1803: Carl was the last prince from Offenbach
The Masonic lodge name "Carl and Charlotte zur Treue" preserves the memory of a married couple with whom very few Offenbach residents still have any connection. The names belong to a distant past: Carl von Isenburg (1766-1820) and his wife Charlotte zu Erbach-Erbach (1778-1846). Carl was the last prince to rule over the Principality of Isenburg from Offenbach. It disappeared from the political map when Offenbach became Hessian in 1816.
Carl had become regent in 1803. He had spent most of his younger years on campaign, as an officer of the German Emperor in the Netherlands, Italy and in the fight against the Ottomans. He took his leave with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1794. But as early as 1803, now as reigning prince, he was appointed major general to the King of Prussia. Three years later, he was Major General to the French Emperor Napoleon.
He has reasons to cuddle up to the powerful. Germany's borders have been redrawn since 1802. And now the French are also beginning to conquer the continent. The sovereignty of the small principality of Isenburg is not stable. It is against this background that Carl is one of the German princes who declare their withdrawal from the Empire in 1806 and join together in Paris to form a French-protected confederation, the "Confederation of the Rhine".
The aim was to provide the French Emperor with soldiers for his wars of conquest. The Prince of Offenbach provided two regiments under the name "Isenbourg". One of their regimental flags hangs in the stairwell of Birstein Castle today. Between 1806 and 1813, however, it was not only Isenburg citizens who fought and died under the regiment, but also deserters recruited from other armies. Carl's troops are a kind of foreign legion.
Napoleon rewards loyalty to the alliance with rank increases. He elevated the princes of the Confederation of the Rhine to kings and grand dukes. The Isenburg, however, only gained internal power. He was also able to unite the territories of Isenburg collateral lines in his hands. Birstein, Büdingen, Wächtersbach, Meerholz and Philippseich are absorbed into the Principality of Isenburg.
This all changes after Napoleon's winter catastrophe in Russia. In 1814, Napoleon is an exile and Prince Carl has escaped to Switzerland. He is not present when the victors and the quick-change sides begin to reorganize Germany at the Congress of Vienna. But he has an ambassador there whom he trusts, Princess Charlotte. The ball gown in which the princess danced in Vienna and used all her charm to ensure the continued existence of the Principality of Isenburg can be seen in a display case in Birstein Castle, while Offenbach had to feed first a Bavarian and then an Austrian occupying force.
Charlotte failed in Vienna due to foreign desires. Bavaria, which had only become a kingdom through Napoleon, wanted the entire Rhine-Main region, including Hanau, Offenbach and Frankfurt. It then has to make do with Aschaffenburg. The wishes of the Grand Duke of Darmstadt are fulfilled. He receives not only Rheinhessen, but also Offenbach and Dreieich. And the Electorate of Hesse in Kassel also gets something from the Principality of Isenburg.
The Isenburgs were allowed to keep their princely title and continue to bequeath it. They retained their forests and lands as private property, as well as residential buildings and the old castle on the Main in Offenbach. The loss of sovereignty did not make Carl von Isenburg poor. But among the Napoleon followers, it made him look like the big loser. He did not manage to change sides in time and, as we all know, life punishes those who are late. He would probably have been completely forgotten by now if the Masonic Lodge had not remembered him as its founder and first Master of the Chair.
Lothar R. Braun