Solms-Hohensolms-Lich Explained

Native Name:Grafschaft (Fürstentum) Solms-Hohensolms-Lich
Conventional Long Name:County (Principality) of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich
Common Name:Solms-Hohensolms-Lich
Era:Middle Ages
Status:Vassal
Empire:Holy Roman Empire
Government Type:Principality
Year Start:1718
Year End:1806
Event Start:Union of S-Hohensolms
and Solms-Lich
Event1:Raised to principality
Date Event1:1792
Event End:Mediatised to Austria,
Hesse, Prussia and
Württemberg
P1:Solms-Hohensolms
P2:Solms-Lich
S1:Archduchy of Austria
Flag S1:Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg
S2:Grand Duchy of Hesse
Flag S2:Flagge Großherzogtum Hessen ohne Wappen.svg
S3:Kingdom of Prussia
Flag S3:Flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (1803-1892).svg
S4:Kingdom of Württemberg
Flag S4:Flagge Königreich Württemberg.svg
Capital:Lich

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,[1] originally from Solms.

Grafschaft

The county was originally created in 1718 as a union of the counties of Solms-Hohensolms and Solms-Lich for Count Friedrich Wilhelm zu Solms-Hohensolms-Lich (1682-1744). It existed from 1718 until 1792.

Hohensolms was an old territory of the lords and counts of Solms, with Alt-Hohensolms Castle built in 1321 and destroyed in 1349, and Neu-Hohensolms Castle built in 1350. The latter was owned by the princely family until 1969.

The county of Lich was inherited by the Counts of Solms-Braunfels after the Counts of Falkenstein-Münzenberg died out in 1418, resulting in strong territorial growth of the House of Solms in the Wetterau, including the lordships of Münzenberg Castle, Hungen Castle, Lich Castle and Laubach Castle. Shortly thereafter, the branch of Solms-Lich split off from Solms-Braunfels.

Principality

It was raised to a Principality of the Holy Roman Empire in 1792 for Prince Karl Christian zu Solms-Hohensolms-Lich (1725-1803). Solms-Hohensolms-Lich was mediatised to Austria, Hesse-Darmstadt, Prussia and Württemberg in 1806. The House of Solms had its origins at Solms, Hesse. The Prince of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich still resides at Castle Lich in Lich.

Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich, daughter of Hermann, 5th Prince, wed Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse, becoming a Grand Duchess.

Rulers of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich

The House of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich is a Hessian princely family, and a collateral line of the House of Solms-Braunfels. The House of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich originally were imperial counts, raised to the rank of Imperial Prince in 1792.

Counts of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich (1718–1792)[2]

Princes of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich (1792–present)

Notes and References

  1. See German article on the House of Solms or French article Maison de Solms.
  2. Web site: Marek . Miroslav . solms/solms5.html . genealogy.euweb.cz.
  3. Web site: Anzeige von Philipp Reinhard Fürst zu Solms-Hohensolms-Lich . mittelhessen-gedenkt.de . 2016-11-27.