Ulrike Louise of Solms-Braunfels

Ulrike Louise of Solms-Braunfels (1 May 1731 in Hungen, Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt – 12 September 1792 in Bad Homburg) was a Countess of Solms-Braunfels by birth, and by marriage a Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg. From 1751 to 1766, she was also regent of Hesse-Homburg, on behalf of her minor son.

Life

Ulrike Louise was a daughter of Prince Frederick William of Solms-Braunfels (1696–1761) from his second marriage to Sophie Magdalene (1701–1744), a daughter of Count Otto of Solms-Laubach.

She married on 10 October 1746 in Hungen with Landgrave Frederick IV of Hesse-Homburg (1724–1751). Shortly after the wedding, troops from Hesse-Darmstadt marched into Hesse-Homburg and occupied it and city of Bad Homburg with Homburg Castle. The dispute could be arbitrated, and Frederick IV was reinstated as ruling Landgrave.

After her husband died in 1751, she took up government, with imperial permission, together with Landgrave Louis VIII of Hesse-Darmstadt, for her son Frederick V, who was only three years old when his father died. She manage to preserve the sovereignty of Hesse-Homburg and marry her son to a daughter of Landgrave Louis IX of Hesse-Darmstadt.

Issue

Ulrike Louise from her marriage with Frederick IV, Ulrike Louise had two children:

• Frederick V Louis William Christian (Homburg, 30 January 1748 – Homburg, 20 January 1820), Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg.
• Marie Christine Charlotte Wilhelmine (Homburg, 4 November 1749 – Homburg, 10 November 1750).