Germany / Deutschland » States & Provinces » Hessen-Nassau / Hesse-Nassau (Preußen)

This Prussian province was surrounded by Rheinprovinz to the west, Westfalen and Waldeck to the north, Hessen and Bayern on the south, and its east border included Provinz Sachsen and some Sachsen duchies. Hessen and Hessen-Nassau share history until 1567 when Philip, landgrave of Hessen, died. Hessen was divided among his heirs, creating Hessen-Darmstadt, Hessen-Kassel, Hessen-Marburg, and Hessen Rheinfels. Hessen-Marburg and Hessen-Rheinfels were subsequently incorporated into Hessen-Kassel and Hessen Darmstadt. Hessen-Darmstadt became the grand duchy Hessen. Hessen-Kassel was a strong entity in the 1700s and maintained its own standing army. Its Hessian soldiers were the ones hired to fight in the American Revolution. The landgrave of Hessen-Kassel at that time, Frederick II, was the uncle of King George III, who ruled Great Britain. For a brief period in early nineteenth century, this area was known as Kurhessen. After the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, Hessen-Kassel was combined with Hessen-Nassau. Today Hessen-Nassau, less the area east of the Rhine River, is part of the state called Hessen. The area east of the Rhine River now belongs to Rheinland-Pfalz. Learn more: FamilySearch Wiki - Hesse-Nassau and GenWiki - Hessen-Nassau