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 ofGermany

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 county 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

House of Nassau

Partitions of Nassau under House of Nassau rule

County of Laurenburg/ Nassau
(1093-1255)
Otto Nassau wapen.svg
County of
Northern Nassau

(Ottonian Line)
(1255-1303)
Walram Nassau wapen.svg
County of
Southern Nassau

(Walramian Line)
(1255-1355)
County of
Nassau-Siegen

(1st creation)
(1303-1328)
       County of
Nassau-Hadamar

(1st creation)
(1303-1394)
      
County of
Nassau-Beilstein

(1343-1561)
      
              County of
Nassau-Sonnenberg

(1355-1404)
      
             
County of
Nassau-Dillenburg

(1303-1654)
(Siegen line from 1328)
Raised to:
Principality of
Nassau-Dillenburg

(1654-1739)
County of
Nassau-Weilburg

(1355-1806)
       Barony of
Nassau-Breda

(1403-1544)
Raised to, and
renamed as:

Principality of
Orange-Nassau

(1st creation,
Dillenburg line)

(1544-1702)
       County of
Nassau-Idstein

(1st creation)
(1355-1605)
(divided 1370-86; 1480-1509; 1554-56; 1564-66)
              County of
Nassau-Saarbrücken

(1st creation)
(1429-1574)
             
             
             
       County of
Nassau-Siegen

(2nd creation)
(1606-1652/64)
(In 1623 divided in Catholic and Protestant ruling lines)
Both lines raised to:
Catholic Principality of
Nassau-Siegen

(1652-1743)
and
Protestant Principality of
Nassau-Siegen

(1664-1734)
      
       County of
Nassau-Hadamar

(2nd creation)
(1620-1650)
Raised to:
Principality of
Nassau-Hadamar

(1650-1711)
                     County of
Nassau-Idstein

(2nd creation)
(1627-1688)

Raised to:
Principality of
Nassau-Idstein

(1688-1721)
              County of
Nassau-Ottweiler

(1659-1721)
      
                           
                           
       County of
Nassau-Dietz

(1606-1654)
Raised to:
Principality of
Nassau-Dietz

(1654-1702)
Renamed as:
Principality of
Orange-Nassau

(2nd creation, Dietz line)
(1702-1806)
       County of
Nassau-Saarbrücken

(2nd creation)
(1627-1728)
                           
              County of Nassau-Usingen
(1659-1688)
Raised to:
Principality of Nassau-Usingen
(1688-1806)
             
      
              Principality of
Nassau-Saarbrücken

(1741-1797)
              Annexed by France
      
Orange-Nassau
(2nd creation, Dietz line)
(1813-1815)
Duchy of Nassau
(1806-1866)
      
Annexed by Prussia

Table of rulers

Ruler Born Reign Death Ruling part Consort Notes
Dudo ? 1093-1117 c.1117 County of Laurenburg/Nassau Irmgard/Demudis of Arnstein
three children
Founder of the family and the county.
Rupert I c.1090 1117-1154 c.1154 County of Laurenburg/Nassau Beatrix of Limburg
before 1135
four children
Sons of Dudo, ruled jointly. Arnold abdicated from the co-regency.
Arnold I c.1090 1117-1148 After 1154 County of Laurenburg/Nassau Unmarried
Arnold II c.1137 1154-1159 c.1159 County of Laurenburg/Nassau Unknown
at least one child
Sons of Rupert I, ruled jointly.
Rupert II c.1137 1154-1159 c.1159 County of Laurenburg/Nassau Beatrix
at least two children
Regency of Beatrix of Limburg (1159-1160) Cousins, ruled together. Rupert III, Arnold II's son, co- ruled with Henry I, Rupert II's son. In 1167, Henry I died in Rome during the August 1167 epidemic (after the Battle of Monte Porzio). His death made his brother Waleran replace him in the co-regency. In 1191, Rupert III's death made his son Herman the new co-regent, but he abdicated the next year. In 1193, Waleran I (then already sole ruler) would become the first legalized Count of Nassau.
Rupert III the Bellicose before 1159 1159-1191 23/28 December 1191 County of Laurenburg/Nassau Elisabeth of Leiningen
1169
two children
Henry I before 1159 1159-1167 August 1167 County of Laurenburg/Nassau Unmarried
Waleran I c.1146 1167-1198 1 February 1198 County of Laurenburg/Nassau Kunigunde of Ziegenhain
before 1135
four children
Herman ? 1191-1192 After 1206 County of Laurenburg/Nassau Unmarried
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. From 1230 to 1240, Rupert was a Knight of the Teutonic Order.
Rupert IV c.1180 1198-1230 c.1239 County of Nassau Gertrude of Kleeberg
c. 11 December 1215
no children
Henry II's sons, Waleran II and Otto I, who were ruling together, split the Nassau possessions on 17 December 1255, by a treaty called [[:de:Prima divisio, which determined the Lahn river as border of the two halves: to the south, called Southern Nassau, was ruled by Waleran and his descendants, who became known as the Walramian Line, which became important in the County of Nassau and Luxembourg; to the north, called Northern Nassau the county was ruled by Otto and his descendants, who became known as the Ottonian Line, which would inherit parts of Nassau, France and the Netherlands.


Otto I c.1220 1251-1255 between 3 May 1289 and 19 March 1290 County of Nassau Agnes of Leiningen
five children
Son of Henry II, received the land to the north of Lahn river: He was count of Nassau in Dillenburg, Hadamar, Siegen, Herborn and Beilstein.
1255-1289/90 Northern Nassau
Waleran II c.1220 1251-1255 24 January 1276 County of Nassau Adelaide of Katzenelnbogen
before 1250
seven children
Son of Henry II, received the land to the south of Lahn river: He was count of Nassau in Wiesbaden, Idstein, and Weilburg.
1255-1276 Southern Nassau
Adolph I Die deutschen Kaiser Adolf von Nassau.jpg c.1255 1276-1298 2 July 1298 County of 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 County of 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

(Siegen, Ginsberg, Haiger, and the Westerwald), Emicho received Nassau-Hadamar and John received Nassau-Dillenburg. However, after the childless death of John, Nassau-Dillenburg (and the towns of Dillenburg, Herborn, and Beilstein) fell to Nassau-Siegen, which adopted the name Nassau-Dillenburg. Siegen and Dillenburg were united until 1606.

1303-1334 County of Hadamar
John I c.1290 1289/90-1303 10 August 1328 County of Northern Nassau Unmarried
1303-1328 County of Dillenburg
Henry I Bernard van Orley 011.jpg before 1288 1289/90-1303 July/August 1343 County of Northern Nassau Adelaide of Sponheim-Heinsberg
1302
five children
1303-1328 County of Siegen
1328-1343 County of Dillenburg
Nassau-Dillenburg was annexed to Nassau-Siegen, which adopted the name Nassau-Dillenburg
Rupert V c.1280 1298-1304 2 November 1304 County of Southern Nassau Unmarried Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother, Gerlach.
Gerlach I Tekening van het grafmonument van Gerlach I van Nassau en Agnes van Hessen.jpg c.1285 1304-1355 7 January 1361 County of 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 County of Southern Nassau Unmarried
John I after 1302 1334-1365 20 January 1365 County of Hadamar Elisabeth of Waldeck
1331
ten children
Sons of Emicho I, ruled jointly.
Emicho II after 1302 1334-1359 1 March 1359 County of Hadamar Unmarried
Otto II Otto II. of Nassau-Siegen and Adelheid of Vianden.jpg c.1305 1343-1351 6 January 1351 County of Dillenburg Adelaide of Vianden
23 December 1331
four children
Children of Henry I, divided the land: Otto kept Dillenburg, and Henry inherited Beilstein, partitioned from Dillenburg.
Henry I 11 June 1323 1343-1378 28 October 1378 County of Beilstein Imagina of Westerburg
1339
three children
Adelaide of Vianden Otto II. of Nassau-Siegen and Adelheid of Vianden.jpg c.1305 1351-1376 30 September 1376 County of Dillenburg
(at Mengerskirchen)
Otto II, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg
23 December 1331
four children
Widow of Otto II, inherited Mengerskirchen from her husband. After ther death, the town went to Nassau-Beilstein.
John I c.1340 1351-1416 4 September 1416 County of Dillenburg Margaretha of the Marck
30 November 1357
six children
Inherited Vianden.
Crato c.1340 1355-1356 1356 County of Sonnenberg Unmarried Children of Gerlach I, divided the land:
  • Crato inherited Sonnenberg, died with no descendants, and was succeeded by his brother Rupert.
  • John inherited Weilburg and passed it to his descendants.
  • Adolph inherited Idstein and passed it to his descendants.
  • Rupert inherited his brother Crato's land of Sonnenberg, and, with no children left, passed it to his wife Anna.
John I c.1309 1355-1371 20 September 1371 County of Weilburg Gertrude of Merenberg
1333
one child

Johanna of Saarbrücken
1353
seven children
Adolph I Tekening van het grafmonument van Adolf I van Nassau-Wiesbaden en Margarethe van Neurenberg.jpg c.1307 1355-1370 17 January 1370 County of Idstein Margaret of Nuremberg
1322
fourteen children
Rupert (VI) the Warrior c.1340 1356-1390 4 September 1390 County of Sonnenberg Anna of Nassau-Hadamar
1362
no children
Elisabeth of Waldeck after 1302 1365-1381 c.1381 County of Hadamar
(at Ems)
John I, Count of Nassau-Hadamar
1331
ten children
Widow of John I, ruled at Ems.
Henry I after 1331 1365-1368 1368 County of Hadamar Unmarried Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
Emicho III after 1331 1368-1394 1394 County of Hadamar Brother of Henry, left no descendants. The land was annexed to Nassau-Dillenburg.
Gerlach II 1333 1370-1386 1386 County of Idstein Agnes of Veldenz
c.1360
no children
Children of Adolph I, divided the land: Gerlach kept Idstein and Waleran inherited Wiesbaden. Waleran reunited Idstein after his brother's death.
Waleran IV Tekening van het grafmonument voor Walram IV van Nassau-Wiesbaden.jpg 1354 1370-1393 7 November 1393 County of Idstein
(At Wiesbaden
1370-86)
Bertha of Westerburg
1374
two children
Joanna of Saarbrücken 1330 1371-1381 October 1381 County of Weilburg
(at Neuweilnau)
John I, Count of Nassau-Weilburg
1353
seven children
Joanna held her estate at Neuweilnau until her death; while providing the regency for her son on the rest of Weilburg; At his death, Philip would divide the land for his sons: the eldest received Nassau-Weilburg; the youngest, her original county of Saarbrücken.
Regencies of Joanna of Saarbrücken (1371-1381) and Frederick of Blankenheim, Bishop of Strasbourg (1381-1382)
Philip I Philipp I. (Nassau-Saarbrücken-Weilburg).jpg 1368 1371-1429 2 July 1429 County of Weilburg Anna of Hohenlohe-Weikersheim
1385
one child

Elisabeth of Lorraine-Vaudémont
1412
four children
Henry II 29 September 1374 1378-1412 12 October 1412 County of Beilstein Catherine of Randerode
1383
four children
Sons of Henry I, ruled jointly.
Rainhard 1374 1378-1414/18 between 30 December 1414 and 17 April 1418 County of Beilstein Unmarried
Anna Tekening van het grafmonument voor Anna van Nassau-Hadamar.jpg c.1330 1390-1404 21 January 1404 County of Sonnenberg Rupert, Count of Nassau-Sonnenberg
1362
no children
Heir of her husband and her brother. In 1403, renounced the claims over Hadamar and, after her own death, Sonnenberg went to Weilburg line.
1394-1403 County of Hadamar
Nassau-Hadamar was annexed to Nassau-Dillenburg
Nassau-Sonnenberg was annexed to Nassau-Weilburg
Adolph II Grafmonument van Adolf II van Nassau-Wiesbaden en Margarethe van Baden.jpg 1386 1393-1426 16 July 1426 County of Idstein Margaret of Baden-Baden
March 1418
six children
John I After 1383 1414/18-1473 1473 County of Beilstein Matilda of Isenburg
1415
four children

Johanna von Gemen
1477
one child
Sons of Henry II, ruled jointly.
Henry III 1418 1414/18-1477 12 September 1477 County of Beilstein Unmarried
Adolph I 1362 1388-1420 12 June 1420 County of Dietz Judith of Dietz
1376
one child
Sons of John I, ruled jointly, as Tetrarchs. Counts Adolph and Engelbert inherited via his wives half of Diez and Breda, respectively, which became, after their deaths, part of Nassau patrimony.
1416-1420 County of Dillenburg
John II the Elder 1365 1416-1443 May 1443 County of Dillenburg Unmarried
Engelbert I P1010765Praalgraf van Engelbrecht I van Nassau.JPG 1370 1403-1442 3 May 1442 Barony of Breda Johanna van Polanen
1 August 1403
Breda
six children
1416-1442 County of Dillenburg
John III the Younger 1362 1416-1429/30 1429/30 County of Dillenburg Unmarried
Judith c.1380? 1420-1424 2 August 1424 County of Dietz Godfried VII, Count of Eppstein-Münzenberg
1401
five children
Inherited half of Dietz (the other part was inherited by her uncles) and after her death passed to the Eppstein family. Dillenburg eventually recovered parts of her share of Dietz in 1530.
Dietz annexed to County of Eppstein; Recovered to Nassau-Dillenburg in 1530
Regency of Margaret of Baden-Baden (1426-1433)
John II Tekening van het grafmonument voor Johann van Nassau-Wiesbaden en Maria van Nassau-Breda.jpg 1419 1426-1480 9 May 1480 County of Idstein Maria of Nassau-Breda
17 June 1437
Breda
six children
Regency of Elisabeth of Lorraine-Vaudémont (1429–1438) Sons of Philip I. Philip II was the eldest and received Nassau-Weilburg. Between 1464 and 1490, he also served as regent for count John Louis of Nassau-Saarbrücken, together with Duke Eberhard I of Württemberg, following the death of the count's mother and previous regent. Philip II's younger brother, John, received Saarbrücken in the partitions.
Philip II Kloster Eberbach Basilika Grabplatte 46.JPG 12 March 1418 1429-1492 19 March 1492 County of Weilburg Margaret of Loon-Heinsberg
25 September 1440
two children
Regency of Elisabeth of Lorraine-Vaudémont (1429–1438)
John II Johan II van Nassau-Saarbrücken.jpg 4 April 1423 1429-1472 15 July 1472 County of Saarbrücken Johanna of Loon-Heinsberg
30 November 1456
two children

Elisabeth of Württemberg-Urach
30 October 1470
one child
John IV Bernard van Orley - Johan IV van Nassau and His Wife Maria van Loon-Heinsberg.jpg 1 August 1410 1442-1475 3 February 1475 Barony of Breda Mary of Looz-Heinsberg
7 February 1440
six children
Sons of Engelbert I, ruled jointly in Breda and Dillenburg until 1447. In this year they divided their lands: John kept Breda and Henry, Dillenburg. After the latter's death, the former reunited their possessions. Their sister Maria inherited some unknown possessions in the Netherlands (possibly in Breda), which she contested with her brother John,[2] and possibly passed to Nassau-Idstein.
1442-1447
1451-1475
County of Dillenburg
Henry II Tomb of Heinrich II of Nassau-Siegen.jpg 7 July 1414 1443-1447 8 June 1451 Barony of Breda Genoveva of Virneburg
1435
one child

Irmgard of Schleiden-Junkerath
after 1437
no children
1443-1451 County of Dillenburg
Maria Tekening van het grafmonument voor Johann van Nassau-Wiesbaden en Maria van Nassau-Breda.jpg 2 February 1418 1443-1472 11 October 1472 Barony of Breda John II
17 June 1437
Breda
six children
Regencies of Elisabeth of Württemberg-Urach and Eberhard I, Duke of Württemberg (1472-1474), and Philip II, Count of Nassau-Weilburg (1474-1490)
John Louis Johan Lodewijk van Nassau-Saarbrücken 1472-1545.jpg 19 October 1472 1472-1545 4 June 1545 County of Saarbrücken Elisabeth of Palatinate-Zweibrücken
29 January 1492
Saarbrücken
six children

Catharina van Meurs-Saarwerden
14 February 1507
nine children
Engelbert II the Valorious Engelbrecht-II-Nassau cropped.jpg 17 May 1451 1475-1504 31 May 1504 Barony of Breda Cymburgis of Baden-Baden
19 December 1468
Koblenz
no children
Children of John IV, divided the land: Engelbert inherited Breda in the Netherlands (with the towns of Lek, Diest, Roosendaal en Nispen, Wouw, and Vianden) and John inherited Dillenburg (with the towns of Dillenburg, Siegen, Hadamar, Herborn, Vianden, Dietz). Engelbert was also Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands, and left no descendants, being succeeded by John's eldest son Henry III.
John V 9 November 1455 1475-1516 30 July 1516 County of Dillenburg Elisabeth of Hesse-Marburg
11 February 1481
six children
Henry IV 1449 1477-1499 26 May 1499 County of Beilstein Eva of Sayn
1464
ten children
Philip 1450 1480-1509 16 June 1509 County of Idstein Margaret of Zweibrücken-Veldenz
1470
no children
Children of John II, divided the land: Philip kept Idstein and Adolph inherited Wiesbaden. Once more, the holder of Wiesbaden reunited the county.
Adolph III Tekening van het grafmonument voor Adolf III van Nassau-Wiesbaden.jpg 10 November 1443 1480-1511 6 July 1511 County of Idstein
(At Wiesbaden
1480-1509)
Margaret of Hanau-Lichtenberg
20 June 1484
four children
Louis I 1473 1492-1523 28 May 1523 County of Weilburg Maria Margaretha of Nassau-Idstein
19 April 1501
six children
John II 1475 1499-1513 18 August 1513 County of Beilstein Maria of Solms
1492
four children

Anna of Lippe
1510
no children
Henry III 'Portrait of Hendrik III, Count of Nassau-Breda', oil on panel painting by Jan Gossart (Mabuse).jpg 12 January 1483 1504-1538 14 September 1538 Barony of Breda Louise-Françoise of Savoy
3 August 1503
no children

Claudia of Chalon
May 1515
one child

Mencía de Mendoza
26 June 1524
one child
Son of John V, inherited Nassau-Breda from his uncle Engelbrecht II.
Philip I the Elder Grafmonument voor Philip I van Nassau-Wiesbaden en Adriana de Glymes.jpg 26 April 1492 1511-1554 6 June 1558 County of Idstein Adriana of Glymes
24 August 1514
Bergen op Zoom
six children
Abdicated for his children, who divided the land once more.
John III 17 November 1495 1513-1561 13 December 1561 County of Beilstein Anna of Nassau-Weilburg
1523
no children
Sons of John II, ruled jointly. They had no descendants and after their death the county was annexed to Nassau-Dillenburg.
Henry V After 1495 1513-1525 25 February 1525 County of Beilstein Unmarried
Bernard 1479/85 1513-1556 10 May 1556 County of Beilstein Unmarried Brother of John II, ruled jointly with his nephews.
Nassau-Beilstein merged again in Nassau-Dillenburg
William I the Rich Wilhelm I der Reiche Graf von Nassau-Siegen.jpg 10 April 1487 1516-1559 6 October 1559 County of Dillenburg Walburga of Egmont
29 October 1519
Koblenz
two children

Juliana of Stolberg
29 September 1531
Königstein
twelve children
Son of John V, inherited Nassau-Dillenburg. During his reign (1530), parts of Judith's half of Dietz are recovered.
Philip III 20 September 1504 1523-1559 4 October 1559 County of 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
René Rene van Chalon.jpg 5 February 1519 1538-1544 15 July 1544 Principality of Orange
(1530-44)
Barony of Breda
(1538-44)
Anna of Lorraine
22 August 1540
Bar-le-Duc
one child
Son of Henry III, 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 I the Silent WilliamOfOrange1580.jpg 24 April 1533 1544-1584 10 July 1584 Principality of Orange
Barony of Breda
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. Also Count of Katzenelnbogen, Vianden, Dietz, Buren and Leerdam and Lord of IJsselstein, Baron of Breda, etc. Stadholder of Holland, Zealand and Utrect, etc. Murdered in 1584.
Philip II Filips III van Nassau-Saarbrücken.jpg 25 July 1509 1545-1554 19 June 1554 County of Saarbrücken Apollonia of Leiningen-Hartenburg
17 July 1535
no children
Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
John III Johan III van Nassau-Saarbrücken.jpg 5 April 1511 1554-1574 23 November 1574 County of Saarbrücken Unmarried Left no descendants. The land was absorbed by Nassau-Weilburg.
Nassau-Saarbrücken merged again in Nassau-Weilburg
Adolph IV Grafmonument van Adolf IV van Nassau-Idstein.jpg 1518 1554-1556 5 January 1556 County of Idstein Unmarried Children of Philip I, divided the land. Adolph kept Idstein and Philip inherited Wiesbaden. After Adolph IV's death, Philip II reunited Idstein, but divided it again with another brother, Balthasar.
Philip II the Younger Grafmonument van Philipp II der Jungherr van Nassau-Wiesbaden.jpg 1516 1554-1566 3 January 1566 County of Idstein
(At Wiesbaden
1554-56 and 1564-66)
Unmarried
Albert Albrecht van Nassau-Weilburg.jpg 26 December 1537 1559-1593 11 November 1593 County of Weilburg
(at Ottweiler)
Anna of Nassau-Dillenburg
23 September 1536
fourteen children
Sons of Philip I, ruled jointly. In 1574 annexed Nassau-Saarbrücken
Philip IV Philipp IV of Nassau-Saarbruecken.jpg 14 October 1542 1559-1602 12 March 1602 County of Weilburg Erica of Manderscheid-Blankenheim
9 April 1563
one child

Elisabeth of Nassau-Dillenburg
3 October 1583
no children
John VI the Elder Portret van Jan de Oude (1535-1606). Graaf van Nassau Rijksmuseum SK-A-538.jpeg 22 November 1536 1559-1606 8 October 1606 County of 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.
Balthasar 1520 1564-1568 11 January 1568 County of Idstein
(At Idstein 1564-66)
Margaret of Isenburg-Birstein
9 June/6 September 1564
one child
Brother of Adolph IV and Philip II. Definitely reunited Idstein.
Regency of Margaret of Isenburg-Birstein (1568-1587)
John Louis I 10 April 1567 c.1587-1596 10 June 1596 County of Idstein Maria of Nassau-Dillenburg
2 December 1588
Idstein
six children
Philip William Michiel Jansz van Mierevelt - Filips Willem prins van Oranje.jpg 19 December 1554 1584-1618 20 February 1618 Principality of Orange
Barony of Breda
Éléonore de Bourbon
23 November 1606
Fontainebleau
no children
Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his half-brother Maurice.
Anna of Nassau-Dillenburg 21 September 1541 1593-1616 12 February 1616 County of Weilburg
(at Wehen)
Albert, Count of Nassau-Weilburg
23 September 1536
fourteen children
Widow of Albert of Nassau-Weilburg, inherited the town of Wehen.
John Casimir 24 September 1577 1593-1602 29 March 1602 County of Weilburg
(at Ottweiler and Gleiberg)
Elisabeth of Hesse-Darmstadt
10 May 1601
Weilburg
one child
Son of Albert, inherited Ottweiler and Gleiberg. After his death his possessions returned to Weilbrug.
Regency of Maria of Nassau-Dillenburg (1596-1605) Died as minors. After John Louis' death, his lands were annexed to Nassau-Weilburg.
John Philip 26 March 1595 1596-1599 29 August 1599 County of Idstein Unmarried
John Louis II 21 May 1596 1599-1605 19 June 1605 County of Idstein Unmarried
Nassau-Idstein merged again in Nassau-Weilburg
Louis II 9 August 1565 1602-1627 8 November 1627 County of 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.
William Louis Willem Lodewijk van Nassau 1560-1620.jpg 13 March 1560 1606-1620 13 July 1620 County of Dillenburg Anna of Orange-Nassau
25 November 1587
Franeker
no children
Children of John VI, divided the land:
  • William Louis received Dillenburg, but left no descendants and was succeeded by his brother George;
  • John VII received Siegen, and passed it to his descendants, who divided it once more;
  • George received Beilstein, and reunited it with Dillenburg after William Louis' death, passing both to his descendants;
  • Ernest Casimir received Dietz, and passed it to his descendants;
  • John Louis received Hadamar, and passed it to his descendants.
John VII the Middle Jan de middelste van Nassau-Siegen.jpg 7 June 1561 1606-1623 27 September 1623 County of Siegen Magdalene of Waldeck-Wildungen
9 December 1581
Dillenburg
twelve children

Margaret of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg
27 August 1603
Dillenburg
thirteen children
George Ruiterportret van George, graaf van Nassau-Beilstein, RP-P-OB-105.876.jpg 1 September 1562 1606-1623 9 August 1623 County of Beilstein
(1606-23)

County of Dillenburg
(1620-23)
Anna Amalia van Nassau-Saarbrücken
1584
fourteen children

Amalia of Sayn-Wittgenstein
1605
one child
Ernest Casimir Ernst Casimir van Nassau.jpg 22 December 1573 1606-1632 2 June 1632 County of Dietz Sophia Hedwig of Brunswick-Lüneburg
8 June 1607
Dillenburg
two children
John Louis Johann-ludwig-hadamar.jpg 6 August 1590 1606-1653 10 March 1653 County of Hadamar
(1606-50)

Principality of Hadamar
(1650-53)
Ursula of Lippe
1617
fourteen children
Elisabeth of Hesse-Darmstadt 29 November 1579 1616-1655 17 July 1655 County of Weilburg
(at Wehen)
John Casimir, Count of Nassau-Gleiberg
10 May 1601
Weilburg
one child
Widow of John Casimir, inherited from her mother-in-law her seat at Wehen. At her death, Wehen was inherited by Nassau-Idstein.
Maurice School of Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt 001.jpg 14 November 1567 1618-1625 23 April 1625 Principality of Orange
Barony of Breda
Unmarried Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his half-brother Frederick Henry.
John VIII the Younger Jan VIII van Nassau-Siegen 1583-1638.jpg 29 September 1583 1623-1638 27 July 1638 County of Siegen
(Catholic branch)
Ernestine Yolande de Ligne
13 August 1618
Brussels
thirteen children
Sons of John VII, divided the land once more, this time in religious matters:
  • John VIII converted to Catholicism and received the part of the county south of the river Sieg and the original castle in Siegen (which after 1695 was called the "Upper Castle").
  • John Maurice remained Protestant, and received the part of the county north of the Sieg, and was also governor of Dutch Brazil and later of the Prussian province of Cleves, Mark, and Ravensberg. He also conquered the Freudenberg and Netphen districts from his halfbrother John VIII, but lost them again four years later. Between 1638 and 1674, his brother George Frederick of Nassau-Siegen ruled his part of the country.
  • William received the district of Hilchenbach from John VIII, and also the Ferndorf and Krombach districts 1632-1636. After his own death his districts went back to the Catholic main line.
John Maurice the Brazilian QT - Johann Moritz 1937.PNG 17 June 1604 1632-1679 20 December 1679 County of Siegen
(Protestant branch, 1632-64)

Principality of Siegen
(Protestant branch, 1664-79)
Unmarried
William Willem van Nassau.jpg 13 August 1592 1624-1642 17 July 1642 County of Siegen
(Protestant branch, at Hilchenbach)
Christiane of Erbach
17 January 1619
Siegen
seven children
Louis Henry Portret van Lodewijk Hendrik (1594-1661), vorst van Nassau-Dillenburg Rijksmuseum SK-A-541.jpeg 9 May 1594 1623-1662 12 July 1662 County of Dillenburg
(1623-54)

Principality of Dillenburg
(1654-62)
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 Albert van Nassau-Dillenburg.jpg 1 November 1596 1623-1626 16 June 1626 County of Dillenburg Unmarried
Frederick Henry Frederik Hendrik by Michiel Jansz van Mierevelt.jpg 29 January 1584 1625-1647 14 March 1647 Principality of Orange
Barony of Breda
Amalia of Solms-Braunfels
4 April 1625
The Hague
nine children
William Louis 18 December 1590 1627-1640 22 August 1640 Nassau-Saarbrücken Anna Amalia of Baden-Durlach
25 November 1615
Durlach
twelve children
Children of Louis II, divided the land:
  • William Louis received Saarbrücken;
  • John received Idstein, and (from 1651) Wiesbaden, Sonnenberg, Wehen, Burg-Schwalbach and Lahr. From 1675 he also served as regent for his nephew, John Ernest of Weilburg.
  • Ernest Casimir received Weilburg.
John Johan van Nassau-Idstein.jpg 24 November 1603 1627-1677 23 May 1677 County of Idstein Sibylla Magdalena of Baden-Durlach
6 June 1629
Strasbourg
nine children

Anna of Leiningen-Dagsburg-Falkenburg
6 December 1646
Strasbourg
seventeen children
Ernest Casimir 15 November 1607 1627-1655 16 April 1655 County of Weilburg Anna Maria of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hachenburg
22 February 1634
Weilburg
six children
Henry Casimir I Hendrik Casimir I van Nassau.jpg 21 January 1612 1632-1640 13 July 1640 County of Dietz Unmarried Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
Regency of Ernestine Yolande de Ligne d'Amblise (1638-1651) Had to cede a part of the County to the Protestant branch of the family in 1648. He kept fighting his Protestant neighbours and suppressing the Calvinists in his territory. His reign was marked by bad management and debts. However, in 1652, he was elevated to Imperial Prince.
John Francis Desideratus JohanFransDesideratus.jpg 28 July 1627 1638-1699 17 November 1699 County of Siegen
(Catholic branch, 1638-52)

Principality of Siegen
(Catholic branch, 1652-99)
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
William Frederick Willem Frederik van Nassau.jpg 7 August 1613 1640-1664 31 October 1664 County of Dietz
(1632-54)

Principality of Dietz
(1654-64)
Albertine Agnes of Orange-Nassau
2 May 1652
Kleve
three children
Regency of Anna Amalia of Baden-Durlach (1638-1642) Anna Amalia exerted regency of her son Crato, and then took the County of Saarwerden, while regent in the name of her second son in Saarbrucken. After her death, Saarwerden reunited with Saarbrucken. In 1659, John divided the land with his other brothers, in which he received Ottweiler. Count of Nassau-Saarbrücken and (1659–80) in Ottweiler, Jungenheim, and Wöllstein. Between 1677 and 1680 he also served as regent for Count John Ernest of Nassau-Weilburg.
Crato 7 April 1621 1640-1642 25 July 1642 County of Saarbrücken Unmarried
Anna Amalia of Baden-Durlach 18 December 1590 1642-1651 22 August 1640 Nassau-Saarbrücken
(at Saarwerden)
William Louis, Count of Nassau-Saarbrücken
25 November 1615
Durlach
twelve children
Regency of Anna Amalia of Baden-Durlach (1642-1651)
John Louis 23 May 1625 1642-1659 9 February 1690 County of Saarbrücken Dorothea Catherine of Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler
6 October 1649
Bischweiler
eight children
1659-1690 County of Ottweiler
William II Willem II prince of Orange and Maria Stuart.jpg 27 May 1626 1647-1650 6 November 1650 Principality of Orange
Barony of Breda
Mary of Great Britain
2 May 1641
London
one child
Mary of Great Britain 4 November 1631 1650-1660 24 December 1660 Barony of Breda William II
2 May 1641
London
one child
Given her inherited seat in Breda, she may have had the entire hereditary barony, which passed then to her son.
Regencies of Mary of Great Britain (1650-1660) and Amalia of Solms-Braunfels (1650-1672) Became King of England and Scotland (Great Britain) in 1688, jointly with his wife. Left no descendants. He named his cousin John William Friso of Nassau-Dietz as his heir in The Netherlands and the principality of Orange, passing over the claims of the Hohenzollerns of Brandenburg/Prussia.
William III King William III of England, (1650-1702).jpg 4 November 1650 1650-1702 8 March 1702 Principality of Orange
Barony of Breda
(from 1660)
Mary II, Queen of Great Britain
4 November 1677
London
no children
Principality of Orange (and Breda) inherited by Nassau-Dietz

In 1702, the Nassau-Dietz branch followed the House of Orange that had become extinct with William III of England (d. 1702). The counts of Nassau-Dietz not only descended from William the Silent's brother, but in female line also from himself, as William Frederick, Prince of Nassau-Dietz, had married Countess Albertine Agnes of Nassau, the fifth daughter of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange in 1652.

Maurice Henry Moritz Heinrich von Nassau-Hadamar.jpg 23 April 1626 1653-1679 24 January 1679 Principality of 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 County of Weilburg Christiane Elisabeth von Sayn-Wittgenstein-Homburg
26 May 1663
three children
Gustav Adolph Saarbrücken Schlosskirche (7).jpg 27 March 1632 1659-1677 9 October 1677 County of Saarbrücken Eleonore Klara of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein
14 June 1662
seven children
Brothers of John Louis of Nassau-Saarbrücken, divided the land: Gustav kept Saarbrücken, and Waleran inherited Usingen.
Waleran Lambert-van-den-Bos-Schauplatz-des-Krieges MG 9485.tif 25 February 1635 1659-1702 17 October 1702 County of Usingen
(1659-88)

Principality of Usingen
(1688-1702)
Catherine Françoise of Croÿ-Roeulx
16 June 1678
Mechelen
three children

Magdalena Elizabeth of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort
1686
no children
Henry 28 August 1641 1662-1701 18 April 1701 Principality of Dillenburg Dorothea Elizabeth of Brzeg
13 October 1663
sixteen children
Grandson of Louis Henry, as son of George Louis, Heir of Nassau-Dillenburg.
Regency of Albertine Agnes of Orange-Nassau (1664-1677)
Henry Casimir II Henry Casimir II, Prince of Nassau-Dietz.jpg 18 January 1657 1664-1696 25 March 1696 Principality of Dietz Henriëtte Amalia of Anhalt-Dessau
26 November 1683
Dessau
nine children
Regencies of John, Count of Nassau-Idstein (1675-1677) and John Louis, Count of Nassau-Ottweiler (1677-1680)
John Ernest Johann Ernst von Nassau Weilburg.png 13 June 1664 1675-1719 27 February 1719 Couny of Weilburg Maria Polyxena of Leiningen-Dagsburg-Hartenburg
3 April 1683
nine children
Louis Crato Saarbrücken Schlosskirche (1).jpg 28 March 1663 1677-1713 14 February 1713 County of 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 Georg August Samuel von Nassau-Idstein.jpg 26 February 1665 1677-1721 26 October 1721 County of Idstein
(1677-88)

Principality of Idstein
(1688-1721)
Henriette Dorothea of Oettingen
22 September 1688
Kirchheim unter Teck
twelve children
Nassau-Idstein was annexed by Nassau-Saarbrücken
Regency of Francis Bernard of Nassau-Hadamar (1679-1694) Left no surviving descendants, and his lands were divided by Nassau-Siegen, Nassau-Dillenburg and Nassau-Diez in 1717.
Francis Alexander Franzalexander stadtmuseum.jpg 27 January 1674 1679-1711 27 May 1711 Principality of Hadamar Elizabeth Catherine Felicitas of Hesse-Rotenburg
18 October 1695
Lovosice
(annulled 1705)
fourteen children
Nassau-Hadamar divided between Nassau-Dietz, Nassau-Dillenburg and Nassau-Siegen
William Maurice Willem Maurits van Nassau-Siegen.jpg 18 January 1649 1679-1691 23 January 1691 Principality of Siegen
(Protestant branch)
Ernestine Charlotte of Nassau-Schaumburg
6 February 1678
Schaumburg
two children
Regency of Ernestine Charlotte of Nassau-Schaumburg (1691-1701)
Frederick William Adolf Portret van Frederik Willem I Adolf van Nassau -Siegen (1680-1722).jpg 20 February 1680 1691-1722 13 February 1722 Principality of Siegen
(Protestant branch)
Elisabeth of Hesse-Homburg
7 January 1702
five children

Amalie Louise of Courland
13 April 1708
eight children
Regency of Henriëtte Amalia of Anhalt-Dessau (1696-1708) Became Stadholder in Friesland and Groningen, and in 1702 became the heir of William III and thus the founder of the younger House of Orange-Nassau and of the Dutch Royal Family. However, he had to split the Dutch properties with the King of Prussia who also descended from William I.
John William Friso Portrait of Johan Willem Friso van Nassau-Dietz (1687-1711) by Lancelot Volders.jpg 14 August 1687 1696-1711 14 July 1711 Principality of Dietz
(as Nassau-Dietz, 1696-1702; as Orange-Nassau, 1702-11)

Principality of Orange
Barony of Breda
(as Orange-Nassau, 1702-11)
Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel
26 April 1709
Kassel
two children
William Hyacinth Willem Hyacinth, by Nicolas de Largillière.jpg 3 April 1667 1699-1743 18 April 1743 Principality of Siegen
(Catholic branch)
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 removed from executive power 1707-1740. He inherited 1/6 of Nassau-Hadamar in 1711 and 1/2 of Nassau-Dillenburg in 1739. He ceded his part of Nassau-Dillenburg to William IV of Orange-Nassau in 1742 and received the latters part of Nassau-Hadamar in return. He was succeeded by William IV of Orange-Nassau.
William II 28 August 1670 1701-1724 21 September 1724 Principality of 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 Wilhelmsdorf, Plakette Wilhelm Heinrich.JPG 2 May 1684 1702-1718 14 February 1718 Principality of Usingen Charlotte Amalia of Nassau-Dillenburg
15 April 1706
Dillenburg
nine children
Regency of Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel (1711-1729) Inherited a number of Nassau territories besides his paternal Nassau-Dietz, namely 1/3 of Nassau-Hadamar in 1711, protestant Nassau-Siegen in 1734, and 1/2 of Nassau-Dillenburg in 1739. In 1732, Frederick William I of Prussia left him his Dutch properties, including Huis ten Bosch palace and Het Loo Palace. Ceded his part of Nassau-Hadamar to William Hyacinth of Nassau-Siegen in 1742 and received the latters part of Nassau-Dillenburg. Succeeded William Hyacinth in 1743, and reunited all of the German possessions of the Ottonian Line of his family in his hand, renaming his county into Nassau-Dillenburg, and styling himself Prince of Orange and Nassau. William IV became stadtholder of the Netherlands in 1747.
William IV Willem Karel Hendrik Friso van Oranje-Nassau, attributed to Johann Valentin Tischbein.jpg 1 September 1711 1711-1751 22 October 1751 Principality of Orange
(1711-13)
Barony of Breda
(1711-51)
Principality of Dietz
(1711-51)
(as Orange-Nassau)
Anne of Great Britain
25 March 1734
London
three children
In 1713, Orange was annexed to France. From 1713, the use of the title was merely nominal
Charles Louis 6 January 1665 1713-1723 6 December 1723 County of 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 Karl August von Nassau Weilburg.png 17 September 1685 1719-1753 9 November 1753 County of Weilburg Auguste Friederike of Nassau-Idstein
17 August 1723
Wiesbaden
seven children
Regency of Amalie Louise of Courland (1722-1726) Left no surviving male descendants. After his death (which determined the extinction of the line) in 1734, Emperor Charles VI transferred the protestant county of Nassau-Siegen to the House of Orange-Nassau as the inheritors.
Frederick William II Frederik Willem II van Nassau-Siegen.jpg 11 November 1706 1722-1734 11 November 1734 Principality of Siegen
(Protestant branch)
Sophie Polyxena Concordia of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein
23 September 1728
five children
Nassau-Siegen was annexed by Nassau-Dillenburg and Nassau-Dietz
Frederick Louis Friedrich Ludwig von Nassau-Ottweiler.jpg 13 November 1651 1690-1723 25 May 1728 County of Ottweiler Christiane van Ahlefeldt
28 July 1680
eight children

Louise Sophie of Hanau-Lichtenberg
27 September 1697
no children
Count of Nassau-Ottweiler (1680–1728), and in Rixingen (1703–28), and Idstein (1721–1728), and in Wiesbaden, etc. (1723–28). In 1723 inherited Saarbrücken, reuniting Ottweiler with the newly-inherited land. After his death, Saarbrücken briefly mergen with Nassau-Usingen.
1723-1728 County of Saarbrücken
Nassau-Ottweiler merged again in Nassau-Saarbrücken
Christian 12 August 1688 1724-1739 28 August 1739 Principality of Dillenburg Isabella Charlotte of Nassau-Dietz
1725
no children
Left no surviving descendants and his lands were inherited by Nassau-Dietz and catholic Nassau-Siegen.
Nassau-Dillenburg was inherited by Orange-Nassau (Nassau-Dietz) and catholic Nassau-Siegen
Regency of Charlotte Amalia of Nassau-Dillenburg (1718-1734) Sons of William Henry. Charles was the only heir, but in 1741 he divided the inheritance, and gave Saarbrücken to his brother (raised as a principality), and retained Usingen.
Charles KarelNU.gif 31 December 1712 1718-1741 21 June 1775 Principality of Usingen Christine Wilhelmine of Saxe-Eisenach
26 December 1734
four children

Magdalene Gross of Wiesbaden
after 1740
(morganatic)
four children
William Henry II WilhelmHeinr007-2.jpg 6 March 1718 1741-1768 24 July 1768 Principality of Saarbrücken Sophie of Erbach-Erbach
28 February 1742
Erbach
five children
Regencies of Anne of Great Britain (1751-1759, Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel (1759-1765), Louis Ernest, Duke of Brunswick-Bevern (1759-1766) and Carolina of Orange-Nassau (1765-1766)
William V William V, Prince of Orange - Bone 1801.jpg 8 March 1748 1751-1806 9 April 1806 Principality of Dietz
Barony of Breda
(as Orange-Nassau)
Wilhelmina of Prussia I
4 October 1767
Berlin
five children
Charles Christian Karl-Christian von Nassau-Weilburg, painted by Wilhelm Böttner, ca.1780.jpg 16 January 1735 1753-1788 28 November 1788 County of Weilburg Carolina of Orange-Nassau
5 March 1760
The Hague
fifteen children

Barbara Giessen
2 October 1788
(morganatic)
no children
Louis LodewijkNassauSaarbrücken.jpg 3 January 1745 1768-1794 2 March 1794 Principality of Saarbrücken Wilhelmine of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
30 October 1766
Schwarzburg
one child

Katharina Kest
30 October 1766
(morganatic, legitimized 1787)
seven children
Charles William Carl Wilhelm von Usingen Nassau.jpg 9 November 1735 1775-1803 17 May 1803 Principality of Usingen Caroline Felizitas of Leiningen-Dagsburg
16 April 1760
one child
Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
In 1783, the heads of various branches of the House of Nassau sealed the Nassau Family Pact (Erbverein) to regulate future succession in their states, and to establish a dynastic hierarchy whereby the Prince of Orange-Nassau-Dietz was recognised as President of the House of Nassau.[3]
Henry Louis 9 March 1768 1794-1797 27 April 1797 Principality of 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 Friedrich August (Nassau-Usingen).jpg 23 April 1738 1803-1806 24 March 1816 Principality of 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 Fuerst-friedrich-wilhelm.gif 25 October 1768 1788-1806 9 January 1816 County of 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 VI William I of the Netherlands.jpg 24 August 1772 1806

1813-1815
12 December 1843 Principality of Dietz
Barony of Breda
(as 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 extended information on the descendants of William.
In 1806 (an then again in 1815), Dietz and Breda were annexed to the Duchy of Nassau
William 1792 Wilhelm.jpg 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 Adolf, Grand Duke of Luxembourg (1817-1905), when Duke of Nassau.jpg 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 extended information on the descendants of Adolph.
In 1866, Nassau was annexed to the Kingdom of Prussia

Nassau's successor states

Kings and Queens of the Netherlands (from the House of Orange-Nassau-Dietz)

  • 1815–1840: William I, also Duke and Grand Duke of Luxemburg and Duke of Limburg
  • 1840–1849: William II, also Grand Duke of Luxemburg and Duke of Limburg
  • 1849–1890: William III, also Grand Duke of Luxemburg and Duke of Limburg
  • 1890–1948: Wilhelmina

Following defunct German laws that no longer have relevance due to the end of German nobility, the House of Orange-Nassau(-Dietz) has been extinct since the death of Wilhelmina (1962). Dutch laws and the Dutch nation do not consider it extinct.

Grand Dukes of Luxembourg (from the House of Nassau-Weilburg)

See also

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.
  2. ^ (in German) RI XIII H. 5 n. 149 in: Regesta Imperii Online.
  3. ^ Hay, Mark Edward (1 June 2016). "The House of Nassau between France and Independence, 1795–1814: Lesser Powers, Strategies of Conflict Resolution, Dynastic Networks". The International History Review. 38 (3): 482–504. doi:10.1080/07075332.2015.1046387.