Countess Anna of Nassau

Countess Anna of Nassau (5 November 1563 – 13 June 1588) was a daughter of William the Silent and his second wife, Anna of Saxony. She was the wife of William Louis, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg.

Biography

Anna and William Louis were married just after Anna's twenty fourth birthday on November 25, 1587. The marriage was however only a short one, Anna died only six months after the marriage; therefore, they had no children and William Louis never remarried. William Louis became Count of Nassau- Dillenburg.

Family

Anna's mother, Anna of Saxony never had a happy marriage with Anna's father, William the Silent. Anna of Saxony was described as unstable and violent. She was unpopular with her family and the citizens.

Anna of Saxony took up with her lawyer, with whom she had an illegitimate daughter called Christina. After this incident, Anna and her siblings never saw their mother again. Anna of Saxony was sent to Beilstein castle with Christina, here her behavior became worse, until the servants were ordered to keep all knives away from her, lest she attack someone. Anna of Saxony began to suffer from hallucinations and violent outbursts. Christina was removed from her care and sent to be raised with her Anna and her siblings. William annulled their marriage, and remarried twice. Anna lived out the rest of her days in Dresden, until her death aged thirty-two in 1577.

Her father then married Charlotte of Bourbon, with whom he had six daughters. After her death in 1582, William married Louise de Coligny who gave birth to a son, Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange.

Among Anna's siblings were Maurice, Prince of Orange and Emilia of Nassau.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Countess Anna of Nassau

16. John IV, Count of Nassau-Siegen

8. John V, Count of Nassau-Siegen

17. Mary of Looz-Heinsberg

4. William I, Count of Nassau-Siegen

18. Henry III, Landgrave of Hesse

9. Elisabeth of Hesse-Marburg

19. Anna of Katzenelnbogen

2. William the Silent

20. Henry IX, Count of Stolberg

10. Bodo III, Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode

21. Mathilde of Mansfeld

5. Juliana of Stolberg-Wernigerode

22. Philip I of Eppstein

11. Anna of Eppstein-Königstein

23. Louise de La Marck

1. Anna of Nassau

24. Albert III, Duke of Saxony

12. Henry IV, Duke of Saxony

25. Sidonie of Poděbrady

6. Maurice, Elector of Saxony

26. Magnus II, Duke of Mecklenburg

13. Catherine of Mecklenburg

27. Sophie of Pomerania

3. Anna of Saxony

28. William II, Landgrave of Hesse

14. Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse

29. Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

7. Agnes of Hesse

30. George, Duke of Saxony

15. Christine of Saxony

31. Barbara Jagiellon

References

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