Hesse

Primary culture
Capital province
Government
State religion
Technology group

- +10% National tax modifier
- +1 Diplomatic reputation
Break the Power of the Estates
- −10% Stability cost modifier
- −10% Idea cost
- +25% Religious unity
- +5% Church power
- −10% Development cost
Modernization of the Hessian Army
- +5% Discipline
- +25% Land force limit modifier
- +10% Production efficiency
- −15% Mercenary maintenance
Hesse starts the game as a monarchy situated in North Germany, inside the Holy Roman Empire. It is bordered by Brunswick,
Thuringia,
Wurzburg,
Mainz,
Frankfurt,
Nassau and
Cologne.
Contents
Decisions[edit]
Form Westphalia
Potential requirements
The country:
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Allow
The country:
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Effects
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Form German Nation
Potential requirements
If the country is AI-controlled then it:
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Allow
The country:
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Effects
The country:
If the country does not have custom ideas
The emperor of the HRE:
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Events[edit]
Amalie Elisabeth
Trigger conditions
The year is between 1600 and 1650. |
Mean time to happen
200 months |
She will rule in her own name. Get a new female ruler Amalie of Elisabeth dynasty with:
If the country uses ‘Statists vs Monarchists’ mechanics:
Great, keep her as an advisor.
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Missions[edit]
- Main article: Westphalian missions
Strategy[edit]

Hesse starts in a relatively weak position in its section of the HRE, however, the player has many options to correct this through conquest.
Early strategy[edit]
First and foremost as like many other nations in the HRE, currying favors with electors and the emperor is useful for the potential election to emperor, Saxony is a good choice as is Trier. Munster is a useful ally for opening moves and should be an easy ally as they almost always start friendly to Hesse, Austria is, of course, an excellent choice as well. For rivals, the player should select Cologne, and whatever two nations have rivaled Hesse.
One thing the player should consider is developing Cassel not just for the Renaissance boost but also because once the glass producing Cassel reaches 20 development it is eligible for the Diamond District event which can boost Hesse’s economy.
First war[edit]
After securing a royal marriage and an alliance with another nation or two set aside a diplomat to fabricate a claim on either Paderborn or Westfalen. In this time build to force limit. Cologne tends to have no allies or very weak ones such as Aachen. However, if Munster does not rival Cologne or worse allies them and the player has no stronger allies they should restart. When the claim is finished DOW Cologne calling in Munster with the promise of land. As soon as the war starts immediately send two stacks to Paderborn and Westfalen before Munster can take it. Colognes army starts in Köln and thus will be delayed before reaching the war goal. Once Paderborn and Westfalen are secured stack wipe any armies and siege down Köln and any allied nations. Once you have full sieged Cologne take Westfalen and Paderborn for yourself and vassalize Cologne. Vassalizing Cologne is useful as once the liberty desire goes down you have a pocket elector and sometimes nations like Gelre will declare on Cologne and after vassalizing you can use the defensive war to call your allies and take richer provinces like Upper Guelders for reduced AE (Note that if this happens it is important Hesse themselves takes any provinces and not Cologne as this will greatly increase their liberty desire.) Munster will now most likely break the alliance, this is okay as once truce runs out you can potentially invade them for their land. Improve relations with Cologne to bring their liberty desire down.
Post first war[edit]
With this completed Hesse now has a power base they can expand in a multitude of directions with. Recommended targets for expansion include Brunswick to get closer to forming Westphalia should they ever become elector or emperor (same is true with Magdeburg should the player reach it), Munster, Cleves to connect Köln to Hesse, and Frankfurt if it loses its free city status for its higher dev and center of trade. Should the player own Guelders or a Cleven province Dutch minors like Gelre or Utrecht are also prime targets for access to a coastline and these provinces higher base tax/manpower. Hesse should also capitalize on any breakaway Dutch minors like Brabant or Holland as these rich provinces can very much boost Hesse’s development should they ever become free or Burgundy becomes weak. The player can choose to make Cologne a march for reduced Liberty Desire and so that Cologne packs more of a punch but annexing is also a suitable option should the player wish it.
Reformation[edit]
The player is up to their own personal choice as to whether to stay Catholic or to convert to Protestant/Reformed but converting may be the better choice as its central location within the HRE a Center of Reformation can easily spread throughout and compliments Hesse’s historical status as a member of the Protestant League.
Ideas[edit]
For first idea group the player should either go with a military idea such as Quality or Quantity for stronger troops, Diplomatic to boost diplo rep and gain more diplomats, or Administrative/Economic to establish a strong economy (Administrative will help with Mercs and is a must if going for the unique Hesse achievement). While all of these are good choices, it is acceptable to choose any preferred idea for the remaining slots.
Achievements[edit]
Eastern technology group ![]() |
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East African technology group ![]() |
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Muslim technology group ![]() |
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West African technology group ![]() |
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Eastern technology group ![]() |
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Nomadic technology group ![]() |
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Western technology group ![]() |
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Mesoamerican technology group ![]() |
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North American technology group ![]() |
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