Henry I, Landgrave of Hesse

Henry I, called the Child (1244–1308), was the first landgrave of Hesse and founder of the ruling dynasty, son of Henry II of Brabant and Sophie of Thuringia. When the Ludowingian line died out in 1247, his mother fought the Thuringian succession war and secured Hesse for him; the 1265 Treaty of Langsdorf confirmed him as landgrave under Mainz.

Outlawed in 1274, he regained King Rudolf I's favour against Ottokar II of Bohemia, defeated Mainz at Fritzlar in 1290, and in 1292 became a prince of the realm. He died at Marburg amid a succession war among his sons.