Juliana of Stolberg

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 This article does not cite any references or sources. (February 2007)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.
Juliana, Countess of Stolberg-Wernigerode (1506-1580)
Juliana, Countess of Stolberg-Wernigerode (1506-1580)

Juliana, Countess of Stolberg-Wernigerode (February 15, 1506 - June 18, 1580) was the mother of William the Silent, the leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish in the 16th century.

Juliana was born in Stolberg as the daughter of Botho VIII of Stolberg-Wernigerode and Anna of Eppstein-Königstein. She was raised a Roman Catholic but changed her religion twice, first to Lutheranism and later to Calvinism. She, along with her second husband, was a convinced protestant and raised their children in the protestant ways. After the death of her second husband in 1559 she remained living at Dillenburg castle, now belonging to her second son John, where she died in 1580.

Her entire life, she kept close to her children, especially William. When William began his rebellion against Philip II of Spain she supported her son morally and financially. Because of this financial support, William was able to campaign against Spain in the Netherlands.

[edit] Marriages and children

In 1523 Juliana married Philip II of Hanau-Munzenberg († 1529). From this marriage five children were born.

On September 20, 1531 Juliana married William, Count of Nassau. From this marriage twelve children were born:

  1. William I of Orange (1533-1584)
  2. Hermanna (1534 - † young)
  3. John VI "The Elder" (1536-1606)
  4. Louis of Nassau (1538-1574)
  5. Maria (1539-1599) She married William IV, Count of Berg
  6. Adolf (1540-1568)
  7. Anna (1541-1616). She married Albrecht, Count of Nassau-Saarbrücken
  8. Elisabeth (1542-1603). She married Conrad, Count of Solms-Braunfels
  9. Katharine (1543-1624). She married Günther XLI, Count of Schwarzburg-Arnstadt
  10. Juliana (1546-1588). She married Albrecht VII, Count of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
  11. Magdalene (1547-1633).She married Wolgang, Count of Hohenlohe-Weickersheim
  12. Henry (1550-1574)

Juliana von Stolberg had in total 123 children and grandchildren.