Hesse-Cassel

Elder line of House of He e, founded by Wilhelm IV., 1567-1592, whose grandson, Wilhelm V., fought on the Swedish side in the Thirty Years' War. Charles I. began 1672 the practice of hiring out He ian soldiers to foreign princes. Fried rich I. became King of Sweden by marriage 1720, and resigned his He ian po e ions to his brother Wilhelm VIII., who fought under the English flag in the Seven Years' War. His son, Fried rich II., kept up a splendid court on pay obtained from England for the services of 22,000 He ians against the American colonies. His son, Wilhelm IX. (I. as elector after 1803), fought, with his mercenaries, first on the side of the Empire, and then on that of France. Napoleon, at the Peace of Tilsit, 1806, incorporated the electorate in the kingdom of Westphalia. Wilhelm I. returned to his dominions 1813. No satisfactory constitution was granted till 1862. H.-C. was a German electorate, but having sided with Austria, it was annexed to Pru ia 1866. Area 3,700 sq. m.; pop., 1864, 745,063. See HESSE-NASSAU. He e-Darmstadt. Second branch of House of He e; derived from Count George I., 1567-1596. H.-D. gained additions of territory under Napoleon. Ludwig X. acted as an ally of the French till after the battle of Leipzig, but joined the German Confederation 1814. H.-D. supported Austria 1866, for which she paid a heavy indemnity. She joined the N. German Confederation 1867. It is a grand duchy. Area 2,966 sq. m.; pop., 1890, 992,883.