Solms-Braunfels

County (Principality) of Solms-Braunfels
Grafschaft (Fürstentum) Solms-Braunfels
State of the Holy Roman Empire
1258–1806
Coat of arms
Capital		Braunfels
Government		Principality
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 County of Solms Archduchy of Austria Grand Duchy of Hesse Kingdom of Prussia Kingdom of Württemberg

Amalia of Solms-Braunfels (1602–75), wife of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange (portrait by Rembrandt van Rijn, 1632)

Carl of Solms-Braunfels (1812–1875), Founder of New Braunfels, Texas

Solms-Braunfels was a County in what is today the federal Land of Hesse in Germany.

Solms-Braunfels was a partition of Solms, ruled by the House of Solms, and was raised to a Principality in 1742. 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. Solms-Braunfels was mediatised to Austria, Hesse-Darmstadt, Prussia and Württemberg in 1806.

Rulers of Solms-Braunfels

Counts of Solms-Braunfels (1258–1742)

• Henry III, Count 1258–1312 (died 1312), elder son of Henry II, Count of Solms
  • Bernhard I, Count 1312–1349 (died 1349), second son of Henry III
    • Otto I, Count 1349–1410 (died 1410)
      • Bernhard II, Count 1409–1459 (died 1459)
        • Otto II, Count 1459–1504 (1426-1504)
          • Bernhard III, Count 1504–1547 (1468-1547)
            • Philipp, Count 1547–1581 (1494-1581)
              • Konrad, Count 1581–1592 (1540-1592)
                • Johann Albrecht I, Count 1592–1623 (1563-1623); his third daughter was Amalia, wife of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange
                  • Konrad Ludwig, Count 1623–1635 (1595-1635)
                  • Johann Albrecht II, Count 1635–1648 (1599-1647)
                    • Heinrich Trajectinus, Count 1648–1693 (1639-1693)
                • Wilhelm I, Count of Solms-Greifenstein (1570-1635)
                  • Wilhelm II, Count of Solms-Greifenstein (1609-1676)
                    • Wilhelm Moritz, Count of Solms-Greifenstein 1676-1720, and of Solms-Braunfels 1693-1720 (1651-1720)
                      • Friedrich Wilhelm, Count 1720-1742 (1696-1761), created Reichsfürst 1742

Princes of Solms-Braunfels (1742–1806)

• Friedrich Wilhelm, 1st Prince 1742-1761 (1696 - 1761)
  • Ferdinand Wilhelm Ernst, 2nd Prince 1761-1783 (1721 - 1783)
    • Wilhelm Christian Karl, 3rd Prince 1783-1837, mediatized 1806 (1759 - 1837)

Mediatized Princes of Solms-Braunfels

• Ferdinand Wilhelm Ernst, 2nd Prince of Solms-Braunfels 1761-1783 (1721 - 1783)
  • Wilhelm Christian Karl, 3rd Prince 1783-1837, mediatized 1806 (1759 - 1837)
    • Friedrich Wilhelm Ferdinand, 4th Prince 1837-1873 (1797-1873)
  • Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Solms-Braunfels (1770-1814)
    • Prince Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich of Solms-Braunfels (1801-1868)
      • Ernst Friedrich Wilhelm, 5th Prince 1873-1880 (1835-1880)
      • Georg Friedrich Bernhard, 6th Prince 1880-1891 (1836-1891)
        • Georg Friedrich Victor, 7th Prince 1891-1970 (1890-1970)

The princely House of Solms-Braunfels became extinct with Georg Friedrich Victor in 1970. Braunfels Castle was inherited by the last Prince's son-in-law, the Count of Oppersdorff who changed the family name in 1969 to Oppersdorff-Solms-Braunfels.

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  Braunfels Castle

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  Greifenstein Castle

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  Solms-Braunfels coat of arms

References