Mary of Orange-Nassau
Maria von Oranien-Nassau (born February 7, 1556 in Breda ; † October 10, 1616 in Büren ) was a daughter of Prince Wilhelm I of Orange-Nassau and his first wife Anna von Egmond , Countess von Büren (1533–1558) .
Life
After the early death of her mother, Maria and her brother Philipp Wilhelm were brought up to the court of Maria of Hungary , the sister of Emperor Charles V. Due to the critical political situation and the looming war , her father sent her to the German relatives in 1567 to Dillenburg , where she was at the court of Johann VI. lived. Her brother stayed behind in Leiden and was eventually taken to Spain as a hostage.
Johann VI. considered Charles III. de Croy, Prince of Chimay (1560-1612) as a suitable marriage candidate to win him as an ally against Spain, but Maria rejected him as a Catholic.
Shortly before his death, Wilhelm I had appointed Maria to be the administrator of her imprisoned brother's possessions. She had to assert herself against her half-brother Moritz , who claimed the title of Prince of Orange and the rule of Breda. She finally left him the paternal inheritance, but was still responsible for her mother's inheritance, the counties of Büren and Leerdam .
On February 17, 1595, at the age of 39, Maria married Count Philipp von Hohenlohe-Neuenstein (1550–1606) in Büren , whom she met at the age of 11 and who had lived in the Netherlands for twenty years. Philipp was noticed by a very unsteady way of life and even Maria's father was strictly against the possible marriage of Maria with Philipp. The husband's poor public image put a strain on Maria's relationship with her half-brother Moritz.
In 1595, Maria's brother Philipp Wilhelm returned to the Netherlands from Spanish imprisonment, but was still subject to strict conditions. After 28 years, Maria met her brother secretly again in Kleve in 1596 .
Maria founded an orphanage in Büren in 1612, still administrator of the maternal property. Their marriage had remained childless.
literature
- Olaf Mörke : Wilhelm von Oranien (1533–1584). Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2007.
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Mary of Orange-Nassau |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Daughter of Prince Wilhelm I of Orange-Nassau, Countess of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein |
| DATE OF BIRTH | February 7, 1556 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Breda |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 10, 1616 |
| Place of death | Büren |