Maria of Nassau (1539–1599)

Maria Von Nassau-Dillenburg (18 March 1539, in Dillenburg – 28 May 1599, in Kasteel Ulft), Countess of Nassau, Katzenelnbogen, Vianden and Dietz, was a Dutch noblewoman.

Countess
Maria Von Nassau-Dillenburg
Duchess of Boxmeer
Born15 March 1539
Dillenburg, Duchy of Nassau, German Empire
Died28 March 1599 (60)
Ulft, Gelderland, Netherlands
NationalityDutch
Other namesMaria Van Nassau-Dillenburg
Spouse(s)Willem IV, Count of Bergh (m. 1556-1586, his death)
Children16
Parents
  • Willem I, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg (father)
  • Juliana, Countess of Stolberg-Wernigerode (mother)
RelativesWilliam the Silent (brother)

Life

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She was the second daughter of William I, Count of Nassau-Siegen and Juliana of Stolberg, making Maria a sister of William the Silent. On 11 November 1556 she married count Willem IV van den Bergh (1537–1586) in Meurs. Count Willem committed treason against his brother-in-law William by defecting to the Spanish. He and Maria were caught, but were quickly freed on William's intervention.

Maria is buried in the crypt of the church at 's-Heerenberg.

Issue

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Maria and Willem IV van den Bergh had 16 children:

  • Magdalena van den Bergh-'s Heerenberg (1 Aug. 1557 - 25 May 1579)
  • Herman van den Bergh Count van den Bergh-'s Heerenberg ( 2 Aug. 1558 - 12 Aug. 1611)
  • Frederik van den Bergh Count den Bergh-'s Heerenberg (18 Aug. 1559 - 3 Sep. 1618)
  • Oswald van den Bergh (16 Jun. 1561 - 17 Jan. 1586)
  • Wilhelmina van den Bergh-'s Heerenberg (7 Jul. 1562 - drowned in the IJssel near Ulft, 15 Nov. 1591)
  • Elisabeth van den Bergh-'s Heerenberg (31 Dec. 1563 - 1572)
  • Joost van den Bergh Count van den Bergh-'s Heerenberg (25 jan. 1565 - 8 Aug. 1600)
  • Adam van den Bergh Count van den Bergh-'s Heerenberg (1568 - 7 Nov. 1590)
  • Juliana van den Bergh-'s Heerenberg (1571 - drowned in the IJssel near Ulft, 15 Nov. 1591)
  • Adolf van den Bergh Count van den Bergh-'s Heerenberg (1572 - 25 May 1609)
  • Lodewijk van den Bergh Count van den Bergh-'s Heerenberg (1 Nov. 1572 - 10 .Jun 1592)
  • Hendrik van den Bergh Count van den Bergh-'s Heerenberg, Lord of Stevensweerd en Stadhouder of Gelre (1573 - 12 May 1638)
  • Catharina van den Bergh-'s Heerenberg (1578 - 19 Oct. 1640). She married Floris II of Pallandt 2nd Count of Culemborg (1601)
  • Anna van den Bergh-'s Heerenberg (1579 - 17 Aug 1630)
  • Elisabeth van den Bergh-'s Heerenberg princess-abdes of Essen (1581 - 12 Jan 1614)
  • Charlotte van den Bergh-'s Heerenberg (1582 - 2 Nov 1631)
    Catharina Van den Bergh, Maria's 13th child.
    Anna Van den Bergh, Maria's 14th child.
    The Grave of Maria's daughter, Elisabeth.
    Willem IV, Maria's Husband.