| 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 | Neues Mausoleum, Park Rosenhöhe in Darmstadt | ||||
| Spouse |
Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine
(m. 1905; died 1937) | ||||
| Issue | |||||
| |||||
| House | Solms-Hohensolms-Lich | ||||
| Father | Hermann, Prince of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich | ||||
| Mother | Countess Agnes of Stolberg-Wernigerode | ||||
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.
Biography
Family
She was the fourth child and second daughter of Prince Hermann of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich and Countess Agnes of Stolberg-Wernigerode.
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. The remains of their stillborn son was also found in the wreckage.
Orders and decorations
Kingdom of Prussia: Lifesaving Medal on Band, 20 April 1898
Grand Duchy of Hesse:
- 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
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Notes
- Manfred Knodt: Die Regenten von Hessen-Darmstadt. 1. Auflage. Schlapp, Darmstadt 1976, ISBN 3-87704-004-7
- "Rettungsmedaille am Bande", Königlich Preussische Ordensliste (supp.) (in German), vol. 1, Berlin, 1886, p. 263 – via hathitrust.org
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Großherzoglich Hessische Ordensliste (in German), Darmstadt: Staatsverlag, 1914, pp. 2, 4
| Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich House of Solms-Hohensolms-LichCadet branch of the House of SolmsBorn: 17 September 1871 Died: 16 November 1937 | ||
| German royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| VacantTitle last held byVictoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha | Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine 2 February 1905 – 9 November 1918 |
None Grand Duchy abolished in 1918 |
| Titles in pretence | ||
| None | — TITULAR — Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine 9 November 1918 – 9 October 1937 Reason for succession failure: Grand Duchy abolished in 1918 |
Succeeded byCecilie of Greece and Denmark |
- 1871 births
- 1937 deaths
- Grand duchesses of Hesse
- Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Belgium
- Burials at the Mausoleum for the Grand Ducal House of Hesse, Rosenhöhe (Darmstadt)
- House of Hesse-Darmstadt
- House of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich
- Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1937
- 20th-century women regents
- 20th-century regents