Ernst Casimir

Ernst Casimir I
Count of Nassau-Dietz
Successor	Henry Casimir
Spouse(s)	Sophia Hedwig of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Noble family	House of Nassau
Father	John VI, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg
Mother	Countess Elisabeth of Leuchtenberg
Born	22 December 1573 Dillenburg
Died	2 June 1632 Roermond

Ernst Casimir I of Nassau-Dietz (Dillenburg, 22 December 1573 – Roermond, 2 June 1632) was count of Nassau-Dietz and Stadtholder of Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Death 3 Family 4 References

Biography

He was the eleventh child of John VI, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg and Countess Elisabeth of Leuchtenberg.

After the death of his father, the county of Nassau was divided among his five living sons, Ernst Casimir followed him as Count of Nassau-Dietz.

Ernst Casimir was primarily known as an outstanding military leader during the Eighty Years War. He served under Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange in the siege of the cities of Steenwijk and Oldenzaal, and Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange during the Siege of Groenlo (1627) and the Siege of 's-Hertogenbosch. As Stadholder of Groningen he founded the Nieuweschans fortress in 1628. Although he owned little in Friesland, he was popular there, and people granted his heir the right to rule after his death.

Death

He was killed by a bullet at the Siege of Roermond while he was inspecting the trenches in June 1632. His son, Hendrik Casimir I succeeded him as count of Nassau-Dietz and as stadholder of Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe.

Family

In 1607 Ernst Casimir married Sophia Hedwig of Brunswick-Lüneburg, daughter of Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. From this marriage nine children were born:

• stillborn daughter (1608)
• stillborn son (1609)
• unnamed son (1610-1610)
• Hendrik Casimir I of Nassau-Dietz (Arnhem, 1612-1640)
• Willem Frederik of Nassau-Dietz (Arnhem, 1613-1664), married Albertine Agnes of Orange-Nassau.
• Elisabeth (Leeuwarden, July 25, 1614 - Leeuwarden, 18 Sept, 1614)
• Johan Ernst (Arnhem, March 29, 1617 - May 1617)
• Maurice (Groningen, February 21, 1619 - Groningen, 18 Sept, 1628)
• Elisabeth Friso (Leeuwarden, 25 Nov, 1620 - Groningen, 20 September 1628)

References

Ernst Casimir House of Nassau Born: 22 December 1573 Died: 2 June 1632
Political offices
Preceded by Willem Lodewijk	Stadtholder of Friesland, 1620-1632	Succeeded by Henry Casimir
Preceded by Maurice of Nassau	Stadtholder of Groningen and Drenthe 1625-1632	Succeeded by Henry Casimir
Regnal titles
Preceded by None New Title	Count of Nassau-Dietz 1606-1632	Succeeded by Henry Casimir (as Count of Nassau-Dietz)

Stadtholders of Friesland Floris van Egmond • Willem van Roggendorff • Jancko Douwama • Georg Schenck van Tautenburg • Maximiliaan van Egmond • Jean de Ligne • Charles de Brimeu • Gillis van Berlaymont • Caspar de Robles • George van Rennenberg • Francisco Verdugo • William of Orange • Willem Lodewijk • Ernst Casimir • Hendrik Casimir I • Willem Frederik • Hendrik Casimir II • Johan Willem Friso of Orange • William IV of Orange • William V of Orange

Stadtholders of Groningen Cristoffel van Meurs • Jasper van Marwijck • Karel van Gelre • Ludolf Coenders • Georg Schenck van Toutenburg • Maximiliaan van Egmond • Jan van Ligne • Karel van Brimeu • Gillis van Berlaymont • Caspar van Robles • Georges van Lalaing • Francisco Verdugo • Willem Lodewijk • Maurice of Nassau • Ernst Casimir • Hendrik Casimir I • Frederick Henry of Orange • William II of Orange • Willem Frederik • Hendrik Casimir II • Johan Willem Friso of Orange • William IV of Orange • William V of Orange

Stadtholders of Drenthe Christoph van Moers • Jasper van Marwijck • Charles, Duke of Guelders • Ludolf Coenders • Georg Schenck van Toutenburg • Maximiliaan van Egmond • Jan van Ligne • Karel van Brimeu • Gillis van Berlaymont • Caspar van Robles • Georges van Lalaing • Francisco Verdugo • Willem Lodewijk of Nassau-Dietz • Maurice of Nassau • Ernst Casimir • Hendrik Casimir I • Willem Frederik • Hendrik Casimir II • William II of Orange • William III of Orange • William IV of Orange • William V of Orange

Persondata
Name	Ernst Casimir of Nassau-Dietz
Alternative names
Short description	Count of Nassau-Dietz (1606-1632) and Stadtholder of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe (1625-1632)
Date of birth	22 December 1573
Place of birth	Dillenburg
Date of death	2 June 1632
Place of death	Roermond