Editing Hesse (section)

=== Modern history ===
{{further|Electorate of Hesse|Grand Duchy of Hesse|Hesse-Nassau|People's State of Hesse|Province of Kurhessen|Greater Hesse}}
[[File:Coat of Arms of the Grand Duchy of Hesse 1806-1918.svg|thumb|upright=0.6|Coat of arms of the [[Grand Duchy of Hesse]]]]

==== French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars ====
In 1789 the [[French Revolution]] began and in 1794, during the [[War of the First Coalition]], the [[First French Republic|French Republic]] occupied the [[Left Bank of the Rhine]], including part of Lower Katzenelnbogen ({{lang|de|{{ill|Niedergrafschaft Katzenelnbogen|de}}}}, Hesse-Kassel's part of the former [[County of Katzenelnbogen]] which was held by the [[appanage]] [[Landgraviate of Hesse-Rotenburg|Hesse-Rotenburg]]). [[Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Francis II]] formally recognised the annexation of the Left Bank in the 1801 [[Treaty of Lunéville]]. This led in 1803 to the {{lang|de|[[Reichsdeputationshauptschluss]]}}, a substantial reorganisation ([[German mediatisation|mediatisation]]) of the states and territories of the Empire. Several [[exclave]]s of [[Electorate of Mainz|Mainz]] were mediatised to [[Hesse-Kassel]] and [[Hesse-Darmstadt]], and Hesse-Darmstadt also gained the [[Duchy of Westphalia]] from [[Electorate of Cologne|Cologne]], the parts of [[Prince-Bishopric of Worms|Worms]] on the right-bank of the Rhine, and the former [[Free Imperial City|Free City]] of [[Friedberg, Hesse|Friedberg]]. [[Nassau-Weilburg]] gained the right-bank territories of [[Electorate of Trier|Trier]] among other territories. [[Principality of Orange-Nassau|Orange-Nassau]] gained the [[Prince-Bishopric of Fulda]] (as the [[Principality of Nassau-Orange-Fulda]]). The [[Landgrave]] of Hesse-Kassel was also elevated to the status of [[Prince-Elector]] ({{lang|de|Kurfürst}}), with his state thereby becoming the [[Electorate of Hesse]] or Electoral Hesse ({{langx|de|Kurhessen|link=no}}, {{lang|de|Kur}} being the German-language term for the Empire's [[Electoral College (Holy Roman Empire)|College of Electors]]).{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In July 1806 Hesse-Darmstadt, Nassau-Weilburg, [[Nassau-Usingen]], and the newly merged [[Principality of Isenburg]] became founding members of [[Napoleon]]'s [[Confederation of the Rhine]]. Hesse-Darmstadt expanded further in the resulting mediatisation, absorbing numerous small states (including [[Hesse-Homburg]] and much of the territory of the Houses of {{ill|House of Solms|lt=Solms|de|Solms (Adelsgeschlecht)}}, {{ill|House of Erbach|de|lt=Erbach|Erbach (Adelsgeschlecht)}} and [[Sayn-Wittgenstein]]). It was also elevated by Napoleon to the status of [[Grand Duchy]], becoming the [[Grand Duchy of Hesse]]. Orange-Nassau, which refused to join the Confederation, lost [[Nassau-Siegen|Siegen]], [[Nassau-Dillenburg|Dillenburg]], [[Nassau-Hadamar|Hadamar]] and [[Beilstein, Hesse|Beilstein]] to [[Grand Duchy of Berg|Berg]] and Fulda to the [[Prince-primate#Germany - Confederation of the Rhine|Prince-Primate]] of the Confederation (and former Elector of Mainz) [[Karl Theodor Anton Maria von Dalberg|Karl Theodor von Dalberg]]; the remainder of its territory was merged with that of Nassau-Usingen and Nassau-Weilburg in August 1806 to form the [[Duchy of Nassau]]. [[Principality of Waldeck and Pyrmont|Waldeck]] also joined the Confederation in 1807.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

[[Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire|The Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in August 1806]], rendering Hesse-Kassel's electoral privilege meaningless. Hesse-Kassel was occupied by the French in October 1806 and the remainder of Lower Katzenelnbogen was annexed to the [[First French Empire|French Empire]] as {{lang|fr|{{ill|Pays réservé de Catzenellenbogen|de}}}}. The rest of its territory was annexed to the [[Kingdom of Westphalia]] in 1807; [[Hesse-Hanau]] (a [[secundogeniture]] of Hesse-Kassel) was annexed to the [[Grand Duchy of Frankfurt]] in 1810 along with the other territories held by the Prince-primate: Frankfurt, Fulda, [[Principality of Aschaffenburg|Aschaffenburg]] and [[Wetzlar#Free Imperial City|Wetzlar]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

As a result of the [[German campaign of 1813]] the Kingdom of Westphalia and the Grand Duchy of Frankfurt were dissolved and Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Hanau were restored; Orange-Nassau was also restored in its territories previously lost to Berg.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

As a result of the 1815 [[Congress of Vienna]] Hesse-Kassel gained Fulda (roughly the western third of the former Prince-Bishopric, the rest of which went to [[Kingdom of Bavaria|Bavaria]] and [[Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach]]) from Frankfurt and part of Isenburg, while several of its small northern [[exclave]]s were absorbed into [[Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover]], some small eastern areas were ceded to Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and Lower Katzenelnbogen was ceded to Nassau. Hesse-Darmstadt lost the Duchy of Westphalia and the Sayn-Wittgensteiner lands to the [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]]n [[Province of Westphalia]] but gained territory on the left bank of the Rhine centred on Mainz, which became known as [[Rhenish Hesse]] ({{lang|de|Rheinhessen}}), and the remainder of Isenburg. Orange-Nassau, whose ruler was now also King [[William I of the Netherlands|William I]] of [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands|the Netherlands]] and Grand Duke of Luxembourg, was ceded to Prussia but most of its territory aside from Siegen was then ceded on to Nassau. Hesse-Homburg and the [[Free City of Frankfurt]] were also restored.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

While the other former Electors had gained other titles, becoming either Kings or [[Grand Duke]]s, the Elector of Hesse-Kassel alone retained the anachronistic title of Prince-Elector; a request to be recognised as "King of the [[Chatti]]" ({{lang|de|König der Katten}}) was rejected by the Congress.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Following mediation, the Congress of Vienna had significantly fewer states remained in the region that is now Hesse: the Hessian states, Nassau, Waldeck and Frankfurt. The Kingdoms of Prussia and Bavaria also held some territory in the region. The Congress established the [[German Confederation]], of which they all became members. Hesse-Hanau was (re-)absorbed into Hesse-Kassel in 1821.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

==== German Empire ====

In the 1866 [[Austro-Prussian War]] the states of the region allied with [[Austrian Empire|Austria]] were defeated during the [[Campaign of the Main]]. Following Prussia's victory and dissolution of the German Confederation, Prussia annexed Electoral Hesse, Frankfurt, Hesse-Homburg, Nassau and small parts of Bavaria and the Grand Duchy of Hesse, which were then combined into the [[Province of Hesse-Nassau]]. The name {{lang|de|Kurhessen}} survived, denoting the region around Kassel. The Grand Duchy of Hesse retained its autonomy in defeat because a greater part of the country was situated south of the river [[Main (river)|Main]] and it was feared that Prussian expansion beyond the Main might provoke France. However, [[Upper Hesse]] ({{langx|de|Oberhessen|link=no}}: the parts of Hesse-Darmstadt north of the Main around the town of [[Gießen]]) was incorporated into the [[North German Confederation]] ({{lang|de|Norddeutscher Bund}}), a tight federation of German states established by Prussia in 1867, while also remaining part of the Grand Duchy. In 1871, after France's defeat in the [[Franco-Prussian War]], the whole of the Grand Duchy joined the [[German Empire]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Around the turn of the 20th century, Darmstadt was one of the centres of the [[Jugendstil]]. Until 1907, the Grand Duchy of Hesse used the Hessian red and white lion ''barry'' as its coat-of-arms.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

==== Weimar and Nazi periods ====
The [[German Revolution of 1918–1919|revolution of 1918]] following the German defeat in [[WWI]] transformed Hesse-Darmstadt from a monarchy to a republic, which officially renamed itself the [[People's State of Hesse]] ({{lang|de|Volksstaat Hessen}}). The state parliament, or ''[[Landtag]]'' consisted of 70 deputies elected on the basis of [[proportional representation]]. There were six [[Hessian Landtag elections in the Weimar Republic|Landtag elections]] between 1919 and 1932. Following the [[Nazi seizure of power]] in Berlin, the ''Landtag'' was formally abolished as a result of the "[[Law on the Reconstruction of the Reich]]" of 30 January 1934, which replaced the German [[federal system]] with a [[unitary state]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

The parts of Hesse-Darmstadt on the left bank of the Rhine (Rhenish Hesse), as well as those right-bank areas of Hesse-Darmstadt and Hesse-Nassau within {{convert|30|km|abbr=on}} of Koblenz or Mainz [[Occupation of the Rhineland|were occupied by French troops]] until 1930 under the terms of the [[Treaty of Versailles|Versailles peace treaty]] that officially ended World War I in 1919. The Kingdom of Prussia became the [[Free State of Prussia]], of which Hesse-Nassau remained a province.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In 1929 the [[Free State of Waldeck]] was dissolved and incorporated into Hesse-Nassau. In 1932 [[Wetzlar]] ({{lang|de|{{ill|Landkreis Wetzlar|de}}}}), formerly an exclave of the Prussian [[Rhine Province]] situated between Hesse-Nassau and the Grand Duchy's Upper Hesse, was transferred to Hesse-Nassau. The former Hessian exclave of [[Rinteln]] ({{lang|de|{{ill|Landkreis Grafschaft Schaumburg|de|lt=Kreis Rinteln}}}}, the Hessian part of the former [[County of Schaumburg]]) was also detached and transferred to the [[Province of Hanover]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

On 1 July 1944 the Prussian Province of Hesse-Nassau was formally divided into the provinces of [[Province of Kurhessen|Kurhessen]] and [[Province of Nassau|Nassau]]. At the same time the former Hessian [[Schmalkalden]] exclaves ({{lang|de|{{ill|Landkreis Herrschaft Schmalkalden|de}}}}), together with the {{lang|de|{{ill|Regierungsbezirk Erfurt|de}}}} of the [[Province of Saxony]], were transferred to [[Thuringia]]. The territories of the new provinces did not directly correspond with their pre-1866 namesakes but rather with the associated NSDAP {{lang|de|[[Administrative divisions of Nazi Germany|Gau]]e}}: [[Gau Electoral Hesse]] and [[Gau Hesse-Nassau]] (excluding the areas which were part of the People's State of Hesse).{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

==== Post-World War II ====
After [[World War II]], the Hessian territory west of the Rhine [[French occupation zone in Germany|was again occupied by France]], while the rest of the region was part of the [[American occupation zone in Germany|US occupation zone]]. On 17 September 1945 the [[Wanfried agreement]] adjusted the border between American-occupied Kurhessen and [[Soviet occupation zone in Germany|Soviet-occupied]] Thuringia. The United States proclaimed the state of [[Greater Hesse]] ({{lang|de|Groß-Hessen}}) on 19 September 1945, out of the People's State of Hesse and most of what had been the Prussian Provinces of Kurhessen and Nassau. The French incorporated their parts of Hesse (Rhenish Hesse) and Nassau (as {{lang|de|[[Regierungsbezirk Montabaur]]}}) into the newly founded state of [[Rhineland-Palatinate]] ({{lang|de|Rheinland-Pfalz}}) on 30 August 1946.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

On 4 December 1946, Greater Hesse was officially renamed {{lang|de|Hessen}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://60stolzejahre.hessen.de/dynasite.cfm?dssid=77&dsmid=1898 |title=Hessen – 60 stolze Jahre – Zeittafel 1945/1946 |access-date=1 December 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017144544/http://60stolzejahre.hessen.de/dynasite.cfm?dssid=77&dsmid=1898 |archive-date=17 October 2006 }}</ref>
Hesse in the 1940s received more than a million [[Heimatvertriebene|displaced ethnic Germans]].

Due to its proximity to the [[Inner German border]], Hesse became an important location of [[NATO]] installations in the 1950s, especially military bases of the US [[V Corps (United States)|V Corps]] and [[United States Army Europe]].

The first elected minister president of Hesse was [[Christian Stock]], followed by [[Georg-August Zinn]] (both [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democrats]]). The German Social Democrats gained an absolute majority in 1962 and pursued progressive policies with the so-called {{lang|de|Großer Hessenplan}}. The [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]] gained a relative majority in the 1974 elections, but the Social Democrats continued to govern in a coalition with the [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]. Hesse was first governed by the CDU under [[Walter Wallmann]] during 1987–1991, replaced by a SPD-Greens coalition under [[Hans Eichel]] during 1991–1999. From 1999, Hesse was governed by the CDU under [[Roland Koch]] (retired 2010) and [[Volker Bouffier]] (incumbent as of 2020).
[[Frankfurt]] during the 1960s to 1990s developed into one of the major cities of West Germany. As of 2016, 12% of the total population of Hesse lived in the city of Frankfurt.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}