Ferdinand, Prince of Solms-Braunfels
# Ferdinand, Prince of Solms-Braunfels

Ferdinand Wilhelm Ernst, 2nd Prince of Solms-Braunfels (8 February 1721 in Braunfels – 2 October 1783, ibid.) was the second Prince of Solms-Braunfels. He was the son of Frederick William, Prince of Solms-Braunfels (1696–1761) by his first wife Princess Magdalena Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg (1691–1725).

## Life

Ferdinand Wilhelm Ernst was born in Braunfels, Solms-Braunfels as the first son and child of Frederick William, Count of Solms-Braunfels and his first wife Princess Magdalena Henriette of Nassau-Weilburg (1691–1725) daughter of Johann Ernst, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg. On 22 May 1742, Emperor Charles VII raised the House of Solms-Braunfels to the rank of Imperial Prince and so when his father died he succeeded him as the 2nd Prince.

## Marriage and issue

On 24 August 1756 he married in Laubach, Countess Sophie Christine Wilhelmine of Solms-Laubach. She was the first daughter and second child of Christian August, Count of Solms-Laubach and his first wife Princess Elisabeth of Isenburg und Büdingen zu Birstein daughter of the first Prince, Wolfgang Ernest I. They had the following children:

* William Christian Carl, 3rd Prince of Solms-Braunfels (1759–1837), married Wild- und Rheingräfin Auguste of Salm-Grumbach and Elisabetha Becker, had issue from both marriages
* Princess Karoline Marie Eleonore of Solms-Braunfels (6 Oct 1760 - 30 Oct 1760)
* Prince Ludwig Wilhelm of Solms-Braunfels (12 Sep 1762 - 29 Oct 1762)
* Princess Auguste Luise of Solms-Braunfels (1764–1797) married Karl Ludwig, Wild- und Rheingraf zu Salm-Grumbach und Dhaun, whose first wife was Princess Marianne of Leiningen, daughter of Carl Friedrich Wilhelm, 1st Prince of Leiningen and parents of her brother William's wife.
* Prince Wilhelm Henrich Kasimir of Solms-Braunfels (1765–1852) unmarried
* Princess Luise Karoline Sophie of Solms-Braunfels (1766–1830) unmarried
* Prince Karl August Wilhelm Friedrich (1768–1829) unmarried
* Prince Frederick William of Solms-Braunfels (1770–1814) married Princess Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, widow of Prince Louis Charles of Prussia and had issue
* Prince Ludwig Wilhelm Christian of Solms-Braunfels (1771–1833) unmarried
* Princess Ferdinande Wilhelmine Isabelle of Solms-Braunfels (died within a year)
