Hessen-Wanfried

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Landgraviate of Hessen-Wanfried was a partially independent principality from 1667 to 1755 , ruled by the Hessen-Rotenburg branch line of the House of Hessen under the sovereignty of the Landgraves of Hessen-Kassel .

history

Prehistory (1627–1676)

The starting point of this Mediat Landgraviate was a decree by Landgrave Moritz von Hessen-Kassel, which he imposed on his eldest son and successor Wilhelm V of Hessen-Kassel shortly before his abdication . At the instigation of his second wife Juliane von Nassau-Dillenburg , he decided that a quarter of his land, the so-called " Rotenburger Quart ", should be left to the sons from this second marriage as a partially sovereign Paragium . From these, Hermann received the Rotenburg area, Friedrich the area around Eschwege and Wanfried , and Ernst the former sub-county Katzenelnbogen .

After the early death of his brothers Friedrich († 1655) and Hermann († 1658), the entire "Quart" fell to Ernst. This, in constant financial difficulties, concluded a secret treaty with the French King Louis XIV , in which he promised to leave Rheinfels Castle to him in return for high pension payments . Landgrave Karl von Hessen-Kassel found out about this treasonous project, conquered the castle by hand and defended it, heavily besieged several times, against the French. Ernst transferred the eastern part of the "Rotenburger Quart" to his sons: Wilhelm got Rotenburg and Karl got Eschwege and Wanfried.

1676 to 1731

In 1676, Karl von Hessen-Wanfried moved into Wanfrieder Castle as his residence. The area of ​​the small landgraviate roughly corresponded to that of today's Werra-Meißner district , but also included a third of the Treffurt estate .

Of Charles' seven sons, only two were still alive when he died in 1711: Wilhelm (from his first marriage) and Christian (from his second marriage). Wilhelm was canon in Cologne and Strasbourg. At first the younger brother Christian took over the rule, but then there was a dispute with his half-brother Wilhelm and both uncle Wilhelm "the elder" from Hessen-Rotenburg. The dispute had to be settled by the emperor. Christian renounced the regency and received Eschwege Castle and an annual allowance of 7,500 guilders after the pledge was dissolved .

Wilhelm von Hessen-Wanfried ruled from 1711 to 1731. In 1716, he applied to restore him to lay status because of the threat of extinction. On September 19, 1719 he married Ernestine Theodora von Pfalz-Sulzbach , daughter of Duke Theodor Eustach von Pfalz-Sulzbach . The connection remained childless. In 1718 he was granted ownership of Rheinfels Castle, and he then called himself Landgrave of Hesse-Rheinfels. After his death in 1731, his widow initially stayed at Rheinfels Castle, but then became prioress of the Neuburg Monastery on the Danube , where she died on April 14, 1775.

1731 to 1755

Wilhelm's successor was again his younger brother Christian . After his brother's death in 1731, he was the last male bearer of his name to head the House of Hessen-Wanfried. He was engaged to Maria Auguste, daughter of Prince Anselm Franz von Thurn und Taxis . But the emperor arranged for the engagement to be lifted. For political reasons, the bride was married to the Duke of Württemberg. Christian mourned his great love for a long time. At the age of 42, he married his niece Maria Franziska von Hohenlohe-Bartenstein (daughter of his sister Sophie Leopoldine). The marriage remained childless. Because of another attack by the French on Rheinfels Castle in 1734/35, the right of occupation of the castle was finally assigned to Hessen-Kassel and remained there. After 1731 Christian moved his seat to Wanfried and later again from Wanfried to Eschwege. From 1711 he called himself Christian von Hessen-Eschwege after his assigned residence. He died of a stroke on the stairs of the church in Eschwege on October 21, 1755.

All family members had been Catholic since Landgrave Ernst von Hessen-Rheinfels converted in 1652.

After the male line Hessen-Wanfried died out in 1755, the Landgraviate fell to the Hessen-Rotenburg line . When this male line also went out in 1834, the entire quarter fell back to the parent company Hessen-Kassel .

Titulations

There are different titles that are based on the land ownership or the respective residences. Example: Landgrave Wilhelm initially had the title "Hessen-Wanfried", after Rheinfels was assigned to Hessen-Wanfried in 1711, "Hessen-Wanfried-Rheinfels" followed, then simply "Hessen-Rheinfels". His half-brother Christian also called himself "Hessen-Eschwege" after his residence from 1711.

The ruling Landgraves in the Landgraviate of Hessen-Wanfried

In the period that followed, the area belonged to the Hessen-Rotenburg district until 1834 and then to Hessen-Kassel.

See also

literature

Web links