Carl Heinrich GRAICHEN

-------------------------- Message from Ernst Hoffmann, 15 Aug 1996--------------------------- The castle Wildenfels, after which a branch of the now Princes ofSolms carries the name, is situated South East of Zwickau. FromGeithain go south to Chemnitz, take the Autobahn from there directionSouth-west. Take the exit south-east of Zwickau: Go south-east on thesecondary road, which in the opposite direction leads into Zwickau. In3 km distance the road-sign reads: Wildenfels. The Seigneurie(Herrschaft) Wildenfels was created around 1200 and belonged to theHerren v. Wildenfels. After extinction the counts of Solms inheritedthe vast area of two hamlets and kept them as sovereign property till1706, when the sovereignty passed on to Saxony (but the right fortax-collection was maintained till about 1840) . In 1871 the reigningcount was Count Friedrich Magnus III v. Solms-Wildenfels born 26. Jul1847 hereditary member of the Saxonian house of Lords. Having alsopossessions in the vicinity of Weimar and in Hessen. -------------------------- Message from Ernst Hoffmann, 18 Aug 1996--------------------------- Quoting from Georg Dehio: Handbuch der Deutschen Kunstdenkm~ler: The settlement was first mentioned 1427 (near to the older castle).You will find a market-place as the center of the irregular grid ofstreets, which follow the terrain-situation. The former city-wallshave been demolished. To the west of the town on a mountain-ridge the castle is situated.Dating back to the 12th century, it was changed dramatically duringthe 16th to 18th century. The layout developed around two courtyards(the former main-castle and the front-castle). The buildings were tothe most reconstructed <during the time in question>. At the SE-Edge asquare tower with a braroquesk helmet. Especially the hall containssome very nice rooms with stucco and paintings done by Theodor Grosse(s-Umlaut) during 1856-1858. Back to history: Wildenfels was a small territory on the border linebetween the so called Vogtland (under imperial jurisdiction) and theMarkgrafschaft Meissen (Marchionat) which developed into the Kingdomof Saxonia. It was situated on the main access road to Bohemia. Thenoble (edelfreien) Herren (Seigneurs) thus managed to maintain thereindependence till the became extinct in 1602. When the territorybecame property of the counts of Solms. Those counts were feudalbarons of the empire from 16th century onward and had a seat on thecounts-bench in the imperial-parliament (Reichstag). From the 2nd halfof the 16th century onward (in spite of lengthy legal proceedings atthe high court (Reichskammergericht) the territory was annexed bySaxonia. The total territory Wildenfels covered 150 Hufen (oh boy: aHufe is a measurement between 30 to 50 ha depending on local usage: 1ha (Hectare) is 10000 square meters or 2.471 acres) so make that toread 15000 acres, if you quote me, I will force you to plough themyourself! Not good at math). This area comprised two adjacent villages(with parts of six hamlets). In the 18th century the area started toboom (due to "good" taxes by the counts, who paid a Lump-sum toSaxonia) . Linnen-production and stocking-weaving were the primesources of income. The main church of the territory was the church ofHaertensdorf (to the north of Wildenfels, directly south of theAutobahn).The preacher carried the title Court-Preacher. In 1846 thetax-exemption came to an end the territory became an integral part ofthe Kingdom of Sachsen. Family of Solms: An old noble family of Hessia (north ofFrankfurt/Main) with a first well documented ancestor in 1129. (Thereis a suspected tie to a certain ADAM who married (no proof!) an EVE.That Eve became involved in a major criminal investigation forstealing an apple <probably the FIRST computer>) Solms is a town west of Wetzlar (north of Frankfurt/Main). Already in 1409 the family divided into two major branchesSolms-Braunfels and Solms-Lich. From there on the out branching becamea hobby and the named branches are legion: Solms-Braunfels Solms-Greiffenstein Solms-Hungen Solms-Lich Solms-Hohensolms Solms-Hohensolms-Lich Solms-Laubach Solms-Roedelheim Solms-Sonnenwalde Solms-Baruth Solms-Baruth-Roedelheim Solms-Roedelheim-Assenheim Solms-Wildenfels Solms-Sonnenwalde-Kotiz I would guess, one of the major "disasters" you can encounter in yourgenealogy would be to find a church-record entry. "The father of thechild is said to be a Count of Solms". That would really throw youback into "Nirvana".

Comments