Hesse-Cassel: Alledged Sedition and Law-Suits (1640s–1650s)

AbstractIn this chapter I discuss another German case, that of the Landgraviate of Hesse-Cassel. The Thirty Year’s War led to a governmental crisis and Landgrave William V went into exile where he died. The minor William VI inherited the occupied principality, which his regent-mother Amelie Elisabeth set out to reconquer. In 1646 Amelie required 4000 Malter of corn for her armed forces, and she convened an assembly requesting the nobility for their consent. The nobility, however, needed more time to debate the matter but was confronted with the illegal requisition of the resources. They saw this as a violation of their noble privileges led to an assembly of the nobility, which was consequently banned by the landgravine. The situation triggered a fierce reaction by the nobility, suggesting that the landgravine was attempting to establish an arbitrary rule. Since communication became strained, the nobility brought the situation under the attention of the Imperial Chamber Court in 1651. The lawsuit that followed showed that fatherland terminology was accepted in the formal, legal language by lawyers of both parties. In the argumentation sedition, privileges, traditions and the fear of the establishment of an arbitrary government are all used.