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County of Nassau

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(Princely) County of Nassau
Principalities of Nassau
(Gefürsteter) Grafschaft Nassau (German)
Fürstentümer Nassau (German)
1125–1806
Coat of arms of Nassau
Coat of arms
County of Nassau in 1547
County of Nassau in 1547
StatusCounty
CapitalNassau
Common languagesGerman (Rhine Franconian dialects, Moselle Franconian dialects)
GovernmentCounty
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• City founded
915
• Rupert I claims title of count
1125
• Comital title acknowledged
1159
• Partitioned multiple times
1255–1806
• Remaining parts unified to form duchy
1806
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Bishopric of Worms
Duchy of Nassau
Today part of Germany
Nassau Castle

The County of Nassau was a German state within the Holy Roman Empire and later part of the German Confederation. Its ruling dynasty, the male line of which is now extinct, was the House of Nassau.

Origins

Nassau, originally a county, developed on the lower Lahn river in what is known today as Rhineland-Palatinate. The town of Nassau was founded in 915.[1] Dudo of Laurenburg held Nassau as a fiefdom as granted by the Bishopric of Worms. His son, Rupert, built the Nassau Castle there around 1125, declaring himself "Count of Nassau". This title was not officially acknowledged by the Bishop of Worms until 1159 under the rule of Rupert's son, Walram. By 1159, the County of Nassau effectively claimed rights of taxation, toll collection, and justice, at which point it can be considered to become a state.[1]

The Nassauers held the territory between the Taunus and the Westerwald at the lower and middle Lahn. By 1128, they acquired the bailiwick of the Bishopric of Worms, which had numerous rights in the area, and thus created a link between their heritage at the lower Lahn and their possessions near Siegen. In the middle of the 12th century, this relationship was strengthened by the acquisition of parts of the Hesse-Thüringen feudal kingdom, namely the Herborner Mark, the Kalenberger Zent and the Court of Heimau (Löhnberg). Closely linked to this was the "Lordship of Westerwald", also in Nassau's possession at the time. At the end of the 12th century, the House acquired the Reichshof Wiesbaden, an important base in the southwest.

In 1255, after the Counts of Nassau acquired the estates of Weilburg, the sons of Count Henry II divided Nassau for the first time. Walram II received the county of Nassau-Weilburg. From 1328 on, his younger brother, Otto I, held the estates north of the Lahn river, namely the County of Nassau-Siegen and Nassau-Dillenburg. The boundary line was essentially the Lahn, with Otto receiving the northern part of the county with the cities of Siegen, Dillenburg, Herborn and Haiger and Walram retaining the section south of the river, including the cities of Weilburg and Idstein.

County of Nassau-Weilburg

Walram's son Adolf became King of Germany in 1292. His son Count Gerlach abdicated in 1344 and the County was divided under his sons in 1355

  • County of Nassau-Weilburg, again divided from 1442 to 1574
  • County of Nassau-Wiesbaden, again divided from 1480 to 1509
    • County of Nassau-Idstein
    • County of Nassau-Wiesbaden

     fell back to Nassau-Weilburg in 1605

  • County of Nassau-Sonnenberg, partitioned among Nassau-Wiesbaden and Nassau-Weilburg in 1405

In 1605, all parts of Nassau-Weilburg were again unified under Count Louis II; however, after his death in 1627, his sons divided the county again

  • County of Nassau-Idstein, fell to Nassau-Ottweiler in 1721
  • County of Nassau-Saarbrücken (Younger), divided again in 1640
    • County of Nassau-Saarbrücken, fell to Nassau-Ottweiler in 1723
    • County of Nassau-Ottweiler, fell to Nassau-Usingen in 1728
    • County of Nassau-Usingen, Principality in 1688
  • County of Nassau-Weilburg (Younger)

After Nassau-Usingen had inherited Nassau-Ottweiler with former Nassau-Idstein and Nassau-Saarbrücken, it was reunified with Nassau-Weilburg and raised to the Duchy of Nassau in 1806.

County of Nassau-Dillenburg

After the death of Count Otto I, his country was divided between his sons in 1303:

  • County of Nassau-Dillenburg, fell to Nassau-Siegen in 1328
  • County of Nassau-Hadamar (Elder), fell to Nassau-Dillenburg in 1394
  • County of Nassau-Siegen, called Nassau-Dillenburg from 1328 on, again got divided from 1341 to 1561:
    • County of Nassau-Beilstein (Elder)
    • County of Nassau-Dillenburg (Elder)–1606)

In 1504, Henry III of Nassau-Dillenburg inherited the County's estates at Breda in the Duchy of Brabant, while his younger brother William became Count of Nassau-Dillenburg in 1516. After the son of Henry III, René of Châlon died in 1544, Count William's eldest son William the Silent became Prince of Orange and Lord of Breda, Stadtholder in the Low Countries from 1559 on. His younger brother, John VI, again reunited all Nassau-Dillenburg possessions in 1561, though the County was again divided after his death in 1606.

  • County of Nassau-Hadamar (Younger), Principality in 1650, fell to Nassau-Diez in 1743
  • County of Nassau-Siegen, (1607–23), again got divided from 1623 to 1734:
    • County of Nassau-Siegen (Protestant), Principality in 1664, became extinct in 1734
    • County of Nassau-Siegen (Catholic), Principality, fell to Nassau-Diez in 1743
  • County of Nassau-Dillenburg, fell to Nassau-Beilstein in 1620
  • County of Nassau-Beilstein (Younger), called Nassau-Dillenburg (Younger) from 1620 on, Principality in 1652, fell to Nassau-Dietz in 1739
  • County of Nassau-Dietz, fell to Joachim Murat's Grand Duchy of Berg after the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806

The Counts of Nassau-Dietz, descendants of William Frederick were stadtholders of Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe and Princes of Orange from 1702 on. When they lost their Dutch possessions during the Napoleonic Wars, they were compensated with the Principality of Nassau-Orange-Fulda. Though they lost their German possessions in 1806, the House of Orange-Nassau, through female succession, was the reigning house of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg until 1890 and is still the royal house of the Netherlands.

Rulers

Partitions of Nassau under House of Nassau rule

County of Nassau
(1123-1255)
Northern Nassau
(1255-1303)
Southern Nassau
(1255-1355)
Nassau-Siegen
(1st creation)
(1303-1328)
Nassau-Dillenburg
(1st creation)
(1303-1328)
Nassau-Hadamar
(1st creation)
(1303-1394)
      
Nassau-Beilstein
(1343-1561)
Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg
(1328-1606)
       Nassau-Sonnenberg
(1355-1390)
       Nassau-Idstein
(1st creation)
(1355-1605)
       Nassau-Weilburg
(1st creation)
(1355-1605)
             
              Nassau-Saarbrücken
(1st creation)
(1429-1574)
       Nassau-Breda and Orange-Nassau
(1538-1702)
      
             
             
       Southern Nassau (Nassau-Weilburg)
(1605-1627)
       Nassau-Siegen
(2nd creation)
(1606-1734)
Nassau-Dietz
(1606-1702)
Nassau-Hadamar
(2nd creation)
(1620-1711)
      
Nassau-Dillenburg
(2nd creation)
(1606-1739)
Nassau-Weilburg
(2nd creation)
(1627-1806)
Nassau-Saarbrücken
(2nd creation)
(1627-1728)
Nassau-Idstein
(2nd creation)
(1627-1721)
              Nassau-Ottweiler
(1659-1721)
      
                           
                           
       Nassau-Dietz and
Orange-Nassau
(1st creation)
(1702-1806)
Nassau-Usingen
(1659-1806)
      
                           
                    
                    
             
              Nassau-Saarbrücken
(3rd creation)
(1741-1797)
              Annexed by France
      
Nassau-Dietz and Orange-Nassau
(2nd creation)
(1813-1815)
Duchy of Nassau
(1806-1866)
      
Annexed by Prussia

Table of rulers

(Note: Here the numbering of the counts and princes is the same for all principalities, as all were titled Counts of Nassau, despite of the different parts of land and its particular numbering of the rulers, who here are numbered according to the year of succession.)

Ruler Born Reign Death Ruling part Consort Notes
Rupert I c.1090 1123-1154 c.1154 County of Nassau Beatrice of Limburg
before 1135
four children
Eldest son of Dudo of Laurenburg; Founder of the family and the county.
Waleran I c.1146 1154-1198 1 February 1198 County of Nassau Kunigunde of Ziegenhain
before 1135
four children
Sons of Rupert I, ruled together. In 1159, after the death of his brother, Waleran co-ruled with his nephews, sons of his brother Arnold of Laurenburg or either of his previous co-ruler Rupert II. Waleran would become the first legalized Count of Nassau in 1193.
Rupert II c.1137 1154-1159 c.1159 County of Nassau Unmarried
Henry I before 1159 1159-1167 August 1167 County of Nassau Unmarried
Rupert III the Bellicose before 1159 1159-1191 23/28 December 1191 County of Nassau Elisabeth of Leiningen
1169
two children
Henry II the Rich c.1180 1198-1251 26 April 1251 County of Nassau Matilda of Guelders
before 1221
eleven children
Sons of Waleran I, ruled together.
Rupert IV c.1180 1198-1240 c.1240 County of Nassau Gertrude of Kleeberg
c. 11 December 1215
no children
Waleran II c.1220 1251-1255 24 January 1276 County of Nassau Adelaide of Katzenelnbogen
before 1250
seven children
Sons of Henry II, ruled together until 17 December 1255, when they divided the county in two halves.
Otto I c.1220 between 3 May 1289 and 19 March 1290 County of Nassau Agnes of Leiningen
five children
Otto and Waleran divided their county on 17 December 1255, by a treaty called Prima divisio, which determined the Lahn river as border of the two halves: to the south, called Southern Nassau, was ruled by Waleran; to the north, called Northern Nassau the county was ruled by Otto.
Otto I c.1220 1255-1289/90 between 3 May 1289 and 19 March 1290 Northern Nassau Agnes of Leiningen
five children
Son of Henry II, received the land to the north of Lahn river.
Waleran II c.1220 1255-1276 24 January 1276 Southern Nassau Adelaide of Katzenelnbogen
before 1250
seven children
Son of Henry II, received the land to the south of Lahn river.
Adolph I c.1255 1276-1298 2 July 1298 Southern Nassau Imagina of Isenburg-Limburg
1270
eight children
In 1292 was crowned King of Germany.
Emicho I before 1289 1289/90-1303 7 June 1334 Northern Nassau Anna of Nuremberg
before 1297
eight children
Sons of Otto I, ruled together until 1303, when they divided the land: Henry received Nassau-Siegen, Emicho received Nassau-Hadamar and John received Nassau-Dillenburg. However, after the childless death of John, Nassau-Dillenburg fell to Nassau-Siegen, which adopted the name Nassau-Dillenburg (named in this table as Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg). Siegen and Dillenburg were united until 1606.
1303-1334 Nassau-Hadamar
John I c.1290 1289/90-1303 10 August 1328 Northern Nassau Unmarried
1303-1328 Nassau-Dillenburg
Henry III before 1288 1289/90-1303 July/August 1343 Northern Nassau Adelaide of Sponheim-Heinsberg
1302
five children
1303-1328 Nassau-Siegen
1328-1343 Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg
Nassau-Dillenburg was annexed to Nassau-Siegen, which adopted the name Nassau-Dillenburg
Rupert V c.1280 1298-1304 2 November 1304 Southern Nassau Unmarried Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother, Gerlach.
Gerlach I c.1285 1304-1355 7 January 1361 Southern Nassau Agnes of Hesse
1307
seven children

Irmgard of Hohenlohe-Weikersheim
before 4 January 1337
two children
Brothers of Rupert V, ruled jointly for a brief period (1312-1316). In 1355 Gerlach abdicated to his sons, who divided the land.
Waleran III c.1294 1312-1316 22 December 1324 Southern Nassau Unmarried
John II after 1302 1334-1365 20 January 1365 Nassau-Hadamar Elisabeth of Waldeck
1331
ten children
Sons of Emicho I, ruled jointly.
Emicho II after 1302 1334-1359 1 March 1359 Nassau-Hadamar Unmarried
Otto II c.1305 1343-1351 6 January 1351 Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg Adelaide of Vianden
23 December 1331
four children
Henry IV 11 June 1323 1343-1378 28 October 1378 Nassau-Beilstein Imagina of Westerburg
1339
three children
Son of Henry III, inherited Beilstein, partitioned from Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg.
John III c.1340 1351-1416 4 September 1416 Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg Margaretha of the Marck
30 November 1357
six children
Crato I c.1340 1355-1356 1356 Nassau-Sonnenberg Unmarried Son of Gerlach I, inherited Sonnenberg. Died with no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother Rupert.
John IV c.1309 1355-1371 20 September 1371 Nassau-Weilburg Gertrude of Merenberg
1333
one child

Johanna of Saarbrücken
1353
seven children
Son of Gerlach I, inherited Weilburg.
Adolph II c.1307 1355-1370 17 January 1370 Nassau-Idstein Margaret of Nuremberg
1322
fourteen children
Son of Gerlach I, inherited Idstein.
Rupert VI the Bellicose c.1340 1356-1390 4 September 1390 Nassau-Sonnenberg Anna of Nassau-Hadamar
1362
no children
Died with no descendants. His land was annexed to Nassau-Weilburg.
Nassau-Sonnenberg was annexed to Nassau-Weilburg
Henry V after 1331 1365-1368 1368 Nassau-Hadamar Unmarried Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
Emicho III after 1331 1368-1394 1394 Nassau-Hadamar Elisabeth of Waldeck
1331
ten children
Brother of Henry, left no descendants. The land was annexed to Nassau-Dillenburg.
Nassau-Hadamar was annexed to Nassau-Dillenburg
Gerlach II 1333 1370-1386 1386 Nassau-Idstein Agnes of Veldenz
c.1360
no children
Son of Gerlach I, inherited Idstein.
Johanna of Saarbrücken (regent) c.1330 1371-1381 October 1381 Nassau-Weilburg John III
1353
seven children
Regent on behalf of her son, passing to him, at her death, the County of Saarbrücken.
Frederick of Blankenheim, Bishop of Strasbourg (regent) c.1355 1381-1382 9 October 1423 Nassau-Weilburg Unmarried Regent on behalf of count Philip I, after the death of his mother.
Philip I 1368 1382-1429 2 July 1429 Nassau-Weilburg Anna of Hohenlohe-Weikersheim
1385
one child

Elisabeth of Lorraine-Vaudémont
1412
four children
Divided the land for his sons: the eldest received Nassau-Weilbirg; the youngest, the county of Saarbrücken.
Henry VI 29 September 1374 1378-1412 12 October 1412 Nassau-Beilstein Catherine of Randerode
1383
four children
Sons of Henry IV, ruled jointly.
Rainhard 1374 1378-1414/18 between 30 December 1414 and 17 April 1418 Nassau-Beilstein Unmarried
Waleran IV 1354 1386-1393 7 November 1393 Nassau-Idstein Bertha of Westerburg
1374
two children
Adolph III 1386 1393-1426 16 July 1426 Nassau-Idstein Margaret of Baden-Baden
March 1418
six children
John V After 1383 1414/18-1473 1473 Nassau-Beilstein Matilda of Isenburg
1415
four children

Johanna von Gemen
1477
one child
Sons of Henry IV, ruled jointly.
Henry VII 1418 1414/18-1477 12 September 1477 Nassau-Beilstein Unmarried
Adolph IV 1362 1416-1420 12 June 1420 Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg Judith of Dietz
1376
one child
Sons of John III, ruled jointly, as Tetrarchs.
John VI the Elder 1365 1416-1443 May 1443 Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg Unmarried
Engelbert I 1370 1416-1442 3 May 1442 Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg Johanna van Polanen
1 August 1403
Breda
six children
John VII the Younger 1362 1416-1429/30 1429/30 Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg Unmarried
John VIII 1419 1426-1480 9 May 1480 Nassau-Idstein Maria of Nassau-Dillenburg
17 June 1437
Breda
six children
Elisabeth of Lorraine-Vaudémont (regent) 1395 1429-1438 17 January 1456 Nassau-Weilburg Philip I
1412
four children
Regent in name of her children
Philip II 12 March 1418 1438-1492 19 March 1492 Nassau-Weilburg Margaret of Loon-Heinsberg
25 September 1440
two children
Eldest son of Philip I, received Nassau-Weilburg.
John IX 4 April 1423 1438-1472 15 July 1472 Nassau-Saarbrücken Johanna of Loon-Heinsberg
30 November 1456
two children

Elisabeth of Württemberg-Urach
30 October 1470
one child
Second son of Philip I, received Saarbrücken.
John X 1 August 1410 1442-1475 3 February 1475 Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg Maria of Loon-Heinsberg
7 February 1440
six children
Sons of Engelbert I, ruled jointly.
Henry VIII 7 July 1414 1442-1451 8 June 1451 Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg Genoveva of Virneburg
1435
one child

Irmgard of Schleiden-Junkerath
after 1437
no children
Elisabeth of Württemberg-Urach (regent) 4 October 1447 1472-1474 3 June 1505 Nassau-Saarbrücken John IX
30 October 1470
one child

Henry, Count of Stolberg
30 October 1470
no children
Regent on behalf of her son, until her second marriage.
Philip II, Count of Nassau-Weilburg (regent) 12 March 1418 1474-1490 19 March 1492 Nassau-Saarbrücken Margaret of Loon-Heinsberg
25 September 1440
two children
Regents on behalf of count John Louis.
Eberhard I, Duke of Württemberg (regent) 11 December 1445 24 February 1496 Nassau-Saarbrücken Barbara Gonzaga
12 April/4 July 1474
one child
John Louis I 19 October 1472 1490-1545 4 June 1545 Nassau-Saarbrücken Elisabeth of Palatinate-Zweibrücken
29 January 1492
Saarbrücken
six children

Catharina van Meurs-Saarwerden
14 February 1507
nine children
Engelbert II 17 May 1451 1475-1504 31 May 1504 Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg Cymburgis of Baden-Baden
19 December 1468
Koblenz
no children
Also Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands. Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
Henry IX 1449 1477-1499 26 May 1499 Nassau-Beilstein Eva of Sayn
1464
ten children
Adolph V 10 November 1443 1480-1511 6 July 1511 Nassau-Idstein Margaret of Hanau-Lichtenberg
20 June 1484
four children
Philip III 1450 1480-1509 16 June 1509 Nassau-Idstein Margaret of Zweibrücken-Veldenz
1470
no children
Louis I 1473 1492-1523 28 May 1523 Nassau-Weilburg Maria Margaretha of Nassau-Idstein
19 April 1501
six children
John XI 1475 1499-1513 18 August 1513 Nassau-Beilstein Maria of Solms
1492
four children

Anna of Lippe
1510
no children
John XII 9 November 1455 1504-1516 30 July 1516 Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg Elisabeth of Hesse-Marburg
11 February 1481
six children
Philip IV the Elder 26 April 1492 1511-1558 6 June 1558 Nassau-Idstein Adriana of Glymes
24 August 1514
Bergen op Zoom
six children
John XIII 17 November 1495 1513-1561 13 December 1561 Nassau-Beilstein Anna of Nassau-Weilburg
1523
no children
Sons of John, ruled jointly.
Henry X After 1495 1513-1525 25 February 1525 Nassau-Beilstein Unmarried
Bernard 1479/85 1513-1556 10 May 1556 Nassau-Beilstein Unmarried Brother of John (II), ruled jointly with his nephews.
Nassau-Beilstein merged again in Nassau-Dillenburg
Henry XI 12 January 1483 1516-1538 14 September 1538 Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg Louise-Françoise of Savoy
3 August 1503
no children

Claudia of Chalon
May 1515
one child

Mencía de Mendoza
26 June 1524
one child
Philip V 20 September 1504 1523-1559 4 October 1559 Nassau-Weilburg Elisabeth of Sayn-Hachenburg
2 March 1523
four children

Anna of Mansfeld-Hinterort
23 September 1536
one child

Amalia of Isenburg-Büdingen
17 August 1541
Büdingen
three children
William I the Rich 10 April 1487 1538-1559 6 October 1559 Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg Walburga of Egmont
29 October 1519
Koblenz
two children

Juliana of Stolberg
29 September 1531
Königstein
twelve children
Brother of Henry XI, inherited Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg.
René 5 February 1519 1538-1544 15 July 1544 Nassau-Breda and Principality of Orange Anna of Lorraine
22 August 1540
Bar-le-Duc
one child
Son of Henry XI, inherited Nassau-Breda from his father and the Principality of Orange from his mother. Left no descendants, and gave his patrimony to his cousin.
William II the Silent 24 April 1533 1544-1584 10 July 1584 Nassau-Breda
Orange-Nassau
Anna van Egmont
8 July 1551
Buren
three children

Anna of Saxony
24 August 1561
Leipzig
(annulled 14 December 1571)
five children

Charlotte of Bourbon
12 June 1575
Brielle
six children

Louise de Coligny
12 April 1583
Antwerp
one child
Eldest son of William the Rich, inherited his cousin's lands, and left his father's inheritance to his younger brothers. Murdered in 1584.
Philip VI 25 July 1509 1545-1554 19 June 1554 Nassau-Saarbrücken Apollonia of Leiningen-Hartenburg
17 July 1535
no children
Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
John XIV 5 April 1511 1554-1574 23 November 1574 Nassau-Saarbrücken Unmarried Left no descendants. The land was absorbed by Nassau-Weilburg
Nassau-Saarbrücken merged again in Nassau-Weilburg
Philip VII the Younger 1516 1558-1566 3 January 1566 Nassau-Idstein Unmarried Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother Balthasar.
Albert I 26 December 1537 1559-1593 11 November 1593 Nassau-Weilburg Anna of Nassau-Dillenburg
23 September 1536
fourteen children
Sons of Philip V, ruled jointly. In 1574 annexed Nassau-Saarbrücken
Philip VIII 14 October 1542 1559-1602 12 March 1602 Nassau-Weilburg Erica of Manderscheid-Blankenheim
9 April 1563
one child

Elisabeth of Nassau-Dillenburg
3 October 1583
no children
John XV the Elder 22 November 1536 1559-1606 8 October 1606 Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg Elisabeth of Leuchtenberg
6 June 1559
Dillenburg
thirteen children

Kunigunde Jakobäa of Simmern
13 September 1580
Dillenburg
four children

Johannetta of Sayn-Wittgenstein
14 June 1586
Berleburg
seven children
Younger brother of William the Silent, inherited his father's domains, which were divided after his own death.
After John XV's death Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg ceased to exist, as its lands became all ruled by different counts, all of them sons of the latter.
Balthasar 1520 1566-1568 11 January 1568 Nassau-Idstein Margaret of Isenburg-Birstein
9 June/6 September 1564
one child
Margaret of Isenburg-Birstein (regent) 14 December 1542 1568-c.1587 8 August 1613 Nassau-Idstein Balthasar
9 June/6 September 1564
one child

George I of Leiningen-Westerburg
24 May 1570
Büdingen
five children
Regent on behalf of her son.
John Louis II 10 April 1567 c.1587-1596 10 June 1596 Nassau-Idstein Maria of Nassau-Dillenburg
2 December 1588
Idstein
six children
Philip William 19 December 1554 1584-1618 20 February 1618 Nassau-Breda
Orange-Nassau
Éléonore de Bourbon
23 November 1606
Fontainebleau
no children
Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his half-brother Maurice.
Maria of Nassau-Dillenburg (regent) 12 November 1568 1596-1605 30 April 1632 Nassau-Idstein John Louis II
2 December 1588
Idstein
six children
Regent on behalf of her son.
John Louis III 21 May 1596 9 June 1605 Nassau-Idstein Unmarried Died as a minor. His lands were annexed to Nassau-Weilburg.
Nassau-Idstein merged again in Nassau-Weilburg
Louis II 9 August 1565 1602-1605 8 November 1627 Nassau-Weilburg Anna Maria of Hesse-Kassel
8 June 1589
Kassel
fourteen children
In 1605 reunited all Southern Nassau.However he divided it again after his death between his sons.
1605-1627 Southern Nassau
William Louis I 13 March 1560 1606-1620 13 July 1620 Nassau-Dillenburg Anna of Orange-Nassau
25 November 1587
Franeker
no children
Son of John XV, received Nassau-Dillenburg.
John XVI the Middle 7 June 1561 1606-1623 27 September 1623 Nassau-Siegen Magdalena of Waldeck
9 December 1581
Dillenburg
twelve children

Margaret of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg
27 August 1603
Dillenburg
thirteen children
Sons of John XV, received Nassau-Siegen, which ruled jointly. Henry, who ruled since birth, abdicated to his brother's heir.
Henry XII 9 August 1611 1611-1623 27 October 1652 Nassau-Siegen Maria Magdalene of Limburg-Stirum
9 April 1646
four children
Ernest Casimir I 22 December 1573 1606-1632 2 June 1632 Nassau-Dietz Sophia Hedwig of Brunswick-Lüneburg
8 June 1607
Dillenburg
two children
Son of John XV, received Nassau-Dietz.
Maurice 14 November 1567 1618-1625 23 April 1625 Nassau-Breda
Orange-Nassau
Unmarried Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his half-brother Maurice.
John Louis IV 6 August 1590 1620-1653 10 March 1653 Nassau-Hadamar Ursula of Lippe
1617
fourteen children
Son of John XIV, receiving Nassau-Hadamar, which was recreated in 1620, partitioned from Nassau-Dillenburg.
George 1 September 1562 1620-1623 9 August 1623 Nassau-Dillenburg Anna Amalia van Nassau-Saarbrücken
1584
fourteen children

Amalia of Sayn-Wittgenstein
1605
one child
Son of John XV, succeeded his childess brother in Nassau-Dillenburg.
John XVII the Younger 29 September 1583 1623-1638 27 July 1638 Nassau-Siegen Ernestine Yolande de Ligne
13 August 1618
Brussels
thirteen children
Son of John XV, received Nassau-Siegen.
Louis Henry 9 May 1594 1623-1662 12 July 1662 Nassau-Dillenburg Catherine of Sayn-Wittgenstein
1615
twelve children

Elizabeth of Salm-Dhaun
1653
no children

Sophie of Nassau-Hadamar
1656
three children
Sons of George, ruled jointly.
Albert II 1 November 1596 1623-1626 16 June 1626 Nassau-Dillenburg Unmarried
Frederick Henry 29 January 1584 1625-1647 14 March 1647 Nassau-Breda
Orange-Nassau
Amalia of Solms-Braunfels
4 April 1625
The Hague
no children
William Louis II 18 December 1590 1627-1640 22 August 1640 Nassau-Saarbrücken Anna Amalia of Baden-Durlach
25 November 1615
Durlach
twelve children
Son of Louis II, received Nassau-Saarbrücken.
John XVIII 24 November 1603 1627-1677 23 May 1677 Nassau-Idstein Sibylla Magdalena of Baden-Durlach
6 June 1629
Strasbourg
nine children

Anna of Leiningen-Dagsburg-Falkenburg
6 December 1646
Strasbourg
seventeen children
Son of Louis II, received Nassau-Idstein.
Ernest Casimir II 15 November 1607 1627-1655 16 April 1655 Nassau-Weilburg Anna Maria of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hachenburg
22 February 1634
Weilburg
six children
Son of Louis II, received Nassau-Weilburg.
Henry Casimir I 21 January 1612 1632-1640 13 July 1640 Nassau-Dietz Unmarried Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
John Francis Desideratus 28 July 1627 1638-1699 17 November 1699 Nassau-Siegen Johanna Claudia of Königsegg-Rotenfels-Aulendorf
14 May 1651
Vienna
ten children

Marie Eleonore Sophie of Baden-Rodemachern
31 May 1665
Rodemachern
four children

Isabella Clara du Puget de la Serre
9 February 1669
Brussels
ten children
John Francis ruled with each of his uncles (George Frederick and John Maurice, sons of John XVI) and cousin (William Maurice, son of Henry XII) successively.
George Frederick 23 Februy 1606 1638-1674 5 April 1674 Nassau-Siegen Mauritia Eleonora of Portugal
4 June 1647
The Hague
no children
John Maurice the Brazilian 17 June 1604 1674-1679 20 December 1679 Nassau-Siegen Unmarried
William Maurice 18 January 1649 1679-1691 23 January 1691 Nassau-Siegen Ernestine Charlotte of Nassau-Schaumburg
6 February 1678
Schaumburg
two children
William Frederick 7 August 1613 1640-1664 31 October 1664 Nassau-Dietz Albertine Agnes of Orange-Nassau
2 May 1652
Kleve
three children
Crato II 7 April 1621 1640-1642 25 July 1642 Nassau-Saarbrücken Unmarried
John Louis V 23 May 1625 1642-1659 9 February 1690 Nassau-Saarbrücken Dorothea Catherine of Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler
6 October 1649
Bischweiler
eight children
In 1659 divided the land with his other brothers.
William III 27 May 1626 1647-1650 6 November 1650 Nassau-Breda
Orange-Nassau
Mary of Great Britain
2 May 1641
London
one child
Mary of Great Britain (regent) 4 November 1631 1650-1660 24 November 1660 Nassau-Breda
Orange-Nassau
William III
2 May 1641
London
one child
Shared regency on behalf of William IV.
Amalia of Solms-Braunfels (regent) 31 August 1602 1650-1672 8 September 1675 Nassau-Breda
Orange-Nassau
Frederick Henry
4 April 1625
The Hague
no children
William IV 4 November 1650 1672-1702 8 March 1702 Nassau-Breda
Orange-Nassau
Mary II, Queen of Great Britain
4 November 1677
London
no children
Became King of England and Scotland (Great Britain) in 1688, jointly with his wife. Left no descendants, and his lands in Nassau and Holland reverted to Nassau-Dietz line.
Nassau-Breda and Orange-Nassau annexed to Nassau-Dietz
Maurice Henry 23 April 1626 1653-1679 24 January 1679 Nassau-Hadamar Ernestine Charlotte of Nassau-Siegen
30 January 1650
Siegen
six children

Maria Leopoldine of Nassau-Siegen
12 August 1669
Siegen
three children

Anna Louise of Manderscheid-Blankenheim
24 October 1675
Hachenburg
six children
Frederick 26 April 1640 1655-1675 8 September 1675 Nassau-Weilburg Christiane Elisabeth von Sayn-Wittgenstein-Homburg
26 May 1663
three children
John Louis V 23 May 1625 1659-1690 9 February 1690 Nassau-Ottweiler Dorothea Catherine of Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler
6 October 1649
Bischweiler
eight children
Son of William Louis II, after the partition received Ottweiler.
Gustav Adolph 27 March 1632 1659-1677 9 October 1677 Nassau-Saarbrücken Eleonore Klara of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein
14 June 1662
seven children
Son of William Louis II, after the partition received Saarbrücken.
Waleran V 25 February 1635 1659-1702 17 October 1702 Nassau-Usingen Catherine Françoise of Croÿ-Roeulx
16 June 1678
Mechelen
three children

Magdalena Elizabeth of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort
1686
no children
Son of William Louis II, after the partition received Usingen.
Henry XIII 28 August 1641 1662-1701 18 April 1701 Nassau-Dillenburg Dorothea Elizabeth of Brzeg
13 October 1663
sixteen children
Grandson of Louis Henry, as son of George Louis, Heir of Nassau-Dillenburg.
Albertine Agnes of Orange-Nassau (regent) 9 April 1634 1664-1677 26 May 1696 Nassau-Dietz William Frederick
2 May 1652
Kleve
three children
Henry Casimir II 18 January 1657 1677-1696 25 March 1696 Nassau-Dietz Henriëtte Amalia of Anhalt-Dessau
26 November 1683
Dessau
nine children
John XVIII, Count of Nassau-Idstein (regent) 24 November 1603 1675-1677 23 May 1677 Nassau-Idstein Sibylla Magdalena of Baden-Durlach
6 June 1629
Strasbourg
nine children

Anna of Leiningen-Dagsburg-Falkenburg
6 December 1646
Strasbourg
seventeen children
Regents on behalf of John Ernest.
John Louis V, Count of Nassau-Ottweiler (regent) 23 May 1625 1659-1690 9 February 1690 Nassau-Ottweiler Dorothea Catherine of Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler
6 October 1649
Bischweiler
eight children
John Ernest 13 June 1664 c.1680-1719 27 February 1719 Nassau-Weilburg Maria Polyxena of Leiningen-Dagsburg-Hartenburg
3 April 1683
nine children
Louis Crato 28 March 1663 1677-1713 14 February 1713 Nassau-Saarbrücken Philippine Henriette of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
25 April 1699
eight children
Left no male descendants. He was succeeded by his brother Charles Louis.
George August 26 February 1665 1677-1721 26 October 1721 Nassau-Idstein Henriette Dorothea of Oettingen
22 September 1688
Kirchheim unter Teck
twelve children
Nassau-Idstein was annexed by Nassau-Saarbrücken
Francis Bernard of Nassau-Hadamar (regent) 21 September 1637 1679-1694 15 September 1695 Nassau-Hadamar Unmarried Brother of Maurice Henry, became regent on behalf of his nephew.
Francis Alexander 27 January 1674 1694-1711 27 May 1711 Nassau-Hadamar Elizabeth Catherine Felicitas of Hesse-Rotenburg
18 October 1695
Lovosice
(annulled 1705)
fourteen children
Left no surviving descendants, and his lands were divided by the neighbouring counties.
Nassau-Hadamar divided between Nassau-Dietz, Nassau-Dillenburg and Nassau-Siegen
Henriëtte Amalia of Anhalt-Dessau (regent) 16 August 1666 1696-1708 18 April 1726 Nassau-Dietz
Orange-Nassau
Henry Casimir II
26 November 1683
Dessau
nine children
Regent on behalf of her son. From 1702 ruled also over the lands of William IV, who died without descendants in 1702.
John William Friso 14 August 1687 1708-1711 14 July 1711 Nassau-Dietz
Orange-Nassau
Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel
26 April 1709
Kassel
two children
William Hyacinth 3 April 1667 1699-1743 18 April 1743 Nassau-Siegen Maria Francisca of Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg
9 April 1687
Liège
three children

Maria Anna of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst
22 May 1698
Frankfurt
one child

Sophia of Starhemberg
28 July 1740
Vienna
no children
Son of John Francis Desideratus. Mismanaged the government of the principality and was deposed in 1707. He was replaced by his cousin.
William V 28 August 1670 1701-1724 21 September 1724 Nassau-Dillenburg Johanna Dorothea of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön-Norburg
13 January 1699
Harzgerode
two children
Left no surviving descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
William Henry I 2 May 1684 1702-1718 14 February 1718 Nassau-Usingen Charlotte Amalia of Nassau-Dillenburg
15 April 1706
Dillenburg
nine children
Frederick William I 20 February 1680 1707-1722 13 February 1722 Nassau-Siegen Elisabeth of Hesse-Homburg
7 January 1702
five children

Amalie Louise of Courland
13 April 1708
eight children
Son of William Maurice.
Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel (regent) 7 February 1688 1711-1729 9 April 1765 Nassau-Dietz
Orange-Nassau
John William Friso
26 April 1709
Kassel
two children
Regent on behalf of her son.
William VI 1 September 1711 1729-1751 22 October 1751 Nassau-Dietz
Orange-Nassau
Anne of Great Britain
25 March 1734
London
three children
Charles Louis 6 January 1665 1713-1723 6 December 1723 Nassau-Saarbrücken Christiane Charlotte of Nassau-Ottweiler
22 April 1713
Saarbrücken
two children
Left no descendants. The land went to his cousin from Nassau-Ottweiler.
Charles August 17 September 1685 1719-1753 9 November 1753 Nassau-Weilburg Auguste Friederike of Nassau-Idstein
17 August 1723
Wiesbaden
seven children
Amalie Louise of Courland (regent) 2 July 1687 1722-c.1726 18 January 1750 Nassau-Siegen Frederick William I
13 April 1708
eight children
Regent in name of her stepson, Frederick William II.
Frederick William II 11 November 1706 c.1726-1734 11 November 1734 Nassau-Siegen Sophie Polyxena Concordia of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein
23 September 1728
five children
Left no surviving male descendants. After his death Nassau-Siegen were annexed to Nassau-Dietz.
Nassau-Siegen was annexed by Nassau-Dietz
Frederick Louis 13 November 1651 1690-1723 25 May 1728 Nassau-Ottweiler Christiane van Ahlefeldt
28 July 1680
eight children

Louise Sophie of Hanau-Lichtenberg
27 September 1697
no children
In 1723 inherited Saarbrücken, reuniting Ottweiler with the newly-inherited land.
1723-1728 Nassau-Saarbrücken
Nassau-Ottweiler merged again in Nassau-Saarbrücken
Christian 12 August 1688 1724-1739 28 August 1739 Nassau-Dillenburg Isabella Charlotte of Nassau-Dietz
1725
no children
Left no surviving descendants and his lands were annexed to Nassau-Dietz.
Nassau-Dillenburg was annexed by Nassau-Dietz
Charlotte Amalia of Nassau-Dillenburg (regent) 2 May 1684 1718-1728 14 February 1718 Nassau-Usingen William Henry
15 April 1706
Dillenburg
nine children
Regent in name of her son Charles. In 1728 inherited Nassau-Saarbrücken and all its lands.
1728-1734 Nassau-Usingen and Nassau-Saarbrücken
Charles 31 December 1712 1734-1741 21 June 1775 Nassau-Usingen and Nassau-Saarbrücken Christine Wilhelmine of Saxe-Eisenach
26 December 1734
four children

Magdalene Gross of Wiesbaden
after 1740
(morganatic)
four children
In 1741 gave Saarbrücken to his brother, and retained Usingen.
1741-1775 Nassau-Usingen
William Henry II 6 March 1718 1741-1768 24 July 1768 Nassau-Saarbrücken Sophie of Erbach-Erbach
28 February 1742
Erbach
five children
Received Nassau-Saarbrücken from his brother.
Anne of Great Britain (regent) 2 November 1709 1751-1759 12 January 1759 Nassau-Dietz
Orange-Nassau
William VI
25 March 1734
London
three children
Regents on behalf of William VII.
Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel (regent) 7 February 1688 1759-1765 9 April 1765 Nassau-Dietz
Orange-Nassau
John William Friso
26 April 1709
Kassel
two children
Louis Ernest, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg-Bevern (regent) 25 September 1718 1759-1766 12 May 1788 Nassau-Dietz
Orange-Nassau
Unmarried
Carolina of Orange-Nassau (regent) 28 February 1743 1765-1766 6 May 1787 Nassau-Weilburg Charles Christian
5 March 1760
The Hague
fifteen children
William VII 8 March 1748 1766-1806 9 April 1806 Nassau-Dietz
Orange-Nassau
Wilhelmina of Prussia I
4 October 1767
Berlin
five children
Louis III 3 January 1745 1768-1794 2 March 1794 Nassau-Saarbrücken Wilhelmine of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
30 October 1766
Schwarzburg
one child

Katharina Kest
30 October 1766
(morganatic, legitimized 1787)
seven children
Charles William 9 November 1735 1775-1803 17 May 1803 Nassau-Usingen Caroline Felizitas of Leiningen-Dagsburg
16 April 1760
one child
Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
Henry Louis 9 March 1768 1794-1797 27 April 1797 Nassau-Saarbrücken Marie Françoise Maximilienne of Saint Mauris-Montbarrey
6 October 1785
no children
After his death Nassau-Saarbrücken was occupied by France.
Nassau-Saarbrücken was annexed by France
Frederick Augustus 23 April 1738 1803-1806 24 March 1816 Nassau-Usingen Louise of Waldeck
9 June 1775
seven children
From 1806 ruled jointly. Frederick William retained the title of Prince of Nassau, and Frederick Augustus maintained his title of Duke.
1806-1816 Duchy of Nassau
Nassau-Usingen united with Nassau-Weilburg to form the Duchy of Nassau
Frederick William III 25 October 1768 1788-1806 9 January 1816 Nassau-Weilburg Louise Isabelle of Kirchberg
31 July 1788
Hachenburg
four children
1806-1816 Duchy of Nassau
Nassau-Weilburg united with Nassau-Usingen to form the Duchy of Nassau
William VIII 24 August 1772 1806

1813-1815
12 December 1843 Nassau-Dietz
Orange-Nassau
Wilhelmina of Prussia II
1 October 1791
Berlin
six children

Henrietta d'Oultremont
17 February 1841
(morganatic)
no children
Ascended 9 April 1806, and on 27 October his lands were annexed to the Duchy of Nassau. He revived the Principality of Orange-Nassau, but in 1815 was proclaimed King of the Netherlands. His Nassau lands returned to the Duchy of Nassau. See List of monarchs of the Netherlands for the descendants of William.
In 1806, Nassau-Dietz and Orange-Nassau were annexed to the Duchy of Nassau

In 1815, Nassau-Dietz and Orange-Nassau were annexed again to the Duchy of Nassau
William IX 14 June 1792 1816-1839 20/30 August 1839 Duchy of Nassau Louise of Saxe-Hildburghausen
24 June 1814
Weilburg
eight children

Pauline of Württemberg
23 April 1829
Stuttgart
four children
Adolph VI 24 July 1817 1839-1866 17 November 1905 Duchy of Nassau Elizabeth Mikhailovna of Russia
31 January 1844
St. Petersburg
no children

Adelheid-Marie of Anhalt-Dessau
23 April 1851
Dessau
five children
In 1866 lost his Nassau lands, but he was granted in 1890 the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg after the death of his cousin without male descendants. See List of monarchs of Luxembourg for the descendants of William.
In 1866, Nassau was annexed to the Kingdom of Prussia

References

  1. ^ a b Abramson, Scott F. (2017-01-01). "The Economic Origins of the Territorial State". International Organization. 71 (1): 97–130. doi:10.1017/S0020818316000308. ISSN 0020-8183.