Hedwig of Gudensberg, also known asHedwig of Hesse (1098–1148) was German regent: she served as regent of Thuringia during the minority of her sonLouis II from 1140.

She was the daughter and heiress ofGiso IV, Count of Gudensberg (1070 – 12 March 1122), Count of Gudensberg andHesse andKunigunde of Bilstein (d. 1138/1140).

Hedwig married in 1110 toLouis, the son of CountLouis the Springer of Thuringia. Her husband was elevated to Landgrave of Thuringia in 1131. After her brotherGiso V, Count of Gudensberg, the County of Hesse and the other vast possessions of the Gisones dynasty fell to her and her husband and thus fell to the Thuringian branch of theLudowingians dynasty.

In 1122, Hedwig's mother, Kunigunde of Bilstein remarried toHenry Raspe I, who was Louis I's younger brother. Kunigunde thus became her daughter's sister-in-law. Via these two marriages, the Thuringian counts inherited an extensive triple heritage:

1. The possessions of the Gisones dynasty to the North of Marburg, including the bailiwick ofWetter
2. A large part of the Lordship ofBilstein south of Marburg, plus the bailiff ofHersfeld Abbey
3. The possessions of the Counts of Werner. This family had died out in 1121 and Hedwig's parents had inherited their possessions. These include theCounty of Maden-Gudensberg and the post of bailiff of theFritzlar Cathedral,Hasungen Abbey andBreitenau Abbey

In 1128 Hedwig gave birth to her sonLouis II. In 1140, Louis I died and KingConrad III enfeoffed twelve-year-old Louis II with Thuringia. While he was a minor, Hedwig acted asregent.

In 1148, Hedwig foundedAhnaberg Abbey, together with her second sonHenry Raspe II, who at the time administered the parts of Hesse held by the Ludowingians. A settlement grew between this abbey and the former Franconian royal courtChasalla (fromLatin:Castellum, "castle"), on the left bank of theFulda and this settlement developed into the city ofKassel, which became the capital ofHesse in the 13th century.

• Entry at Genealogie-Mittelalter

• Nobility of Hesse
• 12th-century German nobility
• 12th-century German women
• 12th-century women regents
• 1098 births
• 1148 deaths
• Countesses in Germany
• Regents in the Holy Roman Empire
• 12th-century regents
• Mothers of German monarchs
• Countesses in the Holy Roman Empire

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