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.
Photo of Eleonore Solms-Hohensolms-Lich and her husband Ernst Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse with brother-in-law Tsar Nicolas II and nieces Anastasia, Olga and Tatiana
Rulers of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich
Monument of Prince Ludwig zu Solms-Hohensolms-Lich outside Lich Castle
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][better source needed]
Friedrich Wilhelm, Count 1718–44 (1682-1744)
Charles Christian, Count 1744–92 (1725-1803), created Reichsfürst 1792
Princes of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich (1792–present)
Charles Christian, 1st Prince 1792–1803 (1725-1803) ∞ 1759 Sophie Charlotte, Countess of Dohna-Schlobitten
Charles Louis Augustus, 2nd Prince 1803–1807 (1762-1807) - Mediatized in 1806; ∞ 1802 Henrietta Sophie, Countess of Bentheim-Steinfurt
Charles, 3rd Prince 1807-1824 (1803-1824)
Ludwig, 4th Prince 1824-1880 (1805-1880); ∞ 1829 Marie, princess of Isenburg-Büdingen