Sons of Otto I, ruled jointly. |
| Louis (I) the Junker | | 1305 | 1336–1345 | 2 February 1345 | Landgraviate of Hesse | Elisabeth of Sponheim-Kreuznach 15 October 1340 three children | Sons of Otto I, ruled jointly. |
| Herman I the Elder | | 1305 | 1336–1370 | 1370 | Landgraviate of Hesse | Unmarried | Sons of Otto I, ruled jointly. |
| Otto II the Younger | | 1322 | 1336–1366 | December 1366 | Landgraviate of Hesse | Elisabeth of Cleves 1338 no children | Sons of Otto I, ruled jointly. |
| Herman II the Learned | | 1341 | 1376–1413 | 24 May 1413 | Landgraviate of Hesse | Joanna of Nassau-Weilburg 3 February 1377 no children Margaret of Nuremberg 15 October 1383 Kulmbach eight children | |
| Louis I the Peaceful | | 6 February 1402 | 1413–1458 | 17 January 1458 | Landgraviate of Hesse | Anna of Saxony 8 September 1433 Kassel five children | At his death divided Hesse again. |
| Louis II the Frank | | 7 September 1438 | 1458–1471 | 8 November 1471 | Lower Hesse | Matilda of Württemberg-Urach (1438–1495) 1454 four children | Children of Louis I, divided Hesse between them. Henry III associated his son Louis III in a co-rulership. |
| Henry III the Rich | | 15 October 1440 | 1458–1483 | 13 January 1483 | Upper Hesse | Anna of Katzenelnbogen 1458 six children | Children of Louis I, divided Hesse between them. Henry III associated his son Louis III in a co-rulership. |
| Louis III the Younger | | November 1461 | 1474–1478 | 2 July 1478 | Upper Hesse | Unmarried | Children of Louis I, divided Hesse between them. Henry III associated his son Louis III in a co-rulership. |
| William I the Elder | | 4 July 1466 | 1471–1493 | 8 February 1515 | Lower Hesse | Anna of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 17 February 1488 Münden five children | Didn'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) | Regency of Herman IV, Archbishop of Cologne and Hans Hofman of Dörnberg (1483-1489) | Regency of Herman IV, Archbishop of Cologne and Hans Hofman of Dörnberg (1483-1489) | Regency of Herman IV, Archbishop of Cologne and Hans Hofman of Dörnberg (1483-1489) | Regency of Herman IV, Archbishop of Cologne and Hans Hofman of Dörnberg (1483-1489) | Regency of Herman IV, Archbishop of Cologne and Hans Hofman of Dörnberg (1483-1489) | Regency of Herman IV, Archbishop of Cologne and Hans Hofman of Dörnberg (1483-1489) | Died without heirs. |
| William III the Younger | | 8 September 1471 | 1483–1500 | 17 February 1500 | Upper Hesse | Elisabeth of the Palatinate 12 February 1496 Heidelberg no children | Died without heirs. |
| William II the Middle | | 29 April 1469 | 1493–1500 | 11 July 1509 | Lower Hesse | Yolande of Vaudémont 9 November 1497 one child Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 20 October 1500 Kassel three children | In 1500 reunited Hesse after the death of his cousin William II. |
| William II the Middle | | 29 April 1469 | 1500–1509 | 11 July 1509 | Landgraviate of Hesse | Yolande of Vaudémont 9 November 1497 one child Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 20 October 1500 Kassel three children | In 1500 reunited Hesse after the death of his cousin William II. |
| Regencies of the Estates of Hesse (1509-1514) and Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1514-1518) | Regencies of the Estates of Hesse (1509-1514) and Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1514-1518) | Regencies of the Estates of Hesse (1509-1514) and Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1514-1518) | Regencies of the Estates of Hesse (1509-1514) and Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1514-1518) | Regencies of the Estates of Hesse (1509-1514) and Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1514-1518) | Regencies of the Estates of Hesse (1509-1514) and Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1514-1518) | 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 | | 13 November 1504 | 1509–1567 | 31 March 1567 | Landgraviate of Hesse | Christine of Saxony 11 December 1523 Kassel ten children Margarethe von der Saale 14 March 1540 Rotenburg (bigamous and morganatic) nine children | After his death Hesse was divided between his legitimate sons. |
| William IV the Wise | | 24 June 1532 | 1567–1592 | 25 August 1592 | Hesse-Kassel | Sabine of Württemberg 11 February 1566 Marburg eleven children | Children 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 | | 27 May 1537 | 1567–1604 | 9 October 1604 | Hesse-Marburg | Hedwig of Württemberg 10 May 1563 Stuttgart no children Maria of Mansfeld 4 July 1591 Marburg no children | Children 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. |
| Philip II the Younger | | 22 April 1541 | 1567–1583 | 20 November 1583 | Hesse-Rheinfels | Anna Elisabeth of Palatinate-Simmern 18 January 1569 Heidelberg no children | Children 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. |
| George I the Pious | | 10 September 1547 | 1567–1596 | 7 February 1596 | Hesse-Darmstadt | Magdalene of Lippe 17 August 1572 Kassel ten children Eleonora of Württemberg 25 May 1589 one child | Children 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. |
| Marburg and Rheinfels redivided between Kassel and Darmstadt ||||||||
| Maurice the Learned | | 25 May 1572 | 1592–1632 | 15 March 1632 | Hesse-Kassel | Agnes of Solms-Laubach 23 September 1593 Kassel four children Juliane of Nassau-Siegen 22 May 1603 Dillenburg fourteen children | |
| Louis V the Faithful | | 24 September 1577 | 1596–1626 | 27 July 1626 | Hesse-Darmstadt | Magdalene of Brandenburg 5 June 1598 Berlin eleven 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 1581 | 1596–1643 | 28 April 1643 | Hesse-Darmstadt (at Butzbach) | Anna Margaretha von Diepholz 29 July 1610 Darmstadt no children Christina Sophia of East Frisia 2 June 1632 Aurich no 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. |
| Frederick I | | 5 March 1585 | 1596–1638 | 9 May 1638 | Hesse-Homburg | Margaret Elisabeth of Leiningen-Westerburg 10 August 1622 Butzbach six 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. |
| Butzbach reannexed to Darmstadt ||||||||
| George II | | 17 March 1605 | 1626–1661 | 11 June 1661 | Hesse-Darmstadt | Sophia Eleonore of Saxony 1 April 1627 Torgau fifteen 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 1609 | 1626–1651 | 1 April 1651 | Hesse-Darmstadt (at Braubach) | Johannetta of Sayn-Wittgenstein 30 September 1647 Friedewald no children | Children of Louis V, redivided the land: George II kept Darmstadt; John received Braubach, which after his childless death returned to Darmstadt. |
| Braubach reannexed to Darmstadt ||||||||
| William V the Stable | | 13 February 1602 | 1632–1637 | 21 September 1637 | Hesse-Kassel | Amalie Elisabeth of Hanau-Münzenberg 21 September 1619 twelve 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 | | 9 May 1617 | 1632–1655 | 24 September 1655 | Hesse-Kassel (at Eschwege) | Eleonora Catherine of the Palatinate-Zweibrücken 8 September 1646 Stockholm six 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. |
| Herman IV | | 15 August 1607 | 1627–1658 | 25 March 1658 | Hesse-Rotenburg | Sophie Juliane of Waldeck 31 December 1633 Waldeck one child Kunigunde Juliane of Anhalt-Dessau 2 February 1642 Weimar no 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. |
| Ernest | | 8 December 1623 | 1649–1658 | 2 May 1693 | Hesse-Rheinfels | Maria Eleonore of Solms-Lich June 1647 Frankfurt two 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. |
| Ernest | | 8 December 1623 | 1658–1693 | 2 May 1693 | Hesse-Rotenburg | Maria Eleonore of Solms-Lich June 1647 Frankfurt two 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. |
| Eschwege reannexed to Kassel; Rheinfels merged in Rotenburg ||||||||
| Regency of Amalie Elisabeth of Hanau-Münzenberg (1637-1650) | Regency of Amalie Elisabeth of Hanau-Münzenberg (1637-1650) | Regency of Amalie Elisabeth of Hanau-Münzenberg (1637-1650) | Regency of Amalie Elisabeth of Hanau-Münzenberg (1637-1650) | Regency of Amalie Elisabeth of Hanau-Münzenberg (1637-1650) | Regency of Amalie Elisabeth of Hanau-Münzenberg (1637-1650) | Regency of Amalie Elisabeth of Hanau-Münzenberg (1637-1650) | |
| William VI | | 23 May 1629 | 1637–1663 | 16 July 1663 | Hesse-Kassel | Hedwig Sophie of Brandenburg 19 July 1649 Cölln seven children | |
| Regency of Margaret Elisabeth of Leiningen-Westerburg (1638-1648) | Regency of Margaret Elisabeth of Leiningen-Westerburg (1638-1648) | Regency of Margaret Elisabeth of Leiningen-Westerburg (1638-1648) | Regency of Margaret Elisabeth of Leiningen-Westerburg (1638-1648) | Regency of Margaret Elisabeth of Leiningen-Westerburg (1638-1648) | Regency of Margaret Elisabeth of Leiningen-Westerburg (1638-1648) | Regency of Margaret Elisabeth of Leiningen-Westerburg (1638-1648) | Sold his lands to his brother, George Christian. |
| William Christoph | | 13 November 1625 | 1638–1669 | 27 August 1681 | Hesse-Darmstadt-Homburg | Sophia Eleonore of Hesse-Darmstadt 21 April 1650 Darmstadt twelve children Anna Elisabeth of Saxe-Lauenburg 2 April 1665 Lübeck (annulled 1672) no children | Sold his lands to his brother, George Christian. |
| Louis VI | | 25 January 1630 | 1661–1678 | 24 April 1678 | Hesse-Darmstadt | Maria Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp 24 November 1650 Gottorp eight children Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg 5 December 1666 Gotha eight 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 1632 | 1661–1676 | 19 July 1676 | Hesse-Darmstadt (at Itter | Dorothea Auguste of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Franzhagen 5 May 1661 one child Juliane Alexandrine of Leinigen-Heidenheim 21 July 1667 three 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 |
| Regency of Hedwig Sophie of Brandenburg (1663-1677) | Regency of Hedwig Sophie of Brandenburg (1663-1677) | Regency of Hedwig Sophie of Brandenburg (1663-1677) | Regency of Hedwig Sophie of Brandenburg (1663-1677) | Regency of Hedwig Sophie of Brandenburg (1663-1677) | Regency of Hedwig Sophie of Brandenburg (1663-1677) | 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 | | 21 June 1651 | 1663–1670 | 21 November 1670 | Hesse-Kassel | Unmarried | 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. |
| Charles I | | 3 August 1654 | 1670–1730 | 23 March 1730 | Hesse-Kassel | Maria Amalia of Courland 21 May 1673 Kassel fourteen children | 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. |
| Philip | | 14 December 1655 | 1663–1721 | 18 June 1721 | Hesse-Philippsthal | Catherine of Solms-Laubach 14 April 1680 eight children | 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. |
| George Christian | | 13 November 1625 | 1669–1671 | 27 August 1681 | Hesse-Homburg | Anna Catharina Pogwitsch 11 October 1666 Hamburg no 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 | | 22 June 1658 | 1678 | 31 August 1678 | Hesse-Darmstadt | Unmarried | |
| Regency of Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1678-1688) | Regency of Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1678-1688) | Regency of Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1678-1688) | Regency of Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1678-1688) | Regency of Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1678-1688) | Regency of Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1678-1688) | Regency of Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1678-1688) | |
| Ernest Louis | | 15 December 1667 | 1678–1739 | 12 September 1739 | Hesse-Darmstadt | Dorothea Charlotte of Brandenburg-Ansbach 1 December 1687 Darmstadt five children | |
| Frederick II | | 13 November 1625 | 1679–1708 | 27 August 1681 | Hesse-Homburg | Margareta Brahe 12 May 1661 Stockholm no children Louise Elisabeth of Courland 23 October 1670 Cölln twelve children Sophie Sybille of Leiningen-Westerburg 1691 three children | The land returned to the Hesse-Homburg-branch in 1679. |
| William the Elder | | 15 May 1648 | 1693–1725 | 20 November 1725 | Hesse-Rotenburg | Maria Anna of Löwenstein-Wertheim 3 March 1669 Rochefort eight children | Children of Ernest, redivided the land: William kept Rotenburg; Charles received Wanfried. |
| Charles | | 19 July 1649 | 1693–1711 | 3 March 1711 | Hesse-Wanfried | Sophie Magdalene of Salm-Reifferscheid before 1675 five children Alexandrine Juliane of Leiningen-Dagsburg before 1703 eleven children | Children of Ernest, redivided the land: William kept Rotenburg; Charles received Wanfried. |
| Frederick III Jacob | | 19 May 1673 | 1708–1746 | 8 June 1746 | Hesse-Homburg | Elisabeth Dorothea of Hesse-Darmstadt 14 February 1700 Butzbach nine children Christiane Charlotte of Nassau-Ottweiler 17 October 1728 Saarbrücken no children | |
| William II the Younger | | 25 August 1671 | 1711–1731 | 1 April 1731 | Hesse-Wanfried | Ernestine of the Palatinate-Sulzbach 19 September 1719 no children | Left no heirs. His lands were inherited by his brother, Christian. |
| Charles I | | 23 September 1682 | 1721–1770 | 8 May 1770 | Hesse-Philippsthal | Caroline Christine of Saxe-Eisenach 24 November 1725 Eisenach five children | Children of Philip, redivided the land: Charles I kept Philippsthal; William received Barchfeld. |
| William | | 1 April 1692 | 1721–1761 | 13 May 1761 | Hesse-Barchfeld | Charlotte Wilhelmine of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym 31 October 1724 Hoym fifteen children | Children of Philip, redivided the land: Charles I kept Philippsthal; William received Barchfeld. |
| Ernest Leopold | | 15 June 1684 | 1725–1749 | 29 November 1749 | Hesse-Kassel-Rotenburg | Eleonore of Löwenstein-Wertheim 9 November 1704 Frankfurt ten children | |
| Frederick I | | 28 April 1676 | 1730–1751 | 5 April 1751 | Hesse-Kassel | Louise Dorothea of Prussia 31 May 1700 Berlin no children Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden 24 March 1715 Stockholm no children | Also King of Sweden. Left no heirs. Hesse-Kassel under the regency of his brother, William, later Landgrave William VIII. |
| Christian | | 17 July 1689 | 1731–1755 | 21 October 1755 | Hesse-Wanfried | Maria Franziska of Hohenlohe-Bartenstein c.1730 no children | Left no heirs. His lands reverted to Hesse-Rotenburg. |
| Wanfried reannexed to Rotenburg ||||||||
| Louis VIII | | 5 April 1691 | 1739–1768 | 17 October 1768 | Hesse-Darmstadt | Charlotte of Hanau-Lichtenberg 5 April 1717 Hanau six children | |
| Frederick IV Charles | | 15 April 1724 | 1746–1751 | 7 February 1751 | Hesse-Darmstadt-Homburg | Ulrike Louise of Solms-Braunfels 10 October 1746 Hungen two children | Nephew of Frederick IV. |
| Constantine | | 24 May 1716 | 1749–1778 | 30 December 1778 | Hesse-Rotenburg | Sophia von Starhemberg 1745 eleven children Jeanne Henriette de Bombelles 27 May 1775 no children | |
| William VIII | | 10 March 1682 | 1751–1760 | 1 February 1760 | Hesse-Kassel | Dorothea Wilhelmine of Saxe-Zeitz 27 September 1717 Zeitz three children | Brother of Frederick V; already regent from 1730 |
| Regency of Ulrike Louise of Solms-Braunfels (1751-1766) | Regency of Ulrike Louise of Solms-Braunfels (1751-1766) | Regency of Ulrike Louise of Solms-Braunfels (1751-1766) | Regency of Ulrike Louise of Solms-Braunfels (1751-1766) | Regency of Ulrike Louise of Solms-Braunfels (1751-1766) | Regency of Ulrike Louise of Solms-Braunfels (1751-1766) | Regency of Ulrike Louise of Solms-Braunfels (1751-1766) | Between 1806 and 1815 the Landgraviate was annexed to the Kingdom of Westphalia. |
| Frederick V | | 30 January 1748 | 1751–1820 | 20 January 1820 | Hesse-Homburg | Caroline of Hesse-Darmstadt 27 September 1768 Darmstadt eleven children | Between 1806 and 1815 the Landgraviate was annexed to the Kingdom of Westphalia. |
| Frederick II | | 14 August 1720 | 1760–1785 | 31 October 1785 | Hesse-Kassel | Mary of Great Britain 8 May 1740 London (by proxy) 28 June 1740 Kassel (in person) four children Philippine of Brandenburg-Schwedt 10 January 1773 Berlin no children | |
| Frederick | | 1727 | 1761–1777 | 1777 | Hesse-Barchfeld | Sophia Henrietta of Salm-Grunbach 1772 no children | Left no heirs. His brother Adolf inherited the land. |
| Louis IX | | 15 December 1719 | 1768–1790 | 6 April 1790 | Hesse-Darmstadt | Caroline of the Palatinate-Zweibrücken 12 August 1741 Zweibrücken eight 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 | | 11 July 1723 | 1768–1783 | 8 April 1783 | Hesse-Darmstadt (at Hanau-Lichtenberg) | Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Baden 28 January 1751 five 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. |
| William | | 29 August 1726 | 1770–1806 | 8 August 1810 | Hesse-Philippsthal | Ulrika Eleonora of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld 22 June 1755 Tournai nine children | Between 1806 and 1813 the Landgraviate was annexed to the Kingdom of Westphalia. |
| Adolph | | 29 June 1743 | 1777–1803 | 17 July 1803 | Hesse-Barchfeld | Louise of Saxe-Meiningen 18 October 1781 Meiningen six children | |
| Charles Emmanuel | | 5 June 1746 | 1778–1806 | 23 March 1812 | Hesse-Kassel-Rotenburg | Leopoldina of Liechtenstein 1 September 1771 Felsberg two 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 | | 3 June 1743 | 1785–1807 1813–1821 | 27 February 1821 | Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel Electorate of Hesse-Kassel | Wilhelmina Caroline of Denmark 1 September 1764 Copenhagen four 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 | | 14 June 1753 | 1790–1830 | 6 April 1830 | Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt | Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt 19 February 1777 Darmstadt seven children | Created Grand Duke of Hesse in 1806. |
| Charles | | 27 June 1784 | 1803–1854 | 17 July 1854 | Hesse-Barchfeld | Auguste of Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen 19 July 1816 Öhringen two children Sophie of Bentheim and Steinfurt 10 September 1823 Steinfurt four children | Between 1806 and 1813 the Landgraviate was annexed to the Kingdom of Westphalia. |
| Louis | | 29 August 1726 | 1813–1816 | 8 August 1810 | Hesse-Philippsthal | Marie Franziska Berghe of Trips 21 January 1791 Susteren two children | Landgraviate recovered in 1813 by the hand of the Elector of Hesse. |
| Victor Amadeus | | 2 September 1779 | 1813–1834 | 12 November 1834 | Hesse-Rotenburg | Leopoldine of Fürstenberg 20 October 1799 Prague no children Elisabeth of Hohenlohe-Langenburg 10 September 1812 Langenburg one child Eleonora of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Krautheim and Gerlachsheim 19 November 1831 Gerlachsheim no children | In 1834, Hesse-Rotenburg reunited with Hesse-Kassel. |
| Rotenburg annexed to the Electorate of Kassel ||||||||
| Ernest Constantine | | 8 August 1771 | 1816–1849 | 25 December 1849 | Hesse-Philippsthal | Louise of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt 10 April 1796 Rudolstadt five children Caroline of Hesse-Philippsthal 17 February 1812 Kassel two children | Landgraviate recovered in 1813 by the hand of the Elector of Hesse. |
| Frederick VI | | 30 July 1769 | 1820–1829 | 2 April 1829 | Hesse-Homburg | Elizabeth of the United Kingdom 7 April 1818 London no children | Left no heirs. The land was inherited by his brother. |
| William II | | 28 July 1777 | 1821–1847 | 20 November 1847 | Electorate of Hesse Kassel | Augusta of Prussia 13 February 1797 Berlin six children Emilie Ortlöpp 8 July 1841 (morganatic) eight children Caroline of Berlepsch 8 July 1841 Hanau (morganatic) no children | |
| Louis William | | 29 August 1770 | 1829–1839 | 19 January 1839 | Hesse-Homburg | Augusta Amalia of Nassau-Usingen 1804 (annulled 1805) no children | Left no heirs. The land was inherited by his brother. |
| Louis II | | 26 December 1777 | 1830–1848 | 16 June 1848 | Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt | Wilhelmine of Baden 19 June 1804 Karlsruhe seven children | |
| Philip | | 11 March 1779 | 1839–1846 | 15 December 1846 | Hesse-Homburg | Rosalie Antonie Pototschnig 1838 (morganatic) no children | Left no heirs. The land was inherited by his brother. |
| Gustav | | 17 February 1781 | 1846–1848 | 8 September 1848 | Hesse-Homburg | Louise of Anhalt-Dessau 12 February 1818 Dessau three children | Left no male heirs. The land was inherited by his brother. |
| Frederick William | | 20 August 1802 | 1847–1866 | 6 January 1875 | Electorate of Hesse Kassel | Gertrude von Hanau 26 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 | | 9 June 1806 | 1848–1877 | 13 June 1877 | Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt | Mathilde Caroline of Bavaria 26 December 1833 Munich no children Magdalene of Hochstadten 1868 (morganatic) no children | |
| Ferdinand | | 26 April 1783 | 1848–1866 | 24 March 1866 | Hesse-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 1803 | 1849–1866 | 12 February 1868 | Hesse-Philippsthal | Marie of Württemberg 9 October 1845 Pokój two children | In 1866 the Landgraviate was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia. |
| Philippsthal annexed to the Kingdom of Prussia ||||||||
| Alexis | | 13 September 1829 | 1854–1866 | 16 August 1905 | Hesse-Barchfeld | Louise of Prussia 17 June 1854 Berlin no children | In 1866 the Landgraviate was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia. |
| Barchfeld annexed to the Kingdom of Prussia ||||||||
| Louis IV | | 12 September 1837 | 1877–1892 | 13 March 1892 | Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt | Alice of the United Kingdom 1 July 1862 East Cowes seven children Alexandrina Hutten-Czapska 30 April 1884 Darmstadt (morganatic, annulled 1884) no children | |
| Ernest Louis | | 25 November 1868 | 1892–1918 | 9 October 1937 | Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt | Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha 19 April 1894 Coburg (annulled 21 December 1901) two children Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich 2 February 1905 Darmstadt two 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)
