Hermann Otto I of Limburg-Styrum

Hermann Otto I of Limburg-Styrum, count of Limburg and Bronckhorst, lord of Styrum, Gemen, Wisch and Borculo, and from 1640 to 1644 advocate of the imperial abbey of Vreden, was born in 1592, and died on 17 October 1644. He was the eldest son of Jobst of Limburg Stirum.

Family

He married baroness Anna Magdalena von Spiess (1599—1659) in 1618 and had four children:

• Otto, count of Limburg and Bronckhorst (died 1679);

• Adolf Ernst, count of Limburg Styrum, Sovereign Lord of Gemen (died 1657);

• Moritz, count of Limburg and Bronkhorst, Lord of Styrum, Wisch, Borculo and Gemen, hereditary banneret of the Principality of Guelders and of the County of Zutphen; and

• Sophie Elisabeth (died 1686), who married Count Ferdinand Gottfried von Vehlen und Meggen.

Military career

Hermann Otto served in the armies of the Dutch Republic. He commanded Christian of Brunswick's rearguard at the Battle of Stadtlohn (1623)^[1] and the Dutch cavalry at the Siege of Groenlo (1627).

Heritage

At his death, he devided his possessions amongst his three sons. Otto received Bronckhorst, Borculo and all the Dutch possessions, Adolf reigned over Gemen and Moritz over Styrum. All members of the House of Limburg-Stirum descend from him, but also a great number of monarchs, such as the present members of the Habsburg-family, the king of Belgium and the Grand-Duke of Luxemburg.

References

• Die Grafen von Limburg Stirum: Einleitung und abschliessender Band der Geschichte der Grafen Van Limburg Stirum und ihrer direkten Vorfahren; Günter Aders, J. P. J. Gewin; Van Gorcum, 1962