Hessia

Hessia is a historical and geographical region in central Europe that roughly corresponds to the modern German state of Hesse (German: Hessen). The name is encountered in older and international sources, whereas the contemporary administrative entity is Hessen, with its capital at Wiesbaden.

Geographically, Hessia lies between the river Rhine to the west and the Thuringian Basin to the east, with the Main river running through the central part and the Fulda in the north. The region includes both lowland areas along the Rhine and uplands such as the Taunus and Odenwald. It is bordered by Lower Saxony, Thuringia, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate.

Historically, Hessia was governed by several medieval and early modern states within the Holy Roman Empire, notably the Landgraviate of Hesse and the Electorate/Grand Duchy of Hesse (Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Darmstadt). In the 19th and 20th centuries, the territories underwent political reorganization, and after World War II the modern state of Hesse was established.

Demographically and economically, Hessen is among the more populous German states, with about six million inhabitants. Its economy is diversified, featuring finance and services centered in Frankfurt, as well as manufacturing, chemicals, and logistics. Frankfurt am Main serves as a major financial hub, hosting the European Central Bank and several major exchange institutions.

Name and usage: The term Hessia is used occasionally in historical or linguistic contexts. In modern German, the region is referred to as Hessen.