Solms-Braunfels

Last updated

County (Principality) of Solms-Braunfels
Grafschaft (Fürstentum) Solms-Braunfels
1258–1806
Solms-Braunfels Fuersten Wappen.jpg
Coat of arms
Status State of the Holy Roman Empire
Capital Braunfels
Common languages West Central German
GovernmentPrincipality
Historical era Middle Ages
 Partitioned from Solms
1258
 Partitioned to create
     Ottenstein

1325
 Partitioned to create Lich
1409
 Partitioned to create
     Greifenstein and Hungen

1592
 Raised to principality
1742
  Mediatised to Austria,
     Hesse, Prussia and
     Württemberg
1806
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Solms-Braunfels Fuersten Wappen.jpg County of Solms
Archduchy of Austria Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg
Grand Duchy of Hesse Flagge Grossherzogtum Hessen ohne Wappen.svg
Kingdom of Prussia Flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (1803-1892).svg
Kingdom of Württemberg Flagge Konigreich Wurttemberg.svg
Coat of arms of Princes von Solms-Braunfels Wappen-Solms-Braunfels.jpg
Coat of arms of Princes von Solms-Braunfels
Carl of Solms-Braunfels (1812-1875), Founder of New Braunfels, Texas Carl zu solms.jpg
Carl of Solms-Braunfels (1812–1875), Founder of New Braunfels, Texas

Solms-Braunfels was a County and later Principality with Imperial immediacy in what is today the federal Land of Hesse in Germany.

Contents

History

Solms-Braunfels was a partition of Solms, ruled by the House of Solms, and was raised to a Principality of the Holy Roman Empire in 1742. The county of Solms-Braunfels was partitioned between: itself and Solms-Ottenstein in 1325; itself and Solms-Lich in 1409; and itself, Solms-Greifenstein and Solms-Hungen in 1592.

Frederick William (1696–1761) was created a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire in 1742, with his younger offspring also bearing the title prince and princess, styled Serene Highness . The Principality of Solms-Braunfels was mediatised to Austria, Hesse-Darmstadt, Prussia and Württemberg in 1806.

Rulers

Counts of Solms-Braunfels (1258–1742)

  • Henry III, Count 1258–1312 (died 1312), elder son of Henry II, Count of Solms
    • Bernhard I, Count 1312–49 (died 1349), second son of Henry III
      • Otto I, Count 1349–1410 (died 1410)

Princes of Solms-Braunfels (1742–1806)

Mediatized Princes of Solms-Braunfels

The main branch of the princely House of Solms-Braunfels became extinct with Georg Friedrich Victor in 1970. Braunfels and Hungen Castles including their agricultural and forest estates were inherited by the last Prince's daughter Maria Gabrielle Princess of Solms-Braunfels (1918−2003) and her husband Hans Georg Count von Oppersdorff (1920−2003). Since 1969, they and their offspring bear the name Count/Countess von Oppersdorff-Solms-Braunfels, with consent of the Hessian Ministry of the Interior.

An Austrian side branch (which had owned estates in Bohemia and Hungary until 1945) became extinct in 1989.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amalie of Solms-Braunfels</span> Princess consort of Orange (1602–1675)

Amalia of Solms-Braunfels was Princess of Orange by marriage to Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange. She acted as the political adviser of her spouse during his reign, and acted as his de facto deputy and regent during his infirmity from 1640 to 1647. She also served as chair of the regency council during the minority of her grandson William III, Prince of Orange from 1650 until 1672.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johann VI, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg</span> Count of Nassau-Dillenburg (1536–1606)

Count John VI of Nassau-Dillenburg was the second son of William the Rich and the younger brother of William the Silent. He has a special place in the history of the Netherlands because he is the male-line forefather of the House of Orange.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georg Ludwig Hartig</span>

Georg Ludwig Hartig was a German forester. Along with Heinrich Cotta he helped establish scientific forestry in Prussia, serving as the chief forester from 1811 and giving lectures on forestry at the University of Berlin from 1838 where he served as a professor. He established the goals of sustainable forestry and wrote several influential textbook for foresters.

Solms-Laubach was a County of southern Hesse and eastern Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The House of Solms had its origins in Solms, Hesse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solms-Hohensolms-Lich</span> Principality in the Land of Hessen, Germany

Solms-Hohensolms-Lich was at first a County and later Principality with Imperial immediacy in what is today the federal Land of Hessen, Germany. It was ruled by a branch of the House of Solms, originally from Solms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hohenzollern-Hechingen</span> Former principality in Southwestern Germany

Hohenzollern-Hechingen was a small principality in southwestern Germany. Its rulers belonged to the Swabian branch of the Hohenzollern dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solms-Baruth</span> Former monarchy in Europe

Solms-Baruth was a Lower Lusatian state country, from 16th century until 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess Ulrike Louise of Solms-Braunfels</span> Landgravine consort of Hesse-Homburg

Princess Ulrike Louise of Solms-Braunfels was a German regent, Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg by marriage to Frederick IV of Hesse-Homburg, and regent of Hesse-Homburg, on behalf of her minor son Frederick V Louis William Christian from 1751 to 1766.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederick William, Prince of Solms-Braunfels</span>

Prince Frederick William of Solms-Braunfels was the first Prince of Solms-Braunfels. He was the son of Count Wilhelm Moritz of Solms-Braunfels (1651–1724) and his wife Princess Magdalene Sophie of Hesse-Homburg (1660–1720), a daughter of William Christoph, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg, and his first wife Princess Sophia Eleonore of Hesse-Darmstadt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christine Charlotte of Solms-Braunfels</span> Princess of Hesse-Homburg (1690–1771)

Christine Charlotte of Solms-Braunfels was a Countess of Solms-Braunfels by birth and by marriage a princess of Hesse-Homburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis I, Count of Sayn-Wittgenstein</span>

Louis I, Count of Sayn-Wittgenstein, nicknamed "the Elder", formally "Louis I of Sayn, Count at Wittgenstein" ruled the County of Wittgenstein, on the upper reaches of the rivers Lahn and Eder, from 1558 until his death. He converted his county to Calvinism and was an influential politician in the service to the Electoral Palatinate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria Amalia of Nassau-Dillenburg</span>

Maria Amalia, born countess of Nassau-Dillenburg was countess of Solms-Greifenstein. In 1600 she married William I, Count of Solms-Braunfels (1570-1635), and their descendants ruled the region for many generations to come.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferdinand, Prince of Solms-Braunfels</span>

Ferdinand Wilhelm Ernst, 2nd Prince of Solms-Braunfels was the second Prince of Solms-Braunfels. He was the son of Frederick William, Prince of Solms-Braunfels (1696–1761) by his first wife Princess Magdalena Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg (1691–1725).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilhelm, Prince of Solms-Braunfels</span> Prince of Solms-Braunfels

Wilhelm Christian Karl, 3rd Prince of Solms Braunfels was by succession an immediate Prince, then a nobleman and head of the Princely House of Solms-Braunfels, a Prussian major general and Hessian deputy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Braunfels Castle</span> Princely castle in Braunfels, Hessen, Germany

Situated atop a basalt hill, Braunfels Castle overlooks the spa town of Braunfels in the Lahn-Dill-Kreis, Hesse, Germany. Since the 13th century, it has served as the residence and seat of government for the Counts, and later Princes, of Solms-Braunfels. Remarkably, the castle remains in the possession of the family to this day, now under the stewardship of the Counts of Oppersdorff-Solms-Braunfels.

References