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William Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen

For other people named William Maurice, see William Maurice.

Prince William Maurice of Nassau-Siegen (18/28 January 1649 – 23 January 1691Jul.), German: Wilhelm Moritz 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 a count from the House of Nassau-Siegen, a cadet branch of the Ottonian Line of the House of Nassau. He served as an officer in the Dutch States Army. In 1664, he was elevated to the rank and title of prince. In 1679, he became Fürst of Nassau-Siegen, a part of the County of Nassau.

William Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen
Fürst William Maurice of Nassau-Siegen. Anonymous portrait, ca. 1690. Siegerlandmuseum, Siegen.
Fürst of Nassau-Siegen
Coat of arms
Reign1679–1691
PredecessorJohn Maurice
SuccessorFrederick William Adolf
Full name
William Maurice Prince of Nassau-Siegen
Native nameWilhelm Moritz Fürst von Nassau-Siegen
BornWilhelm Moritz Graf zu Nassau, Katzenelnbogen, Vianden und Diez, Herr zu Beilstein
18/28 January 1649
Wisch Castle [nl], Terborg
Died23 January 1691Jul.
Nassauischer Hof [de], Siegen
Buried12 March 1691
Fürstengruft [nl], Siegen
Noble familyHouse of Nassau-Siegen
Spouse(s)Ernestine Charlotte of Nassau-Schaumburg
Issue
Detail
FatherHenry of Nassau-Siegen
MotherMary Magdalene of Limburg-Stirum
OccupationHopman of a company of Swiss soldiers in the Dutch States Army 1663, lieutenant colonel of an infantry regiment 1672, colonel 1673, ritmeester of a cavalry company 1678

William Maurice is described as a man of integrity, but not a man of above-average talent.[1]

Biography

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Wisch Castle in Terborg, 2004.

William Maurice was born at Wisch Castle [nl] in Terborg on 18/28 January 1649[2][note 1] as the eldest son of Count Henry of Nassau-Siegen and Countess Mary Magdalene of Limburg-Stirum.[4] After the death of their father, William Maurice and his brother Frederick Henry were adopted by their uncle Fürst John Maurice of Nassau-Siegen.[1][5][6]

After the death of his maternal grandfather, Count George Ernest of Limburg-Stirum, in September 1661, William Maurice succeeded him as count of Bronkhorst, lord of Wisch [nl], Borculo [nl], Lichtenvoorde [nl] and Wildenborch [nl], and hereditary knight banneret of the Duchy of Guelders and the County of Zutphen.[1][7][8] Thus, these properties came into the possession of the House of Nassau.

On 29 April 1663, William Maurice became a hopman of a company of Swiss soldiers in the Dutch States Army. On 20 April 1672 he became lieutenant colonel of an infantry regiment and in 1673 he was promoted to colonel. In 1678 he also became ritmeester of a cavalry company to the repartition[note 2] of Friesland.[9]

William Maurice and his brother Frederick Henry accompanied their uncle and adoptive father John Maurice on his journey to the city of Siegen, where they arrived on 21/31 August 1663.[10] On 7 January 1664, the two brothers were inaugurated in the town hall of Siegen, where they confirmed the city privileges and liberties.[11] Both brothers were elevated into the Reichsfürstenstand on 6 May 1664.[3]

In 1667 William Maurice became a knight of the Order of Saint John (Bailiwick of Brandenburg, Saxony, Pomerania and Wendland) in Sonnenburg and commander of Grüneberg,[12] and also a knight of the Teutonic Order (Bailiwick of Utrecht) and commander of Tiel.[7][8][9][12]

In October 1672, William Maurice came to the aid of his uncle John Maurice to defend Muiden in the Franco-Dutch War, with a company of soldiers "geworben in dem deutschen Stammlanden des Fürsten", i.e. recruited in Nassau-Siegen.[13]

 
Siegen in 1617. From Braun & Hogenberg, Civitates orbis terrarum Band 6, Cologne, 1617. In the middle (under the word Coenobiu) the St. John's Church of the former monastery, which buildings were the Residenz of the Protestant Fürsten of Nassau-Siegen with the name Nassauischer Hof. Left from the center the St. Nicholas Church.

In 1678, William Maurice was appointed co-regent by John Maurice.[12] A year later, John Maurice died and William Maurice succeeded him as the territorial lord of the Protestant part of the principality of Nassau-Siegen and co-ruler of the city of Siegen.[1][2][12] He possessed the district of Siegen (with the exception of seven villages) and the districts of Hilchenbach and Freudenberg. He shared the city of Siegen with his second cousin, John Francis Desideratus, the Catholic Fürst of Nassau-Siegen.[2] During his reign, William Maurice had the Nassauischer Hof [de], the Residenz of the Protestant princes of Nassau-Siegen in the city of Siegen, extended.[5] In 1690, he had the members of his dynasty, who had been buried in the St. Nicholas Church [de] in Siegen, transferred to the Fürstengruft [nl] there.[5][14][15]

William Maurice died in the Nassauischer Hof in Siegen[16] on 23 January 1691Jul.,[2][note 3] and was buried in the Fürstengruft there on 12 March.[16] He was succeeded by his son Frederick William Adolf,[17][18] who was under the custody and regency of his mother until 1701.[17]

Marriage and issue

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William Maurice married at Schaumburg Castle[12] on 6 February 1678Jul.[2][note 4] to Princess Ernestine Charlotte of Nassau-Schaumburg (Schaumburg Castle,[19] 20 May 1662Jul.[20][note 5] – Nassauischer Hof, Siegen,[19] 21 February 1732[22][note 6]), the second daughter of Prince Adolf of Nassau-Schaumburg and Elisabeth Charlotte Melander, Countess of Holzappel.[4]

From the marriage of William Maurice and Ernestine Charlotte the following children were born:[8][20][23]

  1. Fürst Frederick William Adolf[note 7] (Nassauischer Hof, Siegen, 20 February 1680 – Nassauischer Hof, Siegen, 13 February 1722), succeeded his father in 1691. Married:
    1. at Homburg Castle on 7 January 1702[note 8] to Landgravine Elisabeth Juliana Francisca of Hesse-Homburg (Homburg Castle, 6 January 1681[note 9] – Nassauischer Hof, Siegen, 12 November 1707).
    2. at the Old Castle [de] in Bayreuth on 13 April 1708[note 10] to Duchess Amalie Louise of Courland (Mitau, 23 July 1687[note 11] – Untere Schloss [de], Siegen, 18 January 1750).
  2. Charles Louis Henry (Nassauischer Hof, Siegen, 17 March 1682Jul.[note 12] – Nassauischer Hof, Siegen, 18 October 1694Jul.[note 13]), was hopman of the company of Swiss soldiers in the Dutch States Army, that had been his father's, since 1691.

Ancestors

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Ancestors of William Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen[27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]
Great-great-grandparents William I 'the Rich' of Nassau-Siegen
(1487–1559)
⚭ 1531
Juliane of Stolberg-Wernigerode
(1506–1580) 		George III of Leuchtenberg
(1502–1555)
⚭ 1528
Barbara of Brandenburg-Ansbach
(1495–1552) 		Christian III of Denmark
(1503–1559)
⚭ 1525
Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg
(1511–1571) 		Ernest V of Brunswick-Grubenhagen
(1518–1567)
⚭ 1547
Margaret of Pomerania
(1518–1569) 		Herman George of Limburg-Stirum
(1540–1574)
⚭ 1557
Mary of Hoya
(1534–1612) 		Otto IV of Holstein-Schauenburg-Pinneberg
(ca. 1517–1576)
⚭ 1558
Elisabeth Ursula of Brunswick-Lüneburg
(1539–1586) 		Eberwin III of Bentheim-Steinfurt
(1536–1562)
⚭ 1553
Anna of Tecklenburg-Schwerin
(1532–1582) 		Gumprecht II of Neuenahr-Alpen
(ca. 1503–1555)
⚭ 1542
Amöna of Daun-Falkenstein
(ca. 1520–ca. 1582)
Great-grandparents John VI 'the Elder' of Nassau-Siegen
(1536–1606)
⚭ 1559
Elisabeth of Leuchtenberg
(1537–1579) 		John 'the Younger' of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg
(1545–1622)
⚭ 1568
Elisabeth of Brunswick-Grubenhagen
(1550–1586) 		Jobst of Limburg-Stirum
(1560–1621)
⚭ 1591
Mary of Holstein-Schauenburg-Pinneberg
(1559–1616) 		Arnold IV of Bentheim-Tecklenburg
(1554–1606)
⚭ 1573
Magdalena of Neuenahr-Alpen
(1553–1627)
Grandparents John VII 'the Middle' of Nassau-Siegen
(1561–1623)
⚭ 1603
Margaret of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg
(1583–1658) 		George Ernest of Limburg-Stirum
(1593–1661)
⚭ 1603
Magdalene of Bentheim-Tecklenburg
(1591–1649)
Parents Henry of Nassau-Siegen
(1611–1652)
⚭ 1646
Mary Magdalene of Limburg-Stirum
(1632–1707)

Notes

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  1. ^ "See the baptismal register of Terborg: the 18th, at three o'clock in the afternoon."[3] Menk (2004), p. 195 mentions the date 6 May 1649.
  2. ^ Through the system of repartition, the provinces of the Dutch Republic paid for the troops assigned to them.
  3. ^ "See notification of death (State Archives Marburg 115, Waldeck, 2, Nassau, 339) from Siegen 24‑1‑1691: «gestern Freytag den 23. dieses (therefore old style) abendts zwischen 5 und 6 Uhren»."[3] Menk (2004), p. 195 mentions the date 18/28 January 1691.
  4. ^ "In the parish records of Terborg it is stated that the marriage took place in Schaumburg («in arce Schaumburgenei»). See the marriage announcement (State Archives Marburg 4f, Nassau-Siegen, 203) at Schaumburg 10‑2 old style: «den 6 dieses … das fürstl. Beylager gehalten». Dek (1962) and Europäische Stammtafeln mention 6‑1‑1678; that is the engagement date (see the notification in State Archives Marburg 4f, Nassau-Siegen 203). Dek (1970) no longer gives a place and date of marriage, but only mentions that the announcement was made in Lichtenvoorde on 3‑2‑1678."[3]
  5. ^ "See State Archives Wiesbaden (170III) several birth notifications dated Schaumburg 21/31 May 1662: «gestern den 20/30ten diesses, des Abends zwischen 8 und 9 Uhren»."[21]
  6. ^ "See State Archives Wiesbaden (170III) notification of death dated Siegen 23‑2‑1732: «vorgestern Mittag zwischen 11 und 12 Uhren in dem 70ten Jahres ihres Alters». See also the parish records of Siegen. Europäische Stammtafeln I, 117 and 118 states the fantasised dates 21‑2‑1714 and 19‑10‑1714 respectively."[21]
  7. ^ "In almost all official documents he is mentioned with these three given names, but sometimes only Frederick William (see for instance Menk (1971), p. 89). Dek (1970) names him Frederik Willem I Adolf; Europäische Stammtafeln on the other hand, mentions him as Adolf in its table Nassau-Siegen (band I, 117), while in other places he mentions him under the double given name Friedrich Wilhelm, which causes some confusion among readers."[24]
  8. ^ "Although the marriage announcement (State Archives Marburg 4f, Nassau-Siegen, Nr. 241), dated Siegen 12‑1‑1702 says that it was «den 6 hujus mittelst christgewöhnlicher Einsegnung und Beilager vollzogen» (without mentioning the place), we have taken the 7th, just like Knetsch (1931), according to the register of the reformed parish of Homburg: «Ao 1702 den 7 Januarii ist der Durchlachtigste Fürst Friedrich Wilhelm Adolph zu Nassau-Siegen mit der Durchl. Princesse Elisabetha Juliana Francisca Landgräfin zu Hessen Homburg alhier zu Homburg auf dem festen Schloss ehelich vermählet worden». Likewise, the personal details in the printed funeral sermon: «und darauff noch den 7 Januarii zu Homburg in der Hochfürstl. Schloss Kirche nach erfolgter Priestlichen Copulation Dero Hochfürstl. … Beylager gehalten» and the personalia preserved in the Royal House Archive of the Netherlands (IV/1561): «den 7 Januar 1702 zu Homburg a.d.H. vermittelst Priestlicher Copulation». We found 6‑1 in Dek (1962), Europäische Stammtafeln I, 117, Vorsterman van Oyen (1882), and 7‑1 in Europäische Stammtafeln I, 106 and Knetsch (1931)."[25]
  9. ^ "Europäische Stammtafeln I, 117 states, incorrectly, 6‑2‑1681. The actual date is 6‑1‑1681 (see Europäische Stammtafeln I, 106, Knetsch (1931), Dek (1962), Dek (1970) and zu Stolberg-Stolberg & von Arnswaldt), confirmed by the parish records of Homburg, which state that she was born on 6‑1, between eight and nine o'clock in the evening and was baptised on 13‑1."[26]
  10. ^ "Although Dek (1962) and Dek (1970) place the marriage in Bayreuth on 20‑4‑1708 (date confirmed by Europäische Stammtafeln I, 117, Europäische Stammtafeln II, 88 and Knetsch (1931)), we find in the marriage contract that was signed in Siegen on 6‑8‑1708: «solches durch das Fürstliche Beylager mit öffentlichen und gewöhnlichen Christfürstlichen Ceremonien den 13. April des noch laufenden 1708 Jahres in der Fürstlichen Residenz zu Bayreuth vollzogen». The date 13 April is confirmed by the notification of the marriage (see State Archives Marburg 4f, Nassau-Siegen N. 241), dated Bayreuth 18‑4‑1708: «den 13. Aprilis allhier zu Bayreuth … durch würklich gehaltenes Beylager». See also in the Royal House Archive of the Netherlands (IV/1561), personalia: «den 13. April 1708 dero christfürstl. Beylager in Bayreuth». The registers of the Hofkirche in Bayreuth have disappeared."[26]
  11. ^ "Although Dek (1970) and Europäische Stammtafeln I, 117 and II, 88 say that she was born on 27‑7‑1687, we could establish that the birth took place in Mitau on the 23rd. Indeed, the notification that the Duke of Courland sent from Mitau on 24‑7‑1687 announces the birth of a daughter «gestern morgens» (see State Archives Wiesbaden 170III)."[26]
  12. ^ "See the registers of the Reformed Church of Siegen 1682: «getauft Domin. Lætare», without mentioning the date of birth. See State Archives Marburg (4f. Nassau-Siegen Nr. 203), notification dated 21‑3‑1682 «den 17 dieses», invitation for baptism «nächstkünftigen Sonntag». See Royal House Archive of the Netherlands (IV/1527), Personalia: «geb. den 17. März 1682, getauft 26 März» (which was indeed a Sunday in the old calendar). See State Archives Marburg (115, Waldeck 2, Nr. 338), notification dated Siegen 21‑3‑1682: «den 17. dieses nachts zw. 1 u. 2 Uhren», from which we can deduce without the risk of error that the birth took place in Siegen on 17‑3‑1682, old style."[26]
  13. ^ "See State Archives Wiesbaden (130II 2380III e), notification from Siegen on 20‑10‑1694: «Donnerstag den 18. dieses Monaths», therefore old style."[26]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Lück (1981), p. 116.
  2. ^ a b c d e Huberty, et al. (1981), p. 273.
  3. ^ a b c d Huberty, et al. (1981), p. 290.
  4. ^ a b All sources that mention both parents, name these parents.
  5. ^ a b c Aβmann & Menk (1996).
  6. ^ Lück (1981), p. 113.
  7. ^ a b Lück & Wunderlich (1956), p. 34.
  8. ^ a b c Vorsterman van Oyen (1882), p. 127.
  9. ^ a b Dek (1970), p. 96.
  10. ^ Menk (2004), p. 184.
  11. ^ Menk (2004), p. 185.
  12. ^ a b c d e Menk (2004), p. 196.
  13. ^ Lück (1981), p. 110.
  14. ^ Menk (2004), p. 187.
  15. ^ Lück & Wunderlich (1956), p. 27.
  16. ^ a b Menk (2004), p. 195.
  17. ^ a b Menk (2004), pp. 198, 199.
  18. ^ Huberty, et al. (1981), p. 311.
  19. ^ a b Menk (2004), p. 199.
  20. ^ a b Huberty, et al. (1981), p. 312.
  21. ^ a b Huberty, et al. (1981), p. 344.
  22. ^ All sources that mention a full date of death, state this date.
  23. ^ Dek (1970), pp. 96–97.
  24. ^ Huberty, et al. (1981), p. 340.
  25. ^ Huberty, et al. (1981), pp. 340–341.
  26. ^ a b c d e Huberty, et al. (1981), p. 341.
  27. ^ Huberty, et al. (1994).
  28. ^ Huberty, et al. (1981).
  29. ^ Dek (1970).
  30. ^ Dek (1968).
  31. ^ Dek (1962).
  32. ^ von Ehrenkrook, et al. (1928).
  33. ^ Vorsterman van Oyen (1882).
  34. ^ Behr (1854).
  35. ^ Textor von Haiger (1617).
  36. ^ Europäische Stammtafeln.

Sources

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  • Aßmann, Helmut & Menk, Friedhelm (1996). Auf den Spuren von Nassau und Oranien in Siegen (in German). Siegen: Gesellschaft für Stadtmarketing Siegen e.V.
  • Behr, Kamill (1854). Genealogie der in Europa regierenden Fürstenhäuser (in German). Leipzig: Verlag von Bernhard Tauchnitz.
  • Blok, P.J. (1911). "Willem Maurits, Wilhelm Moritz". In Molhuysen, P.C. & Blok, P.J. (eds.). Nieuw Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek (in Dutch). Vol. Eerste deel. Leiden: A.W. Sijthoff. p. 1578.
  • Dek, A.W.E. (1962). Graf Johann der Mittlere von Nassau-Siegen und seine 25 Kinder (in German). Rijswijk: Krips Repro.
  • Dek, A.W.E. (1968). "De afstammelingen van Juliana van Stolberg tot aan het jaar van de Vrede van Münster". Spiegel der Historie. Maandblad voor de geschiedenis der Nederlanden (in Dutch). 1968 (7/8): 228–303.
  • Dek, A.W.E. (1970). Genealogie van het Vorstenhuis Nassau (in Dutch). Zaltbommel: Europese Bibliotheek.
  • von Ehrenkrook, Hans Friedrich; Förster, Karl & Marchtaler, Kurt Erhard (1928). Ahnenreihen aus allen deutschen Gauen. Beilage zum Archiv für Sippenforschung und allen verwandten Gebieten (in German). Görlitz: Verlag für Sippenforschung und Wappenkunde C.A. Starke.
  • Huberty, Michel; Giraud, Alain & Magdelaine, F. & B. (1981). l'Allemagne Dynastique (in French). Vol. Tome III: Brunswick-Nassau-Schwarzbourg. Le Perreux: Alain Giraud.
  • Huberty, Michel; Giraud, Alain & Magdelaine, F. & B. (1994). l'Allemagne Dynastique (in French). Vol. Tome VII: Oldenbourg-Familles alliées H-L. Le Perreux-sur-Marne: Alain Giraud.
  • Knetsch, Carl (1931). Das Haus Brabant. Genealogie der Herzoge von Brabant und der Landgrafen von Hessen (in German). Vol. II. Teil: Die Nachkommen Philipps des Grossmütigen. Darmstadt: Historischer Verein für das Großherzogtum Hessen.
  • Lück, Alfred (1981) [1967]. Siegerland und Nederland (in German) (2nd ed.). Siegen: Siegerländer Heimatverein e.V.
  • Lück, Alfred & Wunderlich, Hermann (1956) [1952]. Die Fürstengruft zu Siegen (in German). Siegen: Verkehrsverein Siegen e.V.
  • Menk, Friedhelm (1971). Quellen zur Geschichte des Siegerlandes im niederländischen königlichen Hausarchiv (in German). Siegen: Stadt Siegen/Forschungsstelle Siegerland.
  • Menk, Friedhelm (2004). "Die Fürstengruft zu Siegen und die darin von 1669 bis 1781 erfolgten Beisetzungen". In Burwitz, Ludwig; Menk, Friedhelm; Opfermann, Ulrich Friedrich; Pfau, Dieter & Plaum, Bernd D. (eds.). Siegener Beiträge. Jahrbuch für regionale Geschichte (in German). Vol. 9. Siegen: Geschichtswerkstatt Siegen – Arbeitskreis für Regionalgeschichte e.V. pp. 183–202. ISSN 1431-6684.
  • Gräfin zu Stolberg-Stolberg, Sophie Eleonore & von Arnswaldt, Werner Konstantin (1927–1935). Katalog der fürstlich Stolberg-Stolberg'schen Leichenpredigten-Sammlung (in German). Leipzig: Verlag Degener & Co.
  • Textor von Haiger, Johann (1617). Nassauische Chronik (in German). Herborn: Christoph Raab.
  • Vorsterman van Oyen, A.A. (1882). Het vorstenhuis Oranje-Nassau. Van de vroegste tijden tot heden (in Dutch). Leiden/Utrecht: A.W. Sijthoff/J.L. Beijers.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to William Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen.
William Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen
Born: 18/28 January 1649 Died: 23 January 1691Jul.
Regnal titles
Preceded by Count of Bronkhorst, Lord of Wisch, Borculo, Lichtenvoorde and Wildenborch,
Hereditary Knight Banneret of the Duchy of Guelders and the County of Zutphen
September 1661 – 23 January 1691Jul. 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Fürst of Nassau-Siegen
10/20 December 1679 – 23 January 1691Jul. 		Succeeded by
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