Sophie of Solms-Laubach (15 May 1594 – 16 May 1651), was a German regent, Margravine of

Brandenburg-Ansbach The Principality or Margraviate of (Brandenburg-)Ansbach (german: Fürstentum Ansbach or ) was a principality in the Holy Roman Empire centered on the Franconian city of Ansbach. The ruling House of Hohenzollern, Hohenzollern princes of the land ...

by marriage to Joachim Ernst, and regent during the minority of her son from 1625 until 1639.

Early life

Sophie's parents were Count Johann Georg I of

Solms-Laubach Solms-Laubach was a County of southern Hesse and eastern Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The House of SolmsSee German article on the ''House of Solms'' or French article '' Maison de Solms. had its origins in Solms, Hesse. History Solms-Laubach w ...

(1547–1600) and his wife, Margarethe of

Schönburg-Glauchau Glauchau (; hsb, Hłuchow) is a town in the German federal state of Saxony, on the right bank of the Mulde, 7 miles north of Zwickau and 17 miles west of Chemnitz by rail ( its train station is on the Dresden–Werdau line). It is part of the ...

(1554–1606).

Biography

She married Margrave Joachim Ernst of Brandenburg-Ansbach in 1612. After her husband's death in 1625, she took over the reign of the Margraviate of Brandenburg-Ansbach, as guardian and regent for her minor son

Frederick Frederick may refer to: People * Frederick (given name), the name Nobility Anhalt-Harzgerode *Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode (1613–1670) Austria * Frederick I, Duke of Austria (Babenberg), Duke of Austria from 1195 to 1198 * Frederick ...

. Frederick died in 1634 in the Battle of Nördlingen, shortly after he came of age. Sophie then continued reigning as regent for her son

Albert Albert may refer to: Companies * Albert (supermarket), a supermarket chain in the Czech Republic * Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the Netherlands * Albert Market, a street market in The Gambia * Albert Productions, a record label * Alber ...

, until he came of age in 1639. She was supported during her reign by her brother

Count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

Frederick of Solms-Rödelheim Count Frederick of Solms-Rödelheim (30 November 1574 – 1649) was an imperial chamberlain, war councillor and colonel in the period of the Thirty Years' War. Early life Frederick was born as the son of Count Johann Georg I of Solms-Laubac ...

, who served as an Imperial chamberlain.

Offspring

Sophie of Solms-Laubach had a daughter and four sons: * Sophie (1614–1646), married to

Erdmann August of Brandenburg-Bayreuth Erdmann August of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (b. Bayreuth, 8 October 1615 – d. Hof, 6 February 1651), was a member of the House of Hohenzollern and Hereditary Margrave (German: ''Erbmarkgraf'') of Brandenburg-Bayreuth. He was the seventh of the ni ...

(1616–1634), Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach * Albert (1617-1617) *

(1620–1667), Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach * Christian (1623–1633) , -

References

* M. Spindler, A. Kraus: ''History of Franconia until the end of the 18th Century'', Munich, 1997, {{DEFAULTSORT:Solms-Laubach, Sophie 1594 births 1651 deaths People from Laubach Sophie Margravines of Brandenburg-Ansbach Regents of Germany 17th-century women rulers