Founded 1093 | ||
![]() | ||
Titles King of the NetherlandsKing of England, Scotland and IrelandGrand Duke of LuxembourgDuke of NassauDuke of LimburgPrince of Nassau-WeilburgPrince of OrangeFürst of Nassau-OrangeFürst of Nassau-Orange-FuldaPrincely Count of Nassau-DietzCount of Nassau-WeilburgCount of Nassau-DillenburgStadtholder in the Netherlands Dissolution Since 1985 extinct in the original agnatic line |
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. The lords of Nassau were originally titled "Count of Nassau", then elevated to the princely class as "Princely Counts" (in German: gefürstete Grafen, i.e. Counts who are granted all legal and aristocratic privileges of a Prince).
Contents
- Origins
- Counts of Laurenburg ca 10931159
- Counts of Nassau 11591255
- Counts of Nassau in Wiesbaden Idstein and Weilburg 12551344
- Nassau Weilburg 13441816
- Counts of Nassau Weilburg 13441688
- Princely counts of Nassau Weilburg 16881816
- Dukes of Nassau 18161866
- Grand Dukes of Luxembourg from the House of Nassau Weilburg 18901912 and succession through a female onwards
- Counts of Nassau Wiesbaden Idstein 13441728
- Counts of Nassau Saarbrcken 14291797
- Princes of Nassau Usingen 16591816
- The Ottonian Line
- Counts of Nassau Dillenburg
- Counts of Nassau Beilstein
- Counts and Princes of Nassau Hadamar
- Nassau Siegen
- Counts and Princes of Nassau Siegen
- Counts and Princes of Nassau Dietz
- Orange Nassau
- Princes of Orange
- Kings and Queens of the Netherlands from the House of Orange Nassau Dietz
- Family Tree
- House of Orange and Nassau
- Illegitimate Lines
- House of Nassau Dillenburg
- House of Nassau Weilburg
- The Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg
- References
Early on they divided into two main branches: the elder (Walramian) branch, that gave rise to the German Emperor Adolf, and the younger (Ottonian) branch, that gave rise to the Princes of Orange and the monarchs of the Netherlands.
At the end of the Holy Roman Empire and the Napoleonic Wars, the Walramian branch had inherited or acquired all the Nassau ancestral lands and proclaimed themselves, with the permission of the Congress of Vienna, the "Dukes of Nassau", forming the independent state of Nassau with its capital at Wiesbaden; this territory today mainly lies in the German Federal State of Hesse (Hessen), and partially in the neighbouring State of Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz). The Duchy was annexed in 1866 after the Austrian-Prussian War as an ally of Austria by Prussia. It was subsequently incorporated into the newly created Prussian Province of Hesse-Nassau.
Today, the term Nassau is used in Germany as a name for a geographical, historical and cultural region, but no longer has any political meaning. All Dutch and Luxembourgish monarchs since 1815 have been senior members of the House of Nassau. However, in 1890 in the Netherlands and in 1912 in Luxembourg, the male lines of heirs to the two thrones became extinct, so that since then, they have descended in the female line from the House of Nassau.
According to German tradition, the family name is passed on only in the male line of succession. The House would therefore, from this German perspective, be extinct since 1985. However, both Dutch and Luxembourgish monarchial traditions, constitutional rules and legislation in that matter differ from the German tradition, and thus both countries do not consider the House extinct. The Grand Duke of Luxembourg uses "Duke of Nassau" as his secondary title and a title of pretense to the dignity of Chief of the House of Nassau (being the most senior member of the eldest branch of the House), but not to lay any territorial claims to the former Duchy of Nassau which is now part of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Origins
Count Dudo-Henry of Laurenburg (ca. 1060 – ca. 1123) is considered the founder of the House of Nassau. He is first mentioned in the purported founding-charter of Maria Laach Abbey in 1093 (although many historians consider the document to be fabricated). The Castle Laurenburg, located a few kilometres upriver from Nassau on the Lahn, was the seat of his lordship. His family probably descended from the Lords of Lipporn. In 1159, Nassau Castle became the ruling seat, and the house is now named after this castle.
The Counts of Laurenburg and Nassau expanded their authority under the brothers Robert (Ruprecht) I (1123–1154) and Arnold I of Laurenburg (1123–1148). Robert was the first person to call himself Count of Nassau, but the title was not confirmed until 1159, five years after Robert's death. Robert's son Walram I (1154–1198) was the first person to be legally titled Count of Nassau.
The chronology of the Counts of Laurenburg is not certain and the link between Robert I and Walram I is especially controversial. Also, some sources consider Gerhard, listed as co-Count of Laurenburg in 1148, to be the son of Robert I's brother, Arnold I. However, Erich Brandenburg in his Die Nachkommen Karls des Großen ('The Descendants of Charlemagne') states that it is most likely that Gerhard was Robert I's son, because Gerard was the name of Beatrix of Limburg's maternal grandfather.
Counts of Laurenburg (ca. 1093–1159)
Counts of Nassau (1159–1255)
In 1255, Henry II's sons, Walram II and Otto I, split the Nassau possessions. The descendants of Walram became known as the Walram Line, which became important in the County of Nassau and Luxembourg. The descendants of Otto became known as the Ottonian Line, which would inherit parts of Nassau, France and the Netherlands. Both lines were themselves often divided over the next few centuries. In 1783, the heads of various branches of the House of Nassau sealed the Nassau Family Pact (Erbverein) to regulate future succession in their states, and to establish a dynastic hierarchy whereby the Prince of Orange-Nassau-Dietz was recognised as President of the House of Nassau.
Counts of Nassau in Wiesbaden, Idstein, and Weilburg (1255–1344)
After Gerlach's death, the possessions of the Walram line were divided into Nassau-Weilburg and Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein.
Nassau-Weilburg (1344–1816)
Count Walram II began the Countship of Nassau-Weilburg, which existed to 1816. The sovereigns of this house afterwards ruled the Duchy of Nassau until 1866 and from 1890 the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The branch of Nassau-Weilburg ultimately became rulers of Luxembourg. The Walram line received the lordship of Merenberg in 1328 and Saarbrücken (by marriage) in 1353.
Counts of Nassau-Weilburg (1344–1688)
Princely counts of Nassau-Weilburg (1688–1816)
Dukes of Nassau (1816–1866)
In 1866, Prussia annexed the Duchy of Nassau as the duke had been an ally of Austria in the Second Austro-Prussian War. In 1890, Duke Adolf would become Grand Duke Adolphe of Luxembourg.
Grand Dukes of Luxembourg (from the House of Nassau-Weilburg) – 1890–1912 and succession through a female onwards
From a morganatic marriage, contracted in 1868, descends a family, see Count of Merenberg, which in 1907 was declared non-dynastic. Had they not been excluded from the succession, they would have inherited the headship of the house in 1912.
Counts of Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein (1344–1728)
After Frederick Louis's death, Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein fell to Charles, Prince of Nassau-Usingen
Counts of Nassau-Saarbrücken (1429–1797)
After Henry Louis's death, Nassau-Saarbrücken fell to Charles William, Prince of Nassau-Usingen until Adolph came of age in 1805.
Princes of Nassau-Usingen (1659–1816)
In 1816, Nassau-Usingen merged with Nassau-Weilburg to form the Duchy of Nassau. See "Dukes of Nassau" above. The princely titles continued to be used, however, evidenced by the carrying of the title Prince of Nassau-Weilburg by the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Following Frederick Augustus' death, the princely title was adopted (in pretense) by his half brother through an unequal marriage, Karl Philip. As head of the House in 1907, Wilhelm IV declared the Count of Merenberg non-dynastic; by extension, this would indicate that (according to Luxembourgish laws regarding the House of Nassau) this branch would assume the Salic headship of the house in 1965, following the death of the last male Count of Merenberg.
The Ottonian Line
In 1303, Otto's sons divided the possessions of the Ottonian line. Henry received Nassau-Siegen, John received Nassau-Dillenburg and Emicho I received Nassau-Hadamar. After John's death. Nassau-Dillenburg fell to Henry.
Counts of Nassau-Dillenburg
In 1739, Nassau-Dillenburg fell to Nassau-Dietz, a.k.a. Orange-Nassau.
Counts of Nassau-Beilstein
In 1343, Nassau-Beilstein was split off from Nassau-Dillenburg.
After John III's death, Nassau-Beilstein fell back to Nassau-Dillenburg. It was split off again in 1607 for George, who inherited the rest of Nassau-Dillenburg in 1620.
Counts and Princes of Nassau-Hadamar
After Emicho III's death, Nassau-Hadamar fell back to Nassau-Dillenburg.
In 1620, the younger line of Nassau-Hadamar was split off from Nassau-Dillenburg
In 1711, Nassau-Hadamar was divided between Nassau-Dietz, Nassau-Dillenburg, and Nassau-Siegen.
Nassau-Siegen
The branch of Nassau-Siegen was a collateral line of the House of Nassau, and ruled in Siegen. The first Count of Nassau in Siegen was Count Henry, Count of Nassau in Siegen (d. 1343), the elder son of Count Otto I of Nassau. His son Count Otto II of Nassau ruled also in Dillenburg.
In 1328, John of Nassau-Dillenburg died unmarried and childless, and Dillenburg fell to Henry of Nassau-Siegen. For counts of Nassau-Siegen in between 1343 and 1606, see "Counts of Nassau-Dillenburg" above.
In 1606 the younger line of Nassau-Siegen was split off from the House of Nassau-Dillenburg. After the main line of the House became extinct in 1734, Emperor Charles VI transferred the county to the House of Orange-Nassau.
Counts and Princes of Nassau-Siegen
In 1734, Nassau-Siegen fell to Nassau-Dietz, a.k.a. Orange-Nassau.
Counts and Princes of Nassau-Dietz
When the Nassau lands were divided by the sons of John, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg, the brother of William the Silent, the main part of the Counts of Nassau-(in)Dietz was the town of Diez:
Orange-Nassau
The House of Orange-Nassau stems from the Ottonian Line. The connection was via Engelbert I, who offered his services to the Duke of Burgundy, married a Dutch noblewoman and inherited lands in the Netherlands, with the barony of Breda as the core of his Dutch possessions.
The importance of the Nassaus grew throughout the 15th and 16th century. Henry III of Nassau-Breda was appointed stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland and Utrecht by Emperor Charles V in the beginning of the 16th century. Henry was succeeded by his son, René of Châlon-Orange in 1538, who was, as can be inferred from his name, a Prince of Orange. When René died prematurely on the battlefield in 1544 his possessions and the princely title passed to his cousin, William the Silent, a Count of Nassau-Dillenburg. By dropping the suffix name "Dillenburg" (of the Orange-Nassau-Dillenburg), from then on the family members called themselves "Orange-Nassau."
With the death of William III, the legitimate direct male line of William the Silent became extinct and thereby the first House of Orange-Nassau. John William Friso, the senior agnatic descendant of William the Silent's brother and a cognatic descendant of Frederick Henry, grandfather of William III, inherited the princely title and all the possessions in the low countries and Germany, but not the Principality of Orange itself. The Principality was ceded to France under the Treaty of Utrecht that ended the wars with King Louis XIV. John William Friso, who also was the Prince of Nassau-Dietz, founded thereby the second House of Orange-Nassau (the suffix name "Dietz" was dropped of the combined name Orange-Nassau-Dietz).
The Revolutionary and Napoleonic era was a tumultuous episode of the history of both the Ottonian and Walramian branches of the House of Nassau. France's dominance of the international order severely strained the House of Nassau's traditional strategy of international conflict resolution, which was to maintain links with all serious power-brokers through a dynastic network in the hope of maintaining a balance of power. Despite that both branches of the House of Nassau reinvigorated the dynastic network in the years of liberation, 1812–1814, the post-Napoleonic European order saw both branches set on different historical paths.
After the post-Napoleonic reorganization of Europe, the head of House of Orange-Nassau gained the title "King/Queen of the Netherlands" and "Grand Duke of Luxembourg". The latter was gained, with permission of the Congress of Vienna by trading the ancestral Ottonian Nassau lands in Germany to their Walramian cousins for the duchy of Luxembourg, which was closer to their power center of Holland, and remained in personal union with the Kingdom of the Netherlands until the death of the last male Ottonian, King William III of the Netherlands. The King of Prussia, who also had a claim to the principality of Orange received lands in the Ruhr. In this way, everyone consolidated more land nearer their power bases.
Princes of Orange
House of Orange-Nassau(-Dillenburg), first creation
In 1702, the Orange-Nassau-Dillenburg line died out and its possessions fell to the Nassau-Dietz line.
House of Orange-Nassau(-Dietz), second creation
Kings and Queens of the Netherlands (from the House of Orange-Nassau-Dietz)
Following German laws, the House of Orange-Nassau(-Dietz) has been extinct since the death of Wilhelmina (1962). Dutch laws and the Dutch nation do not consider it extinct.
Family Tree
The following family tree is compiled from Wikipedia and the reference cited in the note
House of Orange and Nassau
A summary family tree of the House of Orange-Nassau from the joining of the house of Nassau-Breda/Dillenburg and the House of Châlon-Arlay-Orange to the end of the Dutch Republic is shown below. The family spawned many famous statesmen and generals, including two of the acknowledged "first captains of their age", Maurice of Nassau and the Marshal de Turenne.
Illegitimate Lines
Family tree Nassau-den Lek
Family Tree Nassau-Zuylestein
Family Tree Nassau-Grimhuizen
House of Nassau-Dillenburg
Compiled from Wikipedia and:
House of Nassau-Weilburg
Compiled from Wikipedia and:
The Grand-Ducal Family of Luxembourg
See also: Category:SVG coats of arms of Luxembourg