County of Nassau

The County of Nassau was a German state within the Holy Roman Empire and later part of the German Confederation. Its ruling dynasty, the male line of which is now extinct, was the House of Nassau.

This article is about the former state in present-day Germany. For its ruling family, including its branches in present-day Netherlands and Luxembourg, see House of Nassau. For other uses, see Nassau County (disambiguation) and Nassau (disambiguation).

(Princely) County of Nassau Principalities of Nassau (Gefürsteter) Grafschaft Nassau  (German) Fürstentümer Nassau  (German)
1125–1806
Coat of arms
County of Nassau in 1547
Status	County
Capital	Nassau
Common languages	German (Rhine Franconian dialects, Moselle Franconian dialects)
Government	County
Historical era	Middle Ages
• City founded	915
• Rupert I claims title of count	1125
• Comital title acknowledged	1159
• Partitioned multiple times	1255–1806
• Remaining parts unified to form duchy	1806
Preceded by Succeeded by Bishopric of Worms Duchy of Nassau
Today part of	Germany

Nassau Castle

Origins

Nassau, originally a county, developed on the lower Lahn river in what is known today as Rhineland-Palatinate. The town of Nassau was founded in 915.[1] Dudo of Laurenburg held Nassau as a fiefdom as granted by the Bishopric of Worms. His son, Rupert, built the Nassau Castle there around 1125, declaring himself "Count of Nassau". This title was not officially acknowledged by the Bishop of Worms until 1159 under the rule of Rupert's son, Walram. By 1159, the County of Nassau effectively claimed rights of taxation, toll collection, and justice, at which point it can be considered to become a state.[1]

The Nassauers held the territory between the Taunus and the Westerwald at the lower and middle Lahn. By 1128, they acquired the bailiwick of the Bishopric of Worms, which had numerous rights in the area, and thus created a link between their heritage at the lower Lahn and their possessions near Siegen. In the middle of the 12th century, this relationship was strengthened by the acquisition of parts of the Hesse-Thüringen feudal kingdom, namely the Herborner Mark, the Kalenberger Zent and the Court of Heimau (Löhnberg). Closely linked to this was the "Lordship of Westerwald", also in Nassau's possession at the time. At the end of the 12th century, the House acquired the Reichshof Wiesbaden, an important base in the southwest.

In 1255, after the Counts of Nassau acquired the estates of Weilburg, the sons of Count Henry II divided Nassau for the first time. Walram II received the county of Nassau-Weilburg. From 1328 on, his younger brother, Otto I, held the estates north of the Lahn river, namely the County of Nassau-Siegen and Nassau-Dillenburg. The boundary line was essentially the Lahn, with Otto receiving the northern part of the county with the cities of Siegen, Dillenburg, Herborn and Haiger and Walram retaining the section south of the river, including the cities of Weilburg and Idstein.

County of Nassau-Weilburg

Walram's son Adolf became King of Germany in 1292. His son Count Gerlach abdicated in 1344 and the County was divided under his sons in 1355

• County of Nassau-Weilburg, again divided from 1442 to 1574
  • County of Nassau-Saarbrücken (Elder)
  • County of Nassau-Weilburg
• County of Nassau-Wiesbaden, again divided from 1480 to 1509
  • County of Nassau-Idstein
  • County of Nassau-Wiesbaden

     fell back to Nassau-Weilburg in 1605

• County of Nassau-Sonnenberg, partitioned among Nassau-Wiesbaden and Nassau-Weilburg in 1405

In 1605, all parts of Nassau-Weilburg were again unified under Count Louis II; however, after his death in 1627, his sons divided the county again

• County of Nassau-Idstein, fell to Nassau-Ottweiler in 1721
• County of Nassau-Saarbrücken (Younger), divided again in 1640
  • County of Nassau-Saarbrücken, fell to Nassau-Ottweiler in 1723
  • County of Nassau-Ottweiler, fell to Nassau-Usingen in 1728
  • County of Nassau-Usingen, Principality in 1688
• County of Nassau-Weilburg (Younger)

After Nassau-Usingen had inherited Nassau-Ottweiler with former Nassau-Idstein and Nassau-Saarbrücken, it was reunified with Nassau-Weilburg and raised to the Duchy of Nassau in 1806.

County of Nassau-Dillenburg

After the death of Count Otto I, his country was divided between his sons in 1303:

• County of Nassau-Dillenburg, fell to Nassau-Siegen in 1328
• County of Nassau-Hadamar (Elder), fell to Nassau-Dillenburg in 1394
• County of Nassau-Siegen, called Nassau-Dillenburg from 1328 on, again got divided from 1341 to 1561:
  • County of Nassau-Beilstein (Elder)
  • County of Nassau-Dillenburg (Elder)–1606)

In 1504, Henry III of Nassau-Dillenburg inherited the County's estates at Breda in the Duchy of Brabant, while his younger brother William became Count of Nassau-Dillenburg in 1516. After the son of Henry III, René of Châlon died in 1544, Count William's eldest son William the Silent became Prince of Orange and Lord of Breda, Stadtholder in the Low Countries from 1559 on. His younger brother, John VI, again reunited all Nassau-Dillenburg possessions in 1561, though the County was again divided after his death in 1606.

• County of Nassau-Hadamar (Younger), Principality in 1650, fell to Nassau-Diez in 1743
• County of Nassau-Siegen, (1607–23), again got divided from 1623 to 1734:
  • County of Nassau-Siegen (Protestant), Principality in 1664, became extinct in 1734
  • County of Nassau-Siegen (Catholic), Principality, fell to Nassau-Diez in 1743
• County of Nassau-Dillenburg, fell to Nassau-Beilstein in 1620
• County of Nassau-Beilstein (Younger), called Nassau-Dillenburg (Younger) from 1620 on, Principality in 1652, fell to Nassau-Dietz in 1739
• County of Nassau-Dietz, fell to Joachim Murat's Grand Duchy of Berg after the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806

The Counts of Nassau-Dietz, descendants of William Frederick were stadtholders of Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe and Princes of Orange from 1702 on. When they lost their Dutch possessions during the Napoleonic Wars, they were compensated with the Principality of Nassau-Orange-Fulda. Though they lost their German possessions in 1806, the House of Orange-Nassau, through female succession, was the reigning house of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg until 1890 and is still the royal house of the Netherlands.

Rulers

House of Nassau

Partitions of Nassau under House of Nassau rule

County of Laurenburg/ Nassau (1093-1255)

Northern Nassau (Ottonian Line) (1255-1303)

Southern Nassau (Walramian Line) (1255-1355)

Nassau-Siegen (1st creation) (1303-1328)

Nassau-Hadamar (1st creation) (1303-1394)

Nassau-Beilstein (1343-1561)

Nassau-Sonnenberg (1355-1404)

Nassau-Dillenburg (1303-1739) (Siegen line from 1328)

Nassau-Weilburg (1355-1806)

Nassau-Breda (1403-1544) renamed Orange-Nassau (1st creation, Dillenburg line) (1544-1702)

Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein (1st creation) (1355-1605) (divided 1370-86; 1480-1509; 1554-56; 1564-66)

Nassau-Saarbrücken (1st creation) (1429-1574)

Nassau-Siegen (2nd creation) (1606-1734) (In 1623 divided in Catholic and Protestant ruling lines)

Nassau-Hadamar (2nd creation) (1620-1711)

Nassau-Idstein (2nd creation) (1627-1721)

Nassau-Ottweiler (1659-1721)

Nassau-Dietz (1606-1702) renamed Orange-Nassau (2nd creation, Dietz line) (1702-1806)

Nassau-Saarbrücken (2nd creation) (1627-1728)

Nassau-Usingen (1659-1806)

Nassau-Saarbrücken (3rd creation) (1741-1797)

Annexed by France

Orange-Nassau (2nd creation, Dietz line) (1813-1815)

Duchy of Nassau (1806-1866)

Annexed by Prussia

Table of rulers

Ruler		Born	Reign	Death	Ruling part	Consort	Notes
Dudo		?	1093-1117	c.1117	County of Laurenburg/Nassau	Irmgard/Demudis of Arnstein three children	Founder of the family and the county.
Rupert I		c.1090	1117-1154	c.1154	County of Laurenburg/Nassau	Beatrix of Limburg before 1135 four children	Sons of Dudo, ruled jointly. Arnold abdicated from the co-regency.
Arnold I		c.1090	1117-1148	After 1154	County of Laurenburg/Nassau	Unmarried
Arnold II		c.1137	1154-1159	c.1159	County of Laurenburg/Nassau	Unknown at least one child	Sons of Rupert I, ruled jointly.
Rupert II		c.1137	1154-1159	c.1159	County of Laurenburg/Nassau	Beatrix at least two children
Beatrix of Limburg (regent)		?	c.1159-1160?	12 July after 1164	County of Laurenburg/Nassau	Rupert I before 1135 four children	Cited as regent for her grandchildren.
Rupert III the Bellicose		before 1159	1159-1191	23/28 December 1191	County of Laurenburg/Nassau	Elisabeth of Leiningen 1169 two children	Cousins, ruled together. Rupert III, Arnold II's son, co- ruled with Henry I, Rupert II's son. In 1167, with Henry's death he was replaced in the co-regency by his brother Waleran. In 1191, Rupert III's death made his son Herman the new co-regent, but he abdicated the next year. In 1193, Waleran I (then already sole ruler) would become the first legalized Count of Nassau.
Henry I		before 1159	1159-1167	August 1167	County of Laurenburg/Nassau	Unmarried
Waleran I		c.1146	1167-1198	1 February 1198	County of Laurenburg/Nassau	Kunigunde of Ziegenhain before 1135 four children
Herman		?	1191-1192	After 1206	County of Laurenburg/Nassau	Unmarried
Henry II the Rich		c.1180	1198-1251	26 April 1251	County of Nassau	Matilda of Guelders before 1221 eleven children	Sons of Waleran I, ruled together.
Rupert IV		c.1180	1198-1230	c.1239	County of Nassau	Gertrude of Kleeberg c. 11 December 1215 no children
Henry II's sons, Waleran II and Otto I, who were ruling together, split the Nassau possessions on 17 December 1255, by a treaty called Prima divisio, which determined the Lahn river as border of the two halves: to the south, called Southern Nassau, was ruled by Waleran and his descendants, who became known as the Walramian Line, which became important in the County of Nassau and Luxembourg; to the north, called Northern Nassau the county was ruled by Otto and his descendants, who became known as the Ottonian Line, which would inherit parts of Nassau, France and the Netherlands.
Otto I		c.1220	1251-1255	between 3 May 1289 and 19 March 1290	County of Nassau	Agnes of Leiningen five children	Son of Henry II, received the land to the north of Lahn river.
			1255-1289/90		Northern Nassau
Waleran II		c.1220	1251-1255	24 January 1276	County of Nassau	Adelaide of Katzenelnbogen before 1250 seven children	Son of Henry II, received the land to the south of Lahn river.
			1255-1276		Southern Nassau
Adolph I		c.1255	1276-1298	2 July 1298	Southern Nassau	Imagina of Isenburg-Limburg 1270 eight children	In 1292 was crowned King of Germany.
Emicho I		before 1289	1289/90-1303	7 June 1334	Northern Nassau	Anna of Nuremberg before 1297 eight children	Sons of Otto I, ruled together until 1303, when they divided the land: Henry received Nassau-Siegen, Emicho received Nassau-Hadamar and John received Nassau-Dillenburg. However, after the childless death of John, Nassau-Dillenburg fell to Nassau-Siegen, which adopted the name Nassau-Dillenburg (named in this table as Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg). Siegen and Dillenburg were united until 1606.
			1303-1334		Nassau-Hadamar
John I		c.1290	1289/90-1303	10 August 1328	Northern Nassau	Unmarried
			1303-1328		Nassau-Dillenburg
Henry I		before 1288	1289/90-1303	July/August 1343	Northern Nassau	Adelaide of Sponheim-Heinsberg 1302 five children
			1303-1328		Nassau-Siegen
			1328-1343		Nassau-Dillenburg
Nassau-Dillenburg was annexed to Nassau-Siegen, which adopted the name Nassau-Dillenburg
Rupert V		c.1280	1298-1304	2 November 1304	Southern Nassau	Unmarried	Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother, Gerlach.
Gerlach I		c.1285	1304-1355	7 January 1361	Southern Nassau	Agnes of Hesse 1307 seven children Irmgard of Hohenlohe-Weikersheim before 4 January 1337 two children	Brothers of Rupert V, ruled jointly for a brief period (1312-1316). In 1355 Gerlach abdicated to his sons, who divided the land.
Waleran III		c.1294	1312-1316	22 December 1324	Southern Nassau	Unmarried
John I		after 1302	1334-1365	20 January 1365	Nassau-Hadamar	Elisabeth of Waldeck 1331 ten children	Sons of Emicho I, ruled jointly.
Emicho II		after 1302	1334-1359	1 March 1359	Nassau-Hadamar	Unmarried
Otto II		c.1305	1343-1351	6 January 1351	Nassau-Dillenburg	Adelaide of Vianden 23 December 1331 four children
Henry I		11 June 1323	1343-1378	28 October 1378	Nassau-Beilstein	Imagina of Westerburg 1339 three children	Son of Henry I of Nassau-Dillenburg, inherited Beilstein, partitioned from Nassau-Siegen-Dillenburg.
John I		c.1340	1351-1416	4 September 1416	Nassau-Dillenburg	Margaretha of the Marck 30 November 1357 six children	Inherited Vianden.
Crato I		c.1340	1355-1356	1356	Nassau-Sonnenberg	Unmarried	Son of Gerlach I, inherited Sonnenberg. Died with no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother Rupert.
John I		c.1309	1355-1371	20 September 1371	Nassau-Weilburg	Gertrude of Merenberg 1333 one child Johanna of Saarbrücken 1353 seven children	Son of Gerlach I, inherited Weilburg.
Adolph I		c.1307	1355-1370	17 January 1370	Nassau-Idstein	Margaret of Nuremberg 1322 fourteen children	Son of Gerlach I, inherited Idstein.
Rupert the Warrior		c.1340	1356-1390	4 September 1390	Nassau-Sonnenberg	Anna of Nassau-Hadamar 1362 no children	Died with no descendants. Left his inheritance to his widow.
Henry I		after 1331	1365-1368	1368	Nassau-Hadamar	Unmarried	Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
Emicho III		after 1331	1368-1394	1394	Nassau-Hadamar		Brother of Henry, left no descendants. The land was annexed to Nassau-Dillenburg.
Nassau-Hadamar was annexed to Nassau-Dillenburg
Gerlach II		1333	1370-1386	1386	Nassau-Idstein	Agnes of Veldenz c.1360 no children	Son of Gerlach I, inherited Idstein.
Waleran IV		1354	1370-1386 1386-1393	7 November 1393	Nassau-Wiesbaden Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein	Bertha of Westerburg 1374 two children
Johanna of Saarbrücken (regent)		c.1330	1371-1381	October 1381	Nassau-Weilburg	John I 1353 seven children	Regent on behalf of her son, passing to him, at her death, the County of Saarbrücken.
Frederick of Blankenheim, Bishop of Strasbourg (regent)		c.1355	1381-1382	9 October 1423	Nassau-Weilburg	Unmarried	Regent on behalf of count Philip I, after the death of his mother.
Philip I		1368	1382-1429	2 July 1429	Nassau-Weilburg	Anna of Hohenlohe-Weikersheim 1385 one child Elisabeth of Lorraine-Vaudémont 1412 four children	Divided the land for his sons: the eldest received Nassau-Weilbirg; the youngest, the county of Saarbrücken.
Henry II		29 September 1374	1378-1412	12 October 1412	Nassau-Beilstein	Catherine of Randerode 1383 four children	Sons of Henry I, ruled jointly.
Rainhard		1374	1378-1414/18	between 30 December 1414 and 17 April 1418	Nassau-Beilstein	Unmarried
Anna of Nassau-Hadamar		?	1390-1404	21 January 1404	Nassau-Sonnenberg	Rupert, Count of Nassau-Sonnenberg 1362 no children	Heir of her husband. After her own death, her lands went to Weilburg line.
Nassau-Sonnenberg was annexed to Nassau-Weilburg
Adolph II		1386	1393-1426	16 July 1426	Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein	Margaret of Baden-Baden March 1418 six children
John I		After 1383	1414/18-1473	1473	Nassau-Beilstein	Matilda of Isenburg 1415 four children Johanna von Gemen 1477 one child	Sons of Henry II, ruled jointly.
Henry III		1418	1414/18-1477	12 September 1477	Nassau-Beilstein	Unmarried
Adolph I		1362	1388-1420	12 June 1420	Nassau-Dietz	Judith of Dietz 1376 one child	Sons of John I, ruled jointly, as Tetrarchs. Counts Adolph and Engelbert inherited via his wives half of Diez and Breda, respectively, which became, after their deaths, part of Nassau patrimony.
			1416-1420		Nassau-Dillenburg
John II the Elder		1365	1416-1443	May 1443	Nassau-Dillenburg	Unmarried
Engelbert I		1370	1403-1442	3 May 1442	Nassau-Breda	Johanna van Polanen 1 August 1403 Breda six children
			1416-1442		Nassau-Dillenburg
John III the Younger		1362	1416-1429/30	1429/30	Nassau-Dillenburg	Unmarried
John II		1419	1426-1480	9 May 1480	Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein	Maria of Nassau-Breda 17 June 1437 Breda six children
Elisabeth of Lorraine-Vaudémont (regent)		1395	1429-1438	17 January 1456	Nassau-Weilburg	Philip I 1412 four children	Regent in name of her children, John II and Philip II.
John II		4 April 1423	1438-1472	15 July 1472	Nassau-Saarbrücken	Johanna of Loon-Heinsberg 30 November 1456 two children Elisabeth of Württemberg-Urach 30 October 1470 one child	Second son of Philip I, received Saarbrücken.
Philip II		12 March 1418	1438-1492	19 March 1492	Nassau-Weilburg	Margaret of Loon-Heinsberg 25 September 1440 two children	Eldest son of Philip I, received Nassau-Weilburg. Between 1464 and 1490, he also served as regent for count John Louis of Nassau-Saarbrücken, together with Duke Eberhard I of Württemberg, following the death of the count's mother and previous regent.
			1474-1490 as regent		Nassau-Saarbrücken
John IV		1 August 1410	1443-1451	3 February 1475	Nassau-Breda	Maria of Loon-Heinsberg 7 February 1440 six children	Sons of Engelbert I, ruled jointly in Breda and Dillenburg until 1447. In this year they divided their lands: John kept Breda and Henry, Dillenburg. After the latter's death, the former reunited their possessions.
			1443-1447		Nassau-Dillenburg
			1451-1475		Nassau-Dillenburg and Nassau-Breda
Henry II		7 July 1414	1443-1447	8 June 1451	Nassau-Breda	Genoveva of Virneburg 1435 one child Irmgard of Schleiden-Junkerath after 1437 no children
			1443-1451		Nassau-Dillenburg
Elisabeth of Württemberg-Urach (regent)		4 October 1447	1472-1474	3 June 1505	Nassau-Saarbrücken	John II 30 October 1470 one child Henry, Count of Stolberg 30 October 1470 no children	Regent on behalf of her son, until her second marriage.
Eberhard I, Duke of Württemberg (regent)		11 December 1445	1474-1490	24 February 1496	Nassau-Saarbrücken	Barbara Gonzaga 12 April/4 July 1474 one child	Regent on behalf of count John Louis, together with Count Philip II of Nassau-Weilburg, following the death of the count's mother and previous regent.
John Louis I		19 October 1472	1490-1545	4 June 1545	Nassau-Saarbrücken	Elisabeth of Palatinate-Zweibrücken 29 January 1492 Saarbrücken six children Catharina van Meurs-Saarwerden 14 February 1507 nine children
Engelbert II the Valorious		17 May 1451	1475-1504	31 May 1504	Nassau-Breda	Cymburgis of Baden-Baden 19 December 1468 Koblenz no children	Son of John IV. Also Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands. Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
John V		9 November 1455	1475-1504 1504-1516	30 July 1516	Nassau-Dillenburg Nassau-Dillenburg and Nassau-Breda	Elisabeth of Hesse-Marburg 11 February 1481 six children
Henry IV		1449	1477-1499	26 May 1499	Nassau-Beilstein	Eva of Sayn 1464 ten children
Philip		1450	1480-1509	16 June 1509	Nassau-Idstein	Margaret of Zweibrücken-Veldenz 1470 no children
Adolph III		10 November 1443	1480-1509 1509-1511	6 July 1511	Nassau-Wiesbaden Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein	Margaret of Hanau-Lichtenberg 20 June 1484 four children
Louis I		1473	1492-1523	28 May 1523	Nassau-Weilburg	Maria Margaretha of Nassau-Idstein 19 April 1501 six children
John II		1475	1499-1513	18 August 1513	Nassau-Beilstein	Maria of Solms 1492 four children Anna of Lippe 1510 no children
Philip I the Elder		26 April 1492	1511-1554	6 June 1558	Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein	Adriana of Glymes 24 August 1514 Bergen op Zoom six children	Abdicated for his children, who divided the land once more.
John III		17 November 1495	1513-1561	13 December 1561	Nassau-Beilstein	Anna of Nassau-Weilburg 1523 no children	Sons of John II, ruled jointly. They had no descendants and after their death the county was annexed to Nassau-Dillenburg.
Henry V		After 1495	1513-1525	25 February 1525	Nassau-Beilstein	Unmarried
Bernard		1479/85	1513-1556	10 May 1556	Nassau-Beilstein	Unmarried	Brother of John II, ruled jointly with his nephews.
Nassau-Beilstein merged again in Nassau-Dillenburg
Henry III		12 January 1483	1516-1538	14 September 1538	Nassau-Breda	Louise-Françoise of Savoy 3 August 1503 no children Claudia of Chalon May 1515 one child Mencía de Mendoza 26 June 1524 one child	Son of John V, inherited Nassau-Breda.
William I the Rich		10 April 1487	1516-1559	6 October 1559	Nassau-Dillenburg	Walburga of Egmont 29 October 1519 Koblenz two children Juliana of Stolberg 29 September 1531 Königstein twelve children	Son of John V, inherited Nassau-Dillenburg.
Philip III		20 September 1504	1523-1559	4 October 1559	Nassau-Weilburg	Elisabeth of Sayn-Hachenburg 2 March 1523 four children Anna of Mansfeld-Hinterort 23 September 1536 one child Amalia of Isenburg-Büdingen 17 August 1541 Büdingen three children
René		5 February 1519	1538-1544	15 July 1544	Nassau-Breda and Principality of Orange	Anna of Lorraine 22 August 1540 Bar-le-Duc one child	Son of Henry III, inherited Nassau-Breda from his father and the Principality of Orange from his mother. Left no descendants, and gave his patrimony to his cousin.
William I the Silent		24 April 1533	1544-1584	10 July 1584	Nassau-Breda Orange-Nassau	Anna van Egmont 8 July 1551 Buren three children Anna of Saxony 24 August 1561 Leipzig (annulled 14 December 1571) five children Charlotte of Bourbon 12 June 1575 Brielle six children Louise de Coligny 12 April 1583 Antwerp one child	Eldest son of William the Rich, inherited his cousin's lands, and left his father's inheritance to his younger brothers. Murdered in 1584.
Philip II		25 July 1509	1545-1554	19 June 1554	Nassau-Saarbrücken	Apollonia of Leiningen-Hartenburg 17 July 1535 no children	Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
John III		5 April 1511	1554-1574	23 November 1574	Nassau-Saarbrücken	Unmarried	Left no descendants. The land was absorbed by Nassau-Weilburg.
Nassau-Saarbrücken merged again in Nassau-Weilburg
Adolph IV		1518	1554-1556	5 January 1556	Nassau-Idstein	Unmarried	Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother Philip, who reunited the land.
Philip II the Younger		1516	1554-1556 1556-1564 1564-1566	3 January 1566	Nassau-Wiesbaden Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein Nassau-Wiesbaden	Unmarried	Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother Balthasar.
Albert		26 December 1537	1559-1593	11 November 1593	Nassau-Weilburg	Anna of Nassau-Dillenburg 23 September 1536 fourteen children	Sons of Philip I, ruled jointly. In 1574 annexed Nassau-Saarbrücken
Philip IV		14 October 1542	1559-1602	12 March 1602	Nassau-Weilburg	Erica of Manderscheid-Blankenheim 9 April 1563 one child Elisabeth of Nassau-Dillenburg 3 October 1583 no children
John VI the Elder		22 November 1536	1559-1606	8 October 1606	Nassau-Dillenburg	Elisabeth of Leuchtenberg 6 June 1559 Dillenburg thirteen children Kunigunde Jakobäa of Simmern 13 September 1580 Dillenburg four children Johannetta of Sayn-Wittgenstein 14 June 1586 Berleburg seven children	Younger brother of William the Silent, inherited his father's domains, which were divided after his own death.
Balthasar		1520	1564-1566 1566-1568	11 January 1568	Nassau-Idstein Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein	Margaret of Isenburg-Birstein 9 June/6 September 1564 one child
Margaret of Isenburg-Birstein (regent)		14 December 1542	1568-c.1587	8 August 1613	Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein	Balthasar 9 June/6 September 1564 one child George I of Leiningen-Westerburg 24 May 1570 Büdingen five children	Regent on behalf of her son.
John Louis I		10 April 1567	c.1587-1596	10 June 1596	Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein	Maria of Nassau-Dillenburg 2 December 1588 Idstein six children
Philip William		19 December 1554	1584-1618	20 February 1618	Nassau-Breda Orange-Nassau	Éléonore de Bourbon 23 November 1606 Fontainebleau no children	Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his half-brother Maurice.
Maria of Nassau-Dillenburg (regent)		12 November 1568	1596-1605	30 April 1632	Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein	John Louis I 2 December 1588 Idstein six children	Regent on behalf of her sons.
John Philip		26 March 1595	1596-1599	29 August 1599	Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein	Unmarried	Died as minors. After John Louis' death, his lands were annexed to Nassau-Weilburg.
John Louis II		21 May 1596	1599-1605	19 June 1605	Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein	Unmarried
Nassau-Idstein merged again in Nassau-Weilburg
Louis II		9 August 1565	1602-1627	8 November 1627	Nassau-Weilburg	Anna Maria of Hesse-Kassel 8 June 1589 Kassel fourteen children	In 1605 reunited all Southern Nassau. However he divided it again after his death between his sons.
William Louis		13 March 1560	1606-1620	13 July 1620	Nassau-Dillenburg	Anna of Orange-Nassau 25 November 1587 Franeker no children	Son of John VI, received Nassau-Dillenburg.
John VII the Middle		7 June 1561	1606-1623	27 September 1623	Nassau-Siegen	Magdalena of Waldeck 9 December 1581 Dillenburg twelve children Margaret of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg 27 August 1603 Dillenburg thirteen children	As son of John VI, received Nassau-Siegen.
Ernest Casimir I		22 December 1573	1606-1632	2 June 1632	Nassau-Dietz	Sophia Hedwig of Brunswick-Lüneburg 8 June 1607 Dillenburg two children	Son of John VI, received Nassau-Dietz.
Maurice		14 November 1567	1618-1625	23 April 1625	Nassau-Breda Orange-Nassau	Unmarried	Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his half-brother Frederick Henry.
John Louis		6 August 1590	1620-1653	10 March 1653	Nassau-Hadamar	Ursula of Lippe 1617 fourteen children	Son of John VI, receiving Nassau-Hadamar, which was recreated in 1620, partitioned from Nassau-Dillenburg.
George		1 September 1562	1620-1623	9 August 1623	Nassau-Dillenburg	Anna Amalia van Nassau-Saarbrücken 1584 fourteen children Amalia of Sayn-Wittgenstein 1605 one child	Son of John VI, succeeded his childess brother in Nassau-Dillenburg.
John VIII the Younger		29 September 1583	1623-1638	27 July 1638	Nassau-Siegen	Ernestine Yolande de Ligne 13 August 1618 Brussels thirteen children	Son of John VI, inherited Nassau-Siegen from his brother and co-ruled with his nephew Henry.
Henry II		9 August 1611	1623-1652	27 October 1652	Nassau-Siegen	Maria Magdalene of Limburg-Stirum 9 April 1646 four children	Son of John VII, co-ruled with his uncle.
Louis Henry		9 May 1594	1623-1662	12 July 1662	Nassau-Dillenburg	Catherine of Sayn-Wittgenstein 1615 twelve children Elizabeth of Salm-Dhaun 1653 no children Sophie of Nassau-Hadamar 1656 three children	Sons of George, ruled jointly.
Albert		1 November 1596	1623-1626	16 June 1626	Nassau-Dillenburg	Unmarried
Frederick Henry		29 January 1584	1625-1647	14 March 1647	Nassau-Breda Orange-Nassau	Amalia of Solms-Braunfels 4 April 1625 The Hague nine children
William Louis		18 December 1590	1627-1640	22 August 1640	Nassau-Saarbrücken	Anna Amalia of Baden-Durlach 25 November 1615 Durlach twelve children	Son of Louis II, received Nassau-Saarbrücken.
John		24 November 1603	1627-1677	23 May 1677	Nassau-Idstein	Sibylla Magdalena of Baden-Durlach 6 June 1629 Strasbourg nine children Anna of Leiningen-Dagsburg-Falkenburg 6 December 1646 Strasbourg seventeen children	Son of Louis II, received Nassau-Idstein. From 1675 he also served as regent for Count John Ernest of Nassau-Weilburg.
			1675-1677 as regent		Nassau-Weilburg
Ernest Casimir		15 November 1607	1627-1655	16 April 1655	Nassau-Weilburg	Anna Maria of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hachenburg 22 February 1634 Weilburg six children	Son of Louis II, received Nassau-Weilburg.
Henry Casimir I		21 January 1612	1632-1640	13 July 1640	Nassau-Dietz	Unmarried	Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
John Francis Desideratus		28 July 1627	1638-1699	17 November 1699	Nassau-Siegen (Catholic branch)	Johanna Claudia of Königsegg-Rotenfels-Aulendorf 14 May 1651 Vienna ten children Marie Eleonore Sophie of Baden-Rodemachern 31 May 1665 Rodemachern four children Isabella Clara du Puget de la Serre 9 February 1669 Brussels ten children	Catholic, in 1648 John Francis ceded parts of the county to his uncles, who composed the Protestant branch of the family.
William Frederick		7 August 1613	1640-1664	31 October 1664	Nassau-Dietz	Albertine Agnes of Orange-Nassau 2 May 1652 Kleve three children
Crato II		7 April 1621	1640-1642	25 July 1642	Nassau-Saarbrücken	Unmarried
John Louis		23 May 1625	1642-1659	9 February 1690	Nassau-Saarbrücken	Dorothea Catherine of Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler 6 October 1649 Bischweiler eight children	Son of William Louis, in 1659 divided the land with his other brothers, in which he received Ottweiler. Between 1677 and 1680 he also served as regent for Count John Ernest of Nassau-Weilburg.
			1659-1690		Nassau-Ottweiler
			1677-1680 as regent		Nassau-Weilburg
William II		27 May 1626	1647-1650	6 November 1650	Nassau-Breda Orange-Nassau	Mary of Great Britain 2 May 1641 London one child
George Frederick		23 Februy 1606	1648-1674	5 April 1674	Nassau-Siegen (Protestant branch)	Mauritia Eleonora of Portugal 4 June 1647 The Hague no children	Brother of John VIII, received land from his nephew in 1648. Had no descendants and left his lands to his brother.
Mary of Great Britain (regent)		4 November 1631	1650-1660	24 November 1660	Nassau-Breda Orange-Nassau	William III 2 May 1641 London one child	Shared regency on behalf of William III.
Amalia of Solms-Braunfels (regent)		31 August 1602	1650-1672	8 September 1675	Nassau-Breda Orange-Nassau	Frederick Henry 4 April 1625 The Hague no children
William III		4 November 1650	1672-1702	8 March 1702	Nassau-Breda Orange-Nassau	Mary II, Queen of Great Britain 4 November 1677 London no children	Became King of England and Scotland (Great Britain) in 1688, jointly with his wife. Left no descendants, and his lands in Nassau and Holland reverted to Nassau-Dietz line.
Orange-Nassau annexed to Nassau-Dietz
In 1702, the Nassau-Dietz branch followed the House of Orange that had become extinct with William III of England (d. 1702). The counts of Nassau-Dietz not only descended from William the Silent's brother, but in female line also from himself, as William Frederick, Prince of Nassau-Dietz, had married Countess Albertine Agnes of Nassau, the fifth daughter of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange in 1652.
Maurice Henry		23 April 1626	1653-1679	24 January 1679	Nassau-Hadamar	Ernestine Charlotte of Nassau-Siegen 30 January 1650 Siegen six children Maria Leopoldine of Nassau-Siegen 12 August 1669 Siegen three children Anna Louise of Manderscheid-Blankenheim 24 October 1675 Hachenburg six children
Frederick		26 April 1640	1655-1675	8 September 1675	Nassau-Weilburg	Christiane Elisabeth von Sayn-Wittgenstein-Homburg 26 May 1663 three children
Gustav Adolph		27 March 1632	1659-1677	9 October 1677	Nassau-Saarbrücken	Eleonore Klara of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein 14 June 1662 seven children	Son of William Louis, after the partition received Saarbrücken.
Waleran		25 February 1635	1659-1702	17 October 1702	Nassau-Usingen	Catherine Françoise of Croÿ-Roeulx 16 June 1678 Mechelen three children Magdalena Elizabeth of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort 1686 no children	Son of William Louis II, after the partition received Usingen.
Henry		28 August 1641	1662-1701	18 April 1701	Nassau-Dillenburg	Dorothea Elizabeth of Brzeg 13 October 1663 sixteen children	Grandson of Louis Henry, as son of George Louis, Heir of Nassau-Dillenburg.
Albertine Agnes of Orange-Nassau (regent)		9 April 1634	1664-1677	26 May 1696	Nassau-Dietz	William Frederick 2 May 1652 Kleve three children
Henry Casimir II		18 January 1657	1677-1696	25 March 1696	Nassau-Dietz	Henriëtte Amalia of Anhalt-Dessau 26 November 1683 Dessau nine children
John Ernest		13 June 1664	c.1680-1719	27 February 1719	Nassau-Weilburg	Maria Polyxena of Leiningen-Dagsburg-Hartenburg 3 April 1683 nine children	Until 1680 under regencies of Cout John of Nassau-Idstein (1675-77) and Count John Louis of Nassau-Ottweiler (1677-80).
John Maurice the Brazilian		17 June 1604	1674-1679	20 December 1679	Nassau-Siegen (Protestant branch)	Unmarried
Louis Crato		28 March 1663	1677-1713	14 February 1713	Nassau-Saarbrücken	Philippine Henriette of Hohenlohe-Langenburg 25 April 1699 eight children	Left no male descendants. He was succeeded by his brother Charles Louis.
George August		26 February 1665	1677-1721	26 October 1721	Nassau-Idstein	Henriette Dorothea of Oettingen 22 September 1688 Kirchheim unter Teck twelve children
Nassau-Idstein was annexed by Nassau-Saarbrücken
Francis Bernard of Nassau-Hadamar (regent)		21 September 1637	1679-1694	15 September 1695	Nassau-Hadamar	Unmarried	Brother of Maurice Henry, became regent on behalf of his nephew.
Francis Alexander		27 January 1674	1694-1711	27 May 1711	Nassau-Hadamar	Elizabeth Catherine Felicitas of Hesse-Rotenburg 18 October 1695 Lovosice (annulled 1705) fourteen children	Left no surviving descendants, and his lands were divided by the neighbouring counties.
Nassau-Hadamar divided between Nassau-Dietz, Nassau-Dillenburg and Nassau-Siegen
William Maurice		18 January 1649	1679-1691	23 January 1691	Nassau-Siegen (Protestant branch)	Ernestine Charlotte of Nassau-Schaumburg 6 February 1678 Schaumburg two children
Frederick William I		20 February 1680	1691-1722	13 February 1722	Nassau-Siegen (Protestant branch)	Elisabeth of Hesse-Homburg 7 January 1702 five children Amalie Louise of Courland 13 April 1708 eight children	In 1707, after the deposition of his cousin William Hyacinth, he was able to reunite all Nassau-Siegen.
Henriëtte Amalia of Anhalt-Dessau (regent)		16 August 1666	1696-1708	18 April 1726	Nassau-Dietz Orange-Nassau	Henry Casimir II 26 November 1683 Dessau nine children	Regent on behalf of her son. From 1702 ruled also over the lands of William IV, who died without descendants in 1702.
John William Friso		14 August 1687	1708-1711	14 July 1711	Nassau-Dietz Orange-Nassau	Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel 26 April 1709 Kassel two children	Became Stadholder in Friesland and Groningen, and in 1702 became the heir of William III and thus the founder of the younger House of Orange-Nassau and of the Dutch Royal Family. However, he had to split the Dutch properties with the King of Prussia who also descended from William I.
William Hyacinth		3 April 1667	1699-1707	18 April 1743	Nassau-Siegen (Catholic branch)	Maria Francisca of Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg 9 April 1687 Liège three children Maria Anna of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst 22 May 1698 Frankfurt one child Sophia of Starhemberg 28 July 1740 Vienna no children	Son of John Francis Desideratus. Mismanaged the government of the principality and was probably deposed in 1707. His Protestant cousin reunited all Nassau-Siegen.
William II		28 August 1670	1701-1724	21 September 1724	Nassau-Dillenburg	Johanna Dorothea of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön-Norburg 13 January 1699 Harzgerode two children	Left no surviving descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
William Henry		2 May 1684	1702-1718	14 February 1718	Nassau-Usingen	Charlotte Amalia of Nassau-Dillenburg 15 April 1706 Dillenburg nine children
Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel (regent)		7 February 1688	1711-1729	9 April 1765	Nassau-Dietz Orange-Nassau	John William Friso 26 April 1709 Kassel two children	Regent on behalf of her son.
William IV		1 September 1711	1729-1751	22 October 1751	Nassau-Dietz Orange-Nassau	Anne of Great Britain 25 March 1734 London three children	Inherited a number of Nassau territories besides his paternal Nassau-Dietz, namely Nassau-Hadamar in 1711, Nassau-Siegen in 1734, and Nassau-Dillenburg in 1739. In 1732, Frederick William I of Prussia left him his Dutch properties, including Huis ten Bosch palace and Het Loo Palace. William IV became stadtholder of the Netherlands in 1747 and reunited all of the Dutch and German possessions of his family (except for Nassau-Weilburg) in his hand, styling himself Prince of Orange and Nassau.
Charles Louis		6 January 1665	1713-1723	6 December 1723	Nassau-Saarbrücken	Christiane Charlotte of Nassau-Ottweiler 22 April 1713 Saarbrücken two children	Left no descendants. The land went to his cousin from Nassau-Ottweiler.
Charles August		17 September 1685	1719-1753	9 November 1753	Nassau-Weilburg	Auguste Friederike of Nassau-Idstein 17 August 1723 Wiesbaden seven children
Amalie Louise of Courland (regent)		2 July 1687	1722-c.1726	18 January 1750	Nassau-Siegen	Frederick William I 13 April 1708 eight children	Regent in name of her stepson, Frederick William II.
Frederick William II		11 November 1706	c.1726-1734	11 November 1734	Nassau-Siegen	Sophie Polyxena Concordia of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein 23 September 1728 five children	Left no surviving male descendants. After his death Nassau-Siegen were annexed to Nassau-Dietz.
Nassau-Siegen was annexed by Nassau-Dietz
Frederick Louis		13 November 1651	1690-1723	25 May 1728	Nassau-Ottweiler	Christiane van Ahlefeldt 28 July 1680 eight children Louise Sophie of Hanau-Lichtenberg 27 September 1697 no children	In 1723 inherited Saarbrücken, reuniting Ottweiler with the newly-inherited land.
			1723-1728		Nassau-Saarbrücken
Nassau-Ottweiler merged again in Nassau-Saarbrücken
Christian		12 August 1688	1724-1739	28 August 1739	Nassau-Dillenburg	Isabella Charlotte of Nassau-Dietz 1725 no children	Left no surviving descendants and his lands were annexed to Nassau-Dietz.
Nassau-Dillenburg was annexed by Nassau-Dietz
Charlotte Amalia of Nassau-Dillenburg (regent)		2 May 1684	1718-1728	14 February 1718	Nassau-Usingen	William Henry 15 April 1706 Dillenburg nine children	Regent in name of her son Charles. In 1728 inherited Nassau-Saarbrücken and all its lands.
			1728-1734		Nassau-Usingen and Nassau-Saarbrücken
Charles		31 December 1712	1734-1741	21 June 1775	Nassau-Usingen and Nassau-Saarbrücken	Christine Wilhelmine of Saxe-Eisenach 26 December 1734 four children Magdalene Gross of Wiesbaden after 1740 (morganatic) four children	In 1741 gave Saarbrücken to his brother, and retained Usingen.
			1741-1775		Nassau-Usingen
William Henry II		6 March 1718	1741-1768	24 July 1768	Nassau-Saarbrücken	Sophie of Erbach-Erbach 28 February 1742 Erbach five children	Received Nassau-Saarbrücken from his brother.
Anne of Great Britain (regent)		2 November 1709	1751-1759	12 January 1759	Nassau-Dietz Orange-Nassau	William VI 25 March 1734 London three children	Regents on behalf of William V.
Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel (regent)		7 February 1688	1759-1765	9 April 1765	Nassau-Dietz Orange-Nassau	John William Friso 26 April 1709 Kassel two children
Louis Ernest, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg-Bevern (regent)		25 September 1718	1759-1766	12 May 1788	Nassau-Dietz Orange-Nassau	Unmarried
Carolina of Orange-Nassau (regent)		28 February 1743	1765-1766	6 May 1787	Nassau-Weilburg	Charles Christian 5 March 1760 The Hague fifteen children
William V		8 March 1748	1766-1806	9 April 1806	Nassau-Dietz Orange-Nassau	Wilhelmina of Prussia I 4 October 1767 Berlin five children
Charles Christian		16 January 1735	1753-1788	28 November 1788	Nassau-Weilburg	Carolina of Orange-Nassau 5 March 1760 The Hague fifteen children Barbara Giessen 2 October 1788 (morganatic) no children
Louis		3 January 1745	1768-1794	2 March 1794	Nassau-Saarbrücken	Wilhelmine of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt 30 October 1766 Schwarzburg one child Katharina Kest 30 October 1766 (morganatic, legitimized 1787) seven children
Charles William		9 November 1735	1775-1803	17 May 1803	Nassau-Usingen	Caroline Felizitas of Leiningen-Dagsburg 16 April 1760 one child	Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
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.[2]
Henry Louis		9 March 1768	1794-1797	27 April 1797	Nassau-Saarbrücken	Marie Françoise Maximilienne of Saint Mauris-Montbarrey 6 October 1785 no children	After his death Nassau-Saarbrücken was occupied by France.
Nassau-Saarbrücken was annexed by France
Frederick Augustus		23 April 1738	1803-1806	24 March 1816	Nassau-Usingen	Louise of Waldeck 9 June 1775 seven children	From 1806 ruled jointly. Frederick William retained the title of Prince of Nassau, and Frederick Augustus maintained his title of Duke.
			1806-1816		Duchy of Nassau
Nassau-Usingen united with Nassau-Weilburg to form the Duchy of Nassau
Frederick William		25 October 1768	1788-1806	9 January 1816	Nassau-Weilburg	Louise Isabelle of Kirchberg 31 July 1788 Hachenburg four children
			1806-1816		Duchy of Nassau
Nassau-Weilburg united with Nassau-Usingen to form the Duchy of Nassau
William VI		24 August 1772	1806 1813-1815	12 December 1843	Nassau-Dietz Orange-Nassau	Wilhelmina of Prussia II 1 October 1791 Berlin six children Henrietta d'Oultremont 17 February 1841 (morganatic) no children	Ascended 9 April 1806, and on 27 October his lands were annexed to the Duchy of Nassau. He revived the Principality of Orange-Nassau, but in 1815 was proclaimed King of the Netherlands. His Nassau lands returned to the Duchy of Nassau. See List of monarchs of the Netherlands for the descendants of William.
In 1806, Nassau-Dietz and Orange-Nassau were annexed to the Duchy of Nassau In 1815, Nassau-Dietz and Orange-Nassau were annexed again to the Duchy of Nassau
William		14 June 1792	1816-1839	20/30 August 1839	Duchy of Nassau	Louise of Saxe-Hildburghausen 24 June 1814 Weilburg eight children Pauline of Württemberg 23 April 1829 Stuttgart four children
Adolph		24 July 1817	1839-1866	17 November 1905	Duchy of Nassau	Elizabeth Mikhailovna of Russia 31 January 1844 St. Petersburg no children Adelheid-Marie of Anhalt-Dessau 23 April 1851 Dessau five children	In 1866 lost his Nassau lands, but he was granted in 1890 the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg after the death of his cousin without male descendants. See List of monarchs of Luxembourg for the descendants of Adolph.
In 1866, Nassau was annexed to the Kingdom of Prussia

See also

• House of Nassau
• County of Nassau-Saarbrücken
• Duchy of Nassau

References

1. Abramson, Scott F. (2017-01-01). "The Economic Origins of the Territorial State". International Organization. 71 (1): 97–130. doi:10.1017/S0020818316000308. ISSN 0020-8183.
2. Hay, Mark Edward (1 June 2016). "The House of Nassau between France and Independence, 1795–1814: Lesser Powers, Strategies of Conflict Resolution, Dynastic Networks". The International History Review. 38 (3): 482–504. doi:10.1080/07075332.2015.1046387.