Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich

{{Infobox royalty

| name = Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich

| image = EleonoreofHesse2.jpg

| caption = Grand Duchess Eleonore in 1905

| succession = Grand Duchess consort of Hesse and by Rhine

| reign = 2 February 1905 – 9 November 1918

| reign-type = Tenure

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1871|9|17|df=y}}

| birth_place = Lich, Grand Duchy of Hesse, German Empire

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1937|11|16|1871|9|17|df=y}}

| death_place = Steene near Ostend, Belgium

| burial_place = New Mausoleum, Rosenhöhe Park in Darmstadt

| full name = Eleonore Ernestine Marie

| spouse = {{marriage|Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine|1905|1937|reason=died}}

| father = Hermann, Prince of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich

| mother = Countess Agnes of Stolberg-Wernigerode

| issue = {{plainlist|

}}

| house = 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.Manfred Knodt: Die Regenten von Hessen-Darmstadt. 1. Auflage. Schlapp, Darmstadt 1976, ISBN 3-87704-004-7

Biography

=Family=

File:Royal Monogram of Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich.svg

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).https://www.genealogics.org/getperson.php?personID=I00007515&tree=LEO

=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.https://time.com/archive/6757726/germany-curse-of-hesse/ 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.http://www.royaltyguide.nl/families/fam-H/hessen/hessendarmstadt2.htm

Orders and decorations

{{flag|Kingdom of Prussia}}: Lifesaving Medal on Band, 20 April 1898{{citation|title=Königlich Preussische Ordensliste (supp.)|volume=1|chapter-url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049878831&view=1up&seq=5&skin=2021|page=[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015025921423&view=1up&seq=513&skin=2021 263]|chapter=Rettungsmedaille am Bande|lang=German|location=Berlin|year=1886|via=hathitrust.org}}
{{flag|Grand Duchy of Hesse}}:{{citation|title=Großherzoglich Hessische Ordensliste|pages=2, 4|lang=German|location=Darmstadt|year=1914|publisher=Staatsverlag}}
Dame of the Order of the Golden Lion, in Diamonds, 2 February 1905
Grand Cross of the Ludwig Order, in Diamonds, 2 February 1905