Hermann Hesse is born in Calw upon Nagold, (Württemberg) on July 2nd.
His father Johannes Hesse (1847–1916) is a missionary from Estonia, his mother, Marie, widow Isenberg, née Gundert, is the daughter of the famous indologist and missionary Hermann Gundert. Thanks to his father's origins, Hesse has Russian citizenship from birth.

The Hesse family move to Basel, Switzerland, where the father teaches at the Evangelic Mission. Here Hermann Hesse attends the elementary school. In 1883, the whole family receive Swiss citizenship. Because of his rebellious attitude towards his parents's upbringing, Hermann is sent, at the age of six, to a male missionary boarding-school for six months, where he can see his family only on Sundays.

The Hesse family returns to Calw.

Hesse attends  elementary  and secondary school (Calw's grammar school).

The father acquires  the Württemberg citizenship only for his son Hermann, in order to  allow him to take the  local State Exam. Preparation for the exam at the Grammar School in Göppingen. Hermann no longer lives with his parents.

Hesse attends the Protestant Monastery Seminar in Maulbronn.

May 10 – June 22
Hesse is sent to a psychiatric clinic in Bad Boll.

June 20
He attempts suicide with a gun.
Tenta di suicidarsi con una pistola.

June – September
He is sent to a psychiatric clinic in Stetten.

October 5 – beginning November
Hesse attends the Missionary school in Basel again, and lives in the same boarding-school where he had already been in 1883.

Hesse attends the Grammar School of Cannstatt where he finishes his studies in one year and passes the one year-optional-exam (grammar school-leaving certificate).

In October Hesse begins  his book dealer apprenticeship in Esslingen, which, however, he interrups already after three days.

Hesse lives in Calw by his parents  for nine months without a regular job.