Hesse-Homburg

Hesse-Homburg, till 1866 a land-graviate of Germany, consisting of the lordship of Homburg vor der Höhe, on the right bank of the Rhine, and the lordship of Meisenheim, on the left bank. Area, 106 sq. m.; pop. (1864) 27,374. Since 1866 Hesse-Homburg has been incorporated with Prussia, Homburg now forming part of the district of Hesse-Cassel, and Meisenheim of that of Coblenz. Hesse-Homburg was constituted a land-graviate in 1596. In 1806 Hesse-Homburg became again incorporated with Hesse-Darmstadt, but in 1815 was decreed independent, while it was enlarged by the addition of the district of Meisenheim. In 1866 Hesse-Homburg reverted to Hesse-Darmstadt; but the grand-duke, having espoused the cause of Austria in the seven weeks' war, was forced to surrender Hesse-Homburg to Prussia.