Government of the Landgraviate of Hesse-Homburg
The government of the Landgraviate of Hessen-Homburg was formed by the Landgrave, the Secret Council and the State Government.
General
The Landgraviate of Hesse-Homburg was an imperial territory in the Holy Roman Empire , which consisted exclusively of the Homburg office . With the Rheinbund act 1806 the Landgraviate was mediated and attached to the Grand Duchy of Hesse . In 1815 the Landgraviate regained its sovereignty and gained additional territory with the Meisenheim Oberamt . Nevertheless, it remained the smallest state in the German Confederation .
The landgraves
At the head of the landgraviate were the landgraves. They were at the same time heads of government and administration. All decisions about laws and regulations were made by the Landgrave.
The landgraves in the German Confederation were:
- Friedrich V. Ludwig Wilhelm Christian (* Homburg vd Höhe, January 30, 1748, † Homburg vor der Höhe, January 20, 1820 / ruled 1766–1820)
- Friedrich VI. Joseph Ludwig Carl August General of the Cavalry (Austria) (* Homburg vor der Höhe, July 30, 1769, † Homburg vor der Höhe, April 2, 1829 / ruled 1820–1829)
- Ludwig Wilhelm Governor of Luxembourg / General of the Infantry (Prussia) (* Homburg vor der Höhe, 29 August 1770, † Luxembourg, 19 January 1839 / ruled 1829–1839)
- Philipp August Friedrich Governor of the Federal Fortress Mainz / Field Marshal (Austria) (* Homburg vor der Höhe, March 11, 1779, † Homburg vor der Höhe, January 15, 1846 / ruled 1839–1846)
- Gustav Adolf Friedrich General of the Cavalry (Austria) (* Homburg vor der Höhe, February 17, 1781, † Homburg vor der Höhe, September 8, 1848 / ruled 1846–1848)
- Ferdinand Heinrich Friedrich General of the Cavalry (Austria) (* Homburg vor der Höhe, April 26, 1783, † Homburg vor der Höhe, March 24, 1866 / ruled 1848–1866)
The Secret Council
With a decree of May 12, 1817, a secret council was created. Its duties were broad. These included the landgrave's household and family affairs, foreign affairs, the top management of internal constitutional affairs, supervision of the other state authorities, complaints and mercy matters as well as personnel matters.
The decision was made by the Landgrave, who presided over the Privy Council. The Secret Council only had an advisory role. The preparation and signature of or, in sovereign reserve matters, the countersignature of the laws, ordinances and orders, was the responsibility of the Conducting Privy Council.
The Conducting Secret Council was the highest official in the Landgraviate. The following people were appointed to this function by the respective landgraves:
- 1817–1818: Karl Philipp August Otto Ludwig Freiherr von Zyllnhardt , Conducting Privy Council and President
- 1820–1827: Johann Philipp von Hert , Conducting Privy Council and President of all state colleges
- 1828–1832: Carl Friedrich Justus Emil (from 1830 von) Ibell , Conducting Privy Council and President of all state colleges
- 1832-1841: Vacant
- 1841–1847: Karl Bernhard von Ibell , Conducting Privy Council
- (1847–1848): Ludwig Karl Wilhelm Henrich , prov. Government director
- 1848–1862: Dr. jur. Christian Bansa
- 1862–1866: Georg Fenner , Conducting Privy Council
The second man in government was the government director.
- 1818–1820: Carl Philipp Reichard , Government Director
- 1820–1827: Johann Philipp von Hert, Privy Councilor
- 1828–1834: Carl Friedrich Justus Emil (from 1830 by) Ibell, Privy Councilor
- 1835–1851, Ludwig Karl Wilhelm Henrich , Privy Councilor, later Government Director
- 1853–1861: Johann Wilhelm Zurbuch , Government Director
- 1861–1866: Ferdinand Wernigk , Government Director
The state government
By ordinance of February 18, 1818, the state government was created from the previous bodies of government, court court, consistory, chamber, forestry college and collegium medicum. The state government only met in exceptional cases on general and overarching issues. It was divided into three deputations:
- I Justice (civil and criminal law as well as marriage and disciplinary matters of the previous consistory)
- II State administration, police, health care, poor relief, foundation supervision, postal services, church and school supplies etc.
- III Finance and camera management including domain and forest management.
The state government was subordinate to the Privy Council.
In the March Revolution
Only after the March Revolution of 1848 did Landgrave Gustav fulfill his obligation under Article 13 of the German Federal Act to enact a "land-based constitution". The constitution of Hessen-Homburg of January 3, 1850 contained regulations on the government and its relationship with the Landgrave and the newly created Landtag of Hessen-Homburg . However, these constitutional provisions were never implemented and the constitution was repealed by his successor Landgrave Ferdinand at the beginning of the reaction era.
Court organization
The government's first deputation was also the court of second instance. See also court organization in the Landgraviate of Hessen-Homburg .
literature
- Thomas Klein: Volume 11: Hessen-Nassau, the series: Walther Hubatsch: Ground plan for German administrative history 1815–1945, 1979, ISBN 3-87969-126-6 , pp. 228–231