Thuringia becomes a landgraviate in 1130.

After the extinction of the reigning Ludowingian line of counts and landgraves in 1247 and the War of the Thuringian Succession (1247–1264), the western half becomes independent under the name of "Hesse", never to become a part of Thuringia again.

Most of the remaining Thuringia comes under the rule of the Wettin dynasty of the nearby Margraviate of Meissen, the nucleus of the later Electorate and Kingdom of Saxony.