County of Nassau
(Princely) County of Nassau Principalities of Nassau | |||||||||
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1125–1806 | |||||||||
Status | County | ||||||||
Capital | Nassau | ||||||||
Common languages | German (Rhine Franconian dialects, Moselle Franconian dialects) | ||||||||
Government | County | ||||||||
Historical era | Middle 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 | ||||||||
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Today part of | Germany |
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-Saarbrücken (Elder)
- County of Nassau-Weilburg
- 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) |
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Southern Nassau (Nassau-Weilburg) (1605-1627) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nassau-Siegen (2nd creation) (1606-1734) |
Nassau-Dietz (1606-1702) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nassau-Hadamar (2nd creation) (1620-1711) |
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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) |
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Nassau-Dietz and Orange-Nassau (1st creation) (1702-1806) |
Nassau-Usingen (1659-1806) |
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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 | |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Adolph III | 1386 | 1393-1426 | 16 July 1426 | Nassau-Idstein | Margaret of Baden-Baden March 1418 six children |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Adolph V | 10 November 1443 | 1480-1511 | 6 July 1511 | Nassau-Idstein | Margaret of Hanau-Lichtenberg 20 June 1484 four children |
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Philip III | 1450 | 1480-1509 | 16 June 1509 | Nassau-Idstein | Margaret of Zweibrücken-Veldenz 1470 no children |
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Louis I | 1473 | 1492-1523 | 28 May 1523 | Nassau-Weilburg | Maria Margaretha of Nassau-Idstein 19 April 1501 six children |
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John XI | 1475 | 1499-1513 | 18 August 1513 | Nassau-Beilstein | Maria of Solms 1492 four children Anna of Lippe 1510 no children |
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John XII | 9 November 1455 | 1504-1516 | 30 July 1516 | Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg | Elisabeth of Hesse-Marburg 11 February 1481 six children |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Frederick | 26 April 1640 | 1655-1675 | 8 September 1675 | Nassau-Weilburg | Christiane Elisabeth von Sayn-Wittgenstein-Homburg 26 May 1663 three children |
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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 |
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Henry Casimir II | 18 January 1657 | 1677-1696 | 25 March 1696 | Nassau-Dietz | Henriëtte Amalia of Anhalt-Dessau 26 November 1683 Dessau nine children |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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
- ^ 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.