Andrea, I found this in the internet and I think it could help you Horst Rosenstock in Germany HESSIAN history in short words Until 1866 the term "Hessen" always referred to what became "Hessen Darmstadt" later. Hessen Darmstadt used to be a "Freistaat" (Free State) of the German Empire with a "Grossherzog"(Grand Duke) at the top. It was never a "Grossherzogtum". The term "Kurhessen" always referred to what was the "Kurfuerstentum Hessen;Kassel (Cassel)" until 1866. In other words: For most of the time which is important for your genealogical research, there's either Hessen Darmstadt (or Hessen) or Hessen;Kassel (or Kurhessen). The other state which you can find from time to time is "Hessen Nassau". It was founded in after 1866 as a province of Preussen (Prussia). It's main parts were Hessen Darmstadt, Hessen;Kassel, Nassau, parts of Bavaria, the city of Frankfurt and other regions. In other words again: Hessen Nassau never existed at the same time as Hessen Darmstadt and Hessen;Kassel. This does not mean, that the old terms ceased to exist in the "language of the people". Heinz L. Zulauf <heinz.zulauf@rhein;main.net>