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Last updated: Jan 12, 2015
Solms
By the 13th century, the Imperial immediate
Counts of Solms had possessed Solms, Braunfels, etc. [4: tome III;
p.386-387] [10: Neue Folge; Band XVII (1998); t.32-58] [9: 1944; p.309-320] [1:
Theil III; p.1340-1349] [3: Abtheilung I; Band I; p.336-338].
In 1326, Count Bernhard I (+1349) acquired
Greifenstein [4: tome III; chapitre VIII; t.155].
Otto I (+ca.1410), Count of Solms, married Agnes
of Falkenstein (+1409), heiress of Lich, Laubach, Hungen, and a portion of
Münzenberg [10: Neue Folge; Band XVII (1998); t.33]. Their sons, Bernhard
II (+1459), and Johann (+1457), inherited some possessions of the House of
Falkenstein (Lich, Laubach, Hungen, and a portion of Münzenberg) [10: Neue
Folge; Band XVII (1998); t.33].
Bernhard II and Johann, sons of Count Otto I
(+ca.1410), divided the family's possessions and founded, respectively, two
major branches of the House of Solms, Braunfels and Lich.
In July 1806, by the Confederation of the Rhine
Act, the Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt and the Princes of Nassau mediatized,
i.e. put under their sovereignty, all Imperial immediate territories of the
House of Solms [3: Abtheilung II; Band II; p.194-196] [2:
p.158-159].
1. Braunfels (of
Bernhard)
Bernhard II (+1459), son of Count Otto I of Solms
(+ca.1410), founded the Braunfels branch of the House of Solms. Bernhard II's
possessions included Braunfels, Hungen, Greifenstein, % Münzenberg,
etc.
In 1478, the Counts of Solms bought 1/4 Butzbach,
1/2 Gruningen and Gambach from the Lords of Eppstein [10: Neue Folge; Band XVII
(1998); t.34]
Philipp (+1581), Count of Solms-Braunfels,
married Anna of Tecklenburg (+1554). Their grandsons founded three sub-branches,
Braunfels, Greifenstein and Hungen. The sub-branches of Braunfels and Hungen
became extinct in the male line, and their possessions passed to Wilhelm-Moritz
(+1724), from the Greifenstein sub-branch [10: Neue Folge; Band XVII (1998);
t.34-36].
In 1699, Count Wilhelm-Moritz (+1724) acquired
the County of Tecklenburg. However, in 1707, Wilhelm-Moritz sold the County to
the King of Prussia [4: tome III; p.387].
In May 1742, the Roman Emperor granted to
Count Friedrich-Wilhelm of Solms-Braunfels (+1761) the title of Prince
[8: Band 5; p.19] [9: 1944; p.309] [10: Neue Folge; Band XVII (1998);
t.36].
In 1803, by the Final Recess of the
Imperial Deputation, the Prince of Solms-Braunfels received an individual
voice in the Council of Princes of the Imperial Diet [5: tome I;
p.323-324] [3: Abtheilung II; Band I; p.358-360] [9: 1944; p.309].
In July 1806, the Prince of
Solms-Braunfels lost his status of Imperial immediate ruler when all of
his Imperial immediate possessions were mediatized by the Confederation of the
Rhine Act.
List of the Rulers
Wilhelm-Christian-Karl (1759-1837) [1783-1806]
~ 1792 Francisca-Augusta of Salm-Grumbach
(1771-1810) in Limpurg-Gaildorf [1803-1806] [2: p.158].
// In 1783, the younger brothers of Prince
Ferdinand-Wilhelm-Ernst of Solms-Braunfels received Greifenstein and Hungen [10:
Neue Folge; Band XVII (1998); t.36] [20: p.100-101]:
Karl-Ludwig-Wilhelm (1727-1812),
Wihelm-Christoph (1732-1811),
Ludwig-Rudolf-Wilhelm (1733-1809),
Anton-Wilhelm-Friedrich (1739-1812).
Titles
>-1803
HRE Prince of Solms;
Count of Braunfels, Greifenstein, Hungen,
Tecklenburg, Krichingen (Créange), Lingen;
Lord of Münzenberg, Rheda, Wildenfels,
Sonnenwalde, Püttlingen, Dorstweiler, Beaucourt;
Voices in the Imperial Circle assemblies in
1789 [15: p.588] [2: p.13]
The Upper Rhine:
= The Bench of the Secular
Princes:
- Solms-Braunfels;
Voices in the Imperial Assembly in 1789
[2: p.7] [15: p.580]
Curial voices in the Council of Princes:
the Counts of Wetterau
- Solms-Braunfels;
Territorial Possessions in 1789 [11: Heft
II; p.138] [3: Abtheilung I; Band I; p.336]
The Imperial Circle of the Upper
Rhine:
- Braunfels, Hungen, Greifenstein,
Wölfersheim, Gambach;
- % Münzenberg;
Voices in the Imperial Assembly in 1803
[5: tome I; p.323-324]
(Changes by the Final Recess of the Imperial
Deputation)
Individual voices in the Council of
Princes:
- Solms-Braunfels;
Territorial Acquisitions and Losses since
1789
- In 1803, by the Final Recess of the Imperial
Deputation, the Prince of Solms-Braunfels acquired the monasteries of Altenberg
and Arnsburg as compensation for Rohrbach, Kratz-Scharfenstein and Hirschfeld
[20: p.102-103] [10: Neue Folge; Band XVII (1998); t.37] [3: Abtheilung II; Band
I; p.332].
2. Lich ( of Johann )
Johann (+1457), son of Count Otto I of Solms
(+ca.1410), founded the Lich branch of the House of Solms. Johann's possessions
included the Imperial immediate territories of Lich, Hohensolms, Laubach, %
Münzenberg, etc. [9: 1944; p.311] [10: Neue Folge; Band XVII (1998);
t.39].
Johann (+1457) married Elisabeth (Else) of
Kronberg (+1438), heiress of Rödelheim [4: tome III; chapitre VIII;
t.155].
In 1537, Count Philipp (+1544), bought the
non-immediate territory of Sonnenwalde (in Lower Lusatia / Niederlausitz) [10:
Neue Folge; Band XVII (1998); t.39] [4: tome III; chapitre VIII;
t.155].
Reinhard I (+1562) and Otto (+1522), sons of
Count Philipp (+1544), founded, respectively, the sub-branches of Lich and
Laubach.
2.1. Lich (Hohensolms)
Reinhard I (+1562), son of Count Philipp (+1544),
continued the branch of Lich [10: Neue Folge; Band XVII (1998); t.39].
His sons, Ernst I (+1590), and Hermann-Adolf
(+1613), founded, respectively, the sub-branches of Lich and
Hohensolms.
In 1718, the direct sub-branch of Lich became
extinct in the male line, and its possessions passed to the sub-branch of
Hohensolms.
In May 1792, the Roman Emperor granted to
the Count of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich the title of Prince [8: Band 5; p.19]
[9: 1944; p.311] [10: Neue Folge; Band XVII (1998); t.41].
In July 1806, the Prince of
Solms-Hohensolms-Lich lost his status of Imperial immediate ruler when
all of their Imperial immediate possessions were mediatized by the Confederation
of the Rhine Act.
List of the Rulers
Karl-Christian (1725-Mar 1803) [1741-1803]
Karl-Ludwig-August (1762-1807) [1803-1806]
Titles
>-1792
Count of Solms, Hohensolms, Lich,
Tecklenburg;
Lord of Münzenberg, Wildenfels, Sonnenwalde;
Voices in the Imperial Circle assemblies in
1789 [15: p.588] [2: p.13]
The Upper Rhine:
= The Bench of the Counts and
Lords:
- Solms-Hohensolms;
Voices in the Imperial Assembly in 1789
[2: p.7] [15: p.580]
Curial voices in the Council of Princes:
= the Counts of Wetterau
=
- Solms-Lich and Hohensolms;
Territorial Possessions in 1789 [11: Heft
II; p.138] [3: Abtheilung I; Band I; p.336-337]
The Imperial Circle of the Upper
Rhine:
- Solms;
- Lich;
- % Münzenberg;
- Nieder-Weisel;
2.2. Laubach
Otto I (+1522), son of Count Philipp of
Solms-Lich (+1544), founded the sub-branch of Laubach [10: Neue Folge; Band XVII
(1998); t.43].
In 1596, Otto II (+1612), grandson of Count Otto
I (+1522), bought Baruth (under the Territorial Supremacy of the Dukes of
Saxony) [10: Neue Folge; Band XVII (1998); t.43] [4: tome III; chapitre VIII;
t.155].
In 1602, the Elector-Duke of Saxony gave
Wildenfels as fief to the Counts of Solms [10: Neue Folge; Band XVII (1998);
t.43].
Heinrich-Wilhelm (+1632) and Johann-Georg II
(+1632), sons of Count Johann-Georg I of Solms-Laubach (+1600), founded,
respectively, the sub-branches of Sonnenwalde and Baruth.
2.2.1. Sonnenwalde
Heinrich-Wilhelm I (+1632), son of Count
Johann-Georg I of Solms-Laubach (+1600), founded the sub-branch of Sonnenwalde
[10: Neue Folge; Band XVII (1998); t.45].
Count Otto-Heinrich of Solms-Sonnenwalde (+1711)
left several sons. They divided the family's possessions, and founded several
sub-branches, including among others, the ones of Sonnenwalde and Rösa. The
Counts of Solms of the sub-branch of Sonnenwalde possessed no Imperial immediate
territories and participated in no Imperial institutions.
2.2.2. Baruth
Johann-Georg II (+1632), son of Count
Johann-Georg I of Solms-Laubach (+1600), founded the sub-branch of Baruth. His
possessions included Baruth and Wildenfels.
Johann-August (+1680), Johann-Friedrich (+1696),
and Friedrich-Sigmund I (+1697), sons of Count Johann-Georg II of Solms-Baruth
(+1632), founded, respectively, the sub-branches of
Rödelheim-and-Assenheim, Laubach, and Baruth. The descendants of Count
Friedrich-Sigmund I of Solms-Baruth (+1697) possessed no Imperial immediate
territories and participated in no Imperial institutions. In 1888, the King of
Prussia granted the Count of Solms-Baruth the title of Prince (primogeniture)
[10: Neue Folge; Band XVII (1998); t.56] [9: 1944; p.320].
2.2.2.1.
Rödelheim-and-Assenheim
Johann-August (+1680), son of Count Johann-Georg
II of Solms-Baruth (+1632), founded the sub-branch of
Rödelheim-and-Assenheim.
His possessions included the Imperial immediate
territories of Rödelheim and Assenheim [9: 1944; p.315] [10: Neue Folge;
Band XVII (1998); t.49].
Ludwig-Heinrich (+1728), Count of
Solms-Rödelheim-and-Assenheim, married Wilhelmine-Christiane of Limpurg
(+1757), who possessed a portion of Limpurg-Gaildorf.
In July 1806, the Count of
Solms-Rödelheim-and-Assenheim lost his status of Imperial immediate
ruler when all of their Imperial immediate possessions were mediatized by
the Confederation of the Rhine Act.
Notes.
1. Wilhelm-Karl-Ludwig (+1778), Count of
Solms-Rödelheim-and-Assenheim, married Maria-Anna-Magdalena of
Wurmbrand-Stuppach (+1756), who possessed a portion of Limpurg-Gaildorf. Their
daughter, Christiane-Wilhelmine-Louise (1736-Jan 1803), wife of Prince
Karl-Wilhelm-Friedrich of Leiningen (+1807), ruled in this portion of
Limpurg-Gaildorf in 1756-1803 [4: tome III; chapitre VIII; t.94] [2: p.54].
Christiane-Wilhelmine-Louise of Solms-Rödelheim-and-Assenheim owned the
corresponding portion of the curial voice of the Counts of Franconia.
List of the Rulers
Johann-Ernst-Karl (1714-1790) [1778-1790]
Volrat / Vollrath-Franz-Karl-Ludwig (1762-1818)
[1790-1806]
// 1790-1806 in Rödelheim and Assenheim;
1790-1802 in Limpurg-Gaildorf
Voices in the Imperial Circle assemblies in
1789 [15: p.588] [2: p.13]
The Upper Rhine:
= The Bench of the Counts and
Lords:
- Solms-Rödelheim;
Voices in the Imperial Assembly in 1789
[2: p.7] [15: p.580]
Curial voices in the Council of Princes:
the Counts of Wetterau
- Solms-Rödelheim;
= the Counts of Franconia
=
- % Limpurg-Gaildorf;
Territorial Possessions in 1789 [11: Heft
II; p.155] [3: Abtheilung I; Band I; p.337]
The Imperial Circle of the Upper
Rhine:
- Assenheim;
- Rödelheim;
Territorial Acquisitions and Losses since
1789
- In 1802, the Count of
Solms-Rödelheim-and-Assenheim sold his portion of Limpurg-Gaildorf to the
Lynar-Drehna family [20: p.335].
2.2.2.2. Laubach
Johann-Friedrich (+1696), son of Count
Johann-Georg II of Solms-Baruth (+1632), founded the sub-branch of Laubach. His
Imperial immediate territories included Laubach, % Münzenberg, Utphe, etc.
[10: Neue Folge; Band XVII (1998); t.51]. He also possessed the Lordship of
Wildenfels under the Territorial Supremacy of Electoral Saxony.
Friedrich-Ernst (+1723), Karl-Otto (+), and
Heinrich-Wilhelm (+1741), sons of Count Johann-Friedrich (+1696), divided the
family's possessions and founded, respectively, the sub-branches of Laubach,
Wildenfels and Utphe.
The branch of Utphe became extinct in the male
line in 1762, and its possessions passed to the sub-branch of
Laubach.
2.2.2.2.1. Laubach
Friedrich-Ernst (+1723) continued the direct
sub-branch of Laubach.
In July 1806, the Count of Solms-Laubach
lost his status of Imperial immediate ruler when all of their Imperial
immediate possessions were mediatized by the Confederation of the Rhine Act.
List of the Rulers
Friedrich-Ludwig-Christian (1769-1822) [1784-1806]
Voices in the Imperial Circle assemblies in
1789 [15: p.588] [2: p.13]
The Upper Rhine:
= The Bench of the Counts and
Lords:
- Solms-Laubach;
Voices in the Imperial Assembly in 1789
[2: p.7] [15: p.580]
Curial voices in the Council of Princes:
the Counts of Wetterau
- Solms-Laubach;
Territorial Possessions in 1789 [2:
p.21-22] [11: Heft II; p.155] [3: Abtheilung I; Band I; p.337]
The Imperial Circle of the Upper
Rhine:
- Laubach;
- Utphe;
- % Münzenberg;
2.2.2.2.2 Wildenfels
Karl-Otto (+), son of Count Johann-Friedrich
(+1696), founded the sub-branch of Wildenfels.
The Counts of Solms of the sub-branch of
Wildenfels possessed no Imperial immediate territories and participated in no
Imperial institutions.
In 1803, Caroline-Sophie (+1832), daughter of
Christiane-Wilhelmine-Louise of Solms-Rödelheim-and-Assenheim (+1803) and
Prince Karl-Wilhelm-Friedrich of Leiningen (+1807), inherited a portion of
Limpurg-Gaildorf [4: tome III; chapitre VIII; t.94], with the corresponding
portion of the curial voice of the Counts of Franconia. Caroline-Sophie was wife
of Count Friedrich-Magnus I of Solms-Wildenfels (+1801) since 1773.
In 1805, Count Friedrich-Magnus II of
Solms-Wildenfels (+1837) became an Imperial immediate ruler when he
bought the Imperial immediate territory of Engeltal / Engelthal [20: p.421].
In July 1806, the Count of
Solms-Wildenfels lost his status of Imperial immediate ruler when all of
their Imperial immediate possessions were mediatized by the Confederation of the
Rhine Act.
List of the Rulers
Friedrich-Magnus II (1777-1837) [1805-1806]
Territorial Possessions in 1789 [11: Heft
II; p.155] [3: Abtheilung I; Band I; p.196-197]
Non-immediate:
The Imperial Circle of the Upper
Saxony:
= under the Territorial Supremacy of Electoral
Saxony =
Wildenfels
Territorial Acquisitions and Losses since
1789
In 1805, the Count of Solms-Wildenfels bought the
Imperial immediate territory of Engeltal / Engelthal (in Wetterau) from the
Count of Leiningen-Westerburg-Neuleiningen [20: p.421] [2: p.91].
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