Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels

Prince Carl (Karl) of Solms-Braunfels (27 July 1812 – 13 November 1875) was a German prince and military officer in both the Austrian army and the cavalry of the Grand Duchy of Hesse. As commissioner general of the Adelsverein, he spearheaded the establishment of colonies of German immigrants in Texas. Prince Solms named New Braunfels, Texas, in honor of his homeland.

Early life Prince Friedrich Wilhelm Karl Ludwig Georg Alfred Alexander of Solms-Braunfels was born in Neustrelitz. His father was Prince Friedrick Wilhelm of Solms-Braunfels, second husband of Princess Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who bore 13 children during her three marriages.

Career Carl was well-educated, well-connected, and handsome. An adventure seeker, he became a captain in the cavalry in the Imperial Army of Austria in 1841.

During his service with the cavalry, Carl read books about Texas and became interested in joining the Adelsverein. Appointed its commissioner general in 1844, he was the motivating force for the first colony of German emigrants to Texas. He arrived on Texas soil in July 1844, making an exploratory tour as an advisor to the Adelsverein, which owned the rights to the Fisher–Miller Land Grant. Subsequently, Carl purchased an additional on the Guadalupe River on behalf of the Adelsverein, where he established the colony of New Braunfels, Texas. Sophie refused to leave Germany, and Carl never returned to Texas after his 3 December 1845 marriage to her.

Later life

After returning to Germany, he left the Austrian army and became a colonel in the cavalry of the Grand Duchy of Hesse He retired as a Feldmarschallleutnant (lieutenant general) in 1868 to his residence at the estate of Rheingrafenstein near Kreuznach on the Nahe River.

Personal life Although he was the landless, younger son of a younger son of a minor German prince, whose realm had been mediatized in 1806, Friedrich's 1834 marriage to Luise Auguste Stephanie Beyrich was considered below his princely station and had to be conducted morganatically. Together, they had three children:

Second marriage On 3 December 1845, Prince Carl married Princess Maria Josephine Sophie of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg, widow of Prince Franz of Salm-Salm. The union produced five children:

Prince Ludwig of Solms-Braunfels (1847–1900) Princess Eulalia of Solms-Braunfels (1851–1922), who married Prince Edouard of Ligne, a son of Eugène, 8th Prince of Ligne. Princess Marie of Solms-Braunfels (1852–1882) Princess Sophie of Solms-Braunfels (1853–1869) Prince Alexander of Solms-Braunfels (1855–1926)

Prince Solms died at Rheingrafenstein on 13 November 1875 and is interred in the city cemetery of Bad Kreuznach.

Timeline

1 July – Arrives in Galveston, purchases land on Matagorda Bay to be called Carlshafen, or Indianola1845 Secures title to of the Veramendi grant, including the Comal Springs and River, for the Adelsverein 21 March – Founds New Braunfels 15 May – Returns to Germany

Ancestry