William I, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg

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William of Nassau (Dutch: Willem de Rijke) (10 April 1487 – 6 October 1559), was a count of Nassau-Dillenburg from the House of Nassau. He was called William the Rich.

William was born in Dillenburg as the younger son of Count John V of Nassau-Dillenburg and landgravine Elisabeth of Hesse, daughter of Landgrave Henry III of Hesse-Marburg and Anna of Katzenelnbogen He was the brother of count Henry III of Nassau-Breda and the father of William I of Orange.

His son William inherited the principality of Orange. The House of Orange-Nassau (and the Dutch royal family) descends from him.

[edit] Family and children

William of Nassau was married twice. Firstly, he married on 29 October 1506 Countess Walburga van Egmond (29 October 1490 – March 1529). She gave him two daughters:

  1. Elisabeth ( October 1515 – 31 January 1523)
  2. Magdalene ( 6 October 1522 – 18 August 1567), married on 16 July 1538 to Count Hermann of Neuenahr and Mörs

After her death, he married on 20 September 1531 Countess Juliane of Stolberg-Wernigerode (15 February 1506 – 18 June 1580). They had twelve children:

  1. William I of Orange (24 April 1533 – 10 July 1584)
  2. Hermanna (b. 9 August 1534), died young
  3. John VI "The Elder" (22 November 1536 – 28 October 1606)
  4. Louis of Nassau (10 January 1538 – 14 April 1574)
  5. Maria (15 March 1539 – May 1599), married on 11 November 1556 to Count Wilhelm IV of Berg-s'Heerenberg
  6. Adolf (11 July 1540 – 23 May 1568)
  7. Anna (21 September 1541 – 12 February 1616), married on 16 June 1559 to Count Albrecht of Nassau-Weilburg-Ottweiler
  8. Elisabeth (25 September 1542 – 18 November 1603), married 16 June 1559 to Count Conrad of Solms-Braunfels
  9. Katharine (19 December 1542 – 25 December 1624), married on 17 November 1560 to Count Günther XLI of Schwarzburg-Arnstadt
  10. Juliane (10 August 1546 – 31 August 1588), married 14 June 1575 to Count Albrecht VII of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
  11. Magdalene (15 December 1547 – 16 May 1633), married on 27 January 1567 to Count Wolfgang of Hohenlohe-Weikersheim
  12. Henry (15 October 1550 – 14 April 1574)


Preceded by
John V		 Count of Nassau-Dillenburg
1516–1559		 Succeeded by
John VI