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The House of Nassau is a diversified aristocratic dynasty in Europe. It is named after the lordship associated with Nassau Castle, located in present-day Nassau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. With the fall of the Hohenstaufen in the first half of the 13th century royal power within Franconia evaporated and the former stem duchy fragmented into separate independent states. Nassau emerged as one of those independent states as part of the Holy Roman Empire. The lords of Nassau were originally titled "Count of Nassau", subject only to the Emperor, and then elevated to the princely class as "Princely Counts". Early on they divided into two main branches: the elder (Walramian) branch, that gave rise to the German king Adolf, and the younger (Ottonian) branch, that gave rise to the Princes of Orange and the monarchs of the Netherlands.
Henry II "the Rich" of Nassau was Count of Nassau. He distinguished himself in particular by his chivalrous and devout spirit. He was charitable and made great donations to the church, so that the monasteries and prayer houses in the area of present-day Nassau experienced the most significant bloom in his time. The greatest favour was the Teutonic Order to enjoy, to which he donated especially for the renunciation of his brother's, upon his entry into the order. Henry participated in the Sixth Crusade. He was the builder of the castles Sonnenberg, Ginsburg and Dillenburg.
Otto I of Nassau was Count of Nassau and is the ancestor of the Ottonian branch of the House of Nassau.
Laurenburg is a municipality in the Rhein-Lahn district of Rhineland-Palatinate, in western Germany. The town, a health resort situated in the lower Lahn River valley, belongs to the Diez Municipal Association.
Dudo of Laurenburg, German: Dudo von Laurenburg, Latin: Tuto de Lurinburg, was probably Count of Laurenburg and is considered the founder of the House of Nassau. The House of Nassau would become one of the reigning families in Germany, from which are descended through females the present-day royals of the Netherlands and Luxembourg, while officially belonging to this House.
Rupert I of Laurenburg, German: Ruprecht I. von Laurenburg, was count of Laurenburg and one of the ancestors of the House of Nassau.
Arnold I of Laurenburg, German: Arnold I. von Laurenburg, was count of Laurenburg and an ancestor of the House of Nassau.
Walram I of Nassau, German: Walram I. von Nassau, also known as Walram I of Laurenburg, was Count of Nassau and is the oldest Nassau whose ancestorship is absolutely certain. He managed to expand his territory considerably during his reign. He took part in the Third Crusade.
Rupert III ‘the Bellicose’ of Nassau, German: Ruprecht III. ‘der Streitbare’ von Nassau, was one of the earliest counts of Nassau. He was not without significance for his country. Important government decisions characterize him, but much more important is his more general political activity, making him one of the most striking princes of the House of Nassau. He took part in the Third Crusade.
Count John I of Nassau-Siegen, German: Johann I. Graf von Nassau-Siegen, was since 1362 Count of Nassau-Siegen. He descended from the Ottonian Line of the House of Nassau.
Count Adolf I of Nassau-Siegen, German: Adolf I. Graf von Nassau-Siegen, was since 1384 Count of Diez, through his first marriage. With his brothers, he succeeded his father in 1416 as Count of Nassau-Siegen, and also inherited the County of Vianden in 1417. He descended from the Ottonian Line of the House of Nassau.
Count John II with the Helmet of Nassau-Siegen, German: Johann II. mit der Haube Graf von Nassau-Siegen, succeeded, with his brothers, his father in 1416 as Count of Nassau-Siegen. With his brothers, he inherited the County of Vianden in 1417, and also inherited half of the County of Diez in 1420. He descended from the Ottonian Line of the House of Nassau.
Prince Frederick William II of Nassau-Siegen, German: Friedrich Wilhelm II. Fürst von Nassau-Siegen, official titles: Fürst zu Nassau, Graf zu Katzenelnbogen, Vianden, Diez, Limburg und Bronkhorst, Herr zu Beilstein, Stirum, Wisch, Borculo, Lichtenvoorde und Wildenborch, Erbbannerherr des Herzogtums Geldern und der Grafschaft Zutphen, was since 1722 Fürst of Nassau-Siegen, a part of the County of Nassau. He descended from the House of Nassau-Siegen, a cadet branch of the Ottonian Line of the House of Nassau. He was the last male representative of his lineage, with him the Protestant line of the House of Nassau-Siegen became extinct.
Arnold II of Laurenburg, German: Arnold II. von Laurenburg was count of Laurenburg and one of the ancestors of the House of Nassau.
Rupert II of Laurenburg, German: Ruprecht II. von Laurenburg was count of Laurenburg and one of the ancestors of the House of Nassau.
Henry I of Nassau, German: Heinrich I. von Nassau, was the first person who named himself count of Nassau.
Beatrix of Limburg, was a German noblewoman who probably for a while acted as regent of the county of Laurenburg for her grandsons, who later became counts of Nassau.
Prima Divisio is the term used by historians for the Family Treaty from 1255 containing the first division of the county of Nassau between the brothers Walram II and Otto I.
Elizabeth of Leiningen, German: Elisabeth von Leiningen, was a countess of the House of Leiningen and by marriage countess of Nassau. As widow she used the title countess of Schowenburg.
Countess Adelaide of Vianden was a countess from the House of Vianden, the cadet branch of the House of Sponheim that ruled the County of Vianden, and through marriage Countess of Nassau-Siegen. She acted as regent of the County of Nassau-Siegen for her eldest son in the period 1351–1362.
References
- ↑ Rupert is only known by his Christian name, he probably never used a surname. He also probably never used a noble title equivalent to a surname either. The surname ‘of Laurenburg’ in the title of the article has only been added for technical reasons, and is derived from the surname of his son Dudo of Laurenburg.
- 1 2 3 4 Hesselfelt (1965).
- ↑ Lück (1981), p. 16–17.
- ↑ Lück (1981), p. 16–17. Hesselfelt (1965): “Probably a vassal of the Electorate of Cologne”.
- ↑ Lück (1981), p. 16–17. Hesselfelt (1965): “Probably the father of Dudo of Laurenburg”.
