Heinrich I. (Nassau-Beilstein)

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Heinrich I of Nassau-Beilstein (born June 11, 1323 ; † between October 28, 1378 and February 24, 1380 ) was the first count of Nassau-Beilstein from 1343 to 1378/80 .

Life

Heinrich was the younger son of Count Heinrich I of Nassau-Siegen and the Adelheid of Heinsberg and Blankenburg . Originally intended for a spiritual career, he was canon in Cologne, Koblenz and finally provost in Speyer. When his older brother Otto's marriage remained childless, Heinrich turned to the lay class. With his brother he concluded a partition agreement in 1336 over the county of Nassau-Dillenburg.

In 1339 Heinrich married Meyna (Imagina) von Westerburg , a daughter of Siegfried von Westerburg († 1315) , against the wishes of his father and brother . Due to the marriage, the brothers quarreled. Otto made an alliance with Landgrave Hermann I of Hesse against Heinrich. An agreement was reached through the mediation of Gerlach I. von Nassau and Dietrich von Loon .

When Heinrich I of Nassau-Siegen died in 1343, the county of Nassau-Siegen was divided between his two sons. The treaties of 1336 and 1339 were used as a basis. The younger, Heinrich, received Beilstein , Mengerskirchen , Eigenberg Castle , Liebenscheid and the rule of the Westerwald . He became the founder of the Nassau-Beilstein line, which existed until 1561 . His older brother Otto received the much larger part of the county with Siegen , Dillenburg , Haiger and Löhnberg and became the progenitor of the Nassau-Dillenburg line .

Heinrich resided mainly at Beilstein Castle . The relatively small rule offered Heinrich little income. As early as 1344 he had to pledge Liebenscheid Castle to the Lords of Haiger. Numerous other pledges followed.

He was part of King Ludwig the Bavarian . This allowed him to collect tariffs on the Westerwald. Heinrich first collected the customs duties in Limburg and later in Hachenburg . In the city of Cologne he was considered a vicious robber baron . However, he managed to avoid a feud with the city of Cologne.

Heinrich received city rights for Liebenscheid in 1360, but did not succeed in developing the place into a city. While he was still alive, his two sons Heinrich and Reinhard participated in the government of his county. After his death in 1378/80 they shared this. Heinrich received Beilstein and Mengerskirchen, Reinhard received Liebenscheid.

family

Heinrich married Meyna (Imagina) von Westerburg in 1339 († around 1380). The couple had three children:

  • Adelheid († 1365) ∞ Heinrich von Kronberg
  • Heinrich II. , Count of Nassau-Beilstein (* 1374; † after 1412) ∞ Katharina von Randerode
  • Reinhard (* 1377; † before 1414/18)

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Hellmuth Gensicke : Landesgeschichte des Westerwaldes . 3. Edition. Historical Commission for Nassau, Wiesbaden 1999, ISBN 3-922244-80-7 , p. 283-285 .
predecessor Office successor
Heinrich I of Nassau-Siegen Count of Nassau-Beilstein
1343–1378 / 80
Heinrich II of Nassau-Beilstein zu Beilstein
Reinhard von Nassau-Beilstein zu Liebenstein