Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich

Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich (Eleonore Ernestine Marie; 17 September 1871 – 16 November 1937) was Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine as the second wife of Grand Duke Ernest Louis. She was nicknamed "Onor" by her family. She was regent of Hesse in the absence of her spouse during World War I.^[1]

Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich
Grand Duchess Eleonore in 1905
Grand Duchess consort of Hesse and by Rhine
Tenure	2 February 1905 – 9 November 1918
Born	(1871-09-17)17 September 1871 Lich, Grand Duchy of Hesse, German Empire
Died	16 November 1937(1937-11-16) (aged 66) Steene near Ostend, Belgium
Burial	New Mausoleum, Rosenhöhe Park in Darmstadt
Spouse	Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine ​ ​ (m. 1905; died 1937)​
Issue	Georg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine Louis, Prince of Hesse and by Rhine
Names Eleonore Ernestine Marie
House	Solms-Hohensolms-Lich
Father	Hermann, Prince of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich
Mother	Countess Agnes of Stolberg-Wernigerode

Biography

Family

Royal Monogram of Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich

She was the fourth child and second daughter of Prince Hermann of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich and his wife, Countess Agnes of Stolberg-Wernigerode (1842-1904).^[2]

Grand Duchess of Hesse

Eleonore married Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse in Darmstadt on 2 February 1905. By marriage, she became Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine. As Grand Duchess, she took over the sponsor- and leadership of a number of charity organizations previously managed by her mother-in-law.

When her spouse left to join the First world war in 1914, she was appointed to serve the affairs of state as regent in his absence. She was regarded as a competent regent. She equipped a hospital train to the front.

The Hesse monarchy was abolished in 1918. Eleonore continued to manage her charitable programs after the introduction of democracy.

Death

Eleonore died in an airplane crash on her way to her son Louis' wedding in London. Also killed in the crash was her elder son Georg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse, his wife Princess Cecilie of Greece and Denmark, and their two sons, Ludwig and Alexander.^[3] The remains of their stillborn son was also found in the wreckage. She is buried alongside members of her family in the New Mausoleum Rosenhöhe, Darmstadt.^[4]

Orders and decorations

• Kingdom of Prussia: Lifesaving Medal on Band, 20 April 1898^[5]
• Grand Duchy of Hesse:^[6]
  • Dame of the Order of the Golden Lion, in Diamonds, 2 February 1905
  • Grand Cross of the Ludwig Order, in Diamonds, 2 February 1905

Issue

Eleonore and Ernest Louis had two sons:

• Georg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine (1906–1937), who married Princess Cecilie of Greece and Denmark (sister of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh), and had issue.
• Louis, Prince of Hesse and by Rhine (1908–1968). Married Hon. Margaret Campbell Geddes, daughter of Lord Geddes, no issue. He adopted Moritz, Landgrave of Hesse as heir.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich

8. Karl Ludwig, Prince of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich 4. Ferdinand, Prince of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich 9. Princess Henriette of Bentheim and Steinfurt 2. Prince Hermann of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich 10. Anton Octavian, Prince of Collalto and San Salvatore 5. Countess Caroline of Collalto and San Salvatore 11. Countess Karolina Apponyi de Nagyappony 1. Eleonore, Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine 12. Konstantin, Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode 6. William, Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode 13. Baroness Ernestine von der Recke 3. Countess Agnes of Stolberg-Wernigerode 14. August, Count of Stolberg-Roßla 7. Countess Elisabeth of Stolberg-Roßla 15. Countess Caroline of Erbach-Schönberg