Sonnenberg Castle (Ruin) (Wiesbaden)

Around 1200, the Nassau counts Heinrich II and Ruprecht began constructing Sonnenberg Castle to protect Wiesbaden and assert themselves against the Eppsteiners, with whom they had ongoing border disputes. Although the land belonged to the Mainz Cathedral Chapter, construction proceeded. Only in 1221 did the counts acknowledge their unlawful possession, purchased the land, and took the castle as a fief from the Archbishopric of Mainz. This connection proved problematic, as four Mainz archbishops in the 13th century came from the House of Eppstein. After Ruprecht joined the Teutonic Order, Heinrich II ruled alone from 1230. The castle later belonged to the Walramian line of the Nassaus. Adolf of Nassau, the later German king, had the castle rebuilt and expanded after its destruction before 1283. After his death in 1298, it was again captured and severely damaged by the Eppsteiners. Adolf's son Gerlach I later managed to expand the castle and reconcile with the Eppsteiners. Under him, Sonnenberg experienced its heyday. In 1338, Emperor Louis the Bavarian visited the castle, and in 1351, Sonnenberg was granted town rights by Emperor Charles IV. Count Gerlach died at the castle in 1361.