Henry Casimir I of Nassau-Dietz

Henry Casimir I of Nassau-Dietz (21 January 1612 – 13 July 1640) was count of Nassau-Dietz and Stadtholder of Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe.

Henry Casimir I
Count of Nassau-Dietz
Period2 June 1631 – 13 July 1640
PredecessorErnst Casimir I
SuccessorWillem Frederik
Stadtholder of Friesland
Reign2 June 1632 – 13 July 1640
PredecessorErnst Casimir I
SuccessorWillem Frederik
Stadtholder of Drenthe and Groningen
Reign2 June 1632 – 13 July 1640
PredecessorErnest Casimir I
SuccessorFrederick Henry
Born(1612-01-21)21 January 1612
Arnhem, Dutch Republic
Died13 July 1640(1640-07-13) (aged 28)
Hulst, Dutch Republic
Burial
Grote of Jacobijnerkerk
FatherErnst Casimir of Nassau-Dietz
Mother

Life

He was born in Arnhem, the eldest son of Ernst Casimir of Nassau-Dietz and Sophia Hedwig of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and, like his father, died in battle.

Henry Casimir was christened at Arnhem. The English representative, Sophia Hedwig being the niece of the queen Anne of Denmark, was Sir Edward Cecil. He brought gifts of a cupboard of gilt plate, a diamond necklace with a locket, horses, and an embroidered petticoat for Sophia Hedwig.[1]

He became count of Nassau-Dietz and stadtholder of Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe upon the death of his father, Count Ernst Casimir of Nassau-Dietz, at the Siege of Roermond in June 1632. A week later, he was involved in the Capture of Maastricht, along with his cousin, Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange.

Henry Casimir was wounded in Sint Jansteen at the battle of Hulst on 12 July 1640. He died the next day and was buried in Leeuwarden. He was succeeded by William Frederick, Prince of Nassau-Dietz. His death in at the Battle of Hulst, aged 28, prompted the creation of several memorials to him and the battle. The Rijksmuseum collection contains a blood-stained shirt he is purported to have been wearing when he was wounded. The same collection also contains his father's hat, which has a bullet hole in it.[2]

Ancestors

References
  1. A. B. Hinds, HMC Downshire, vol. 3 (London, 1938), p. 275.
  2. bullet-hole hat Archived 8 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine in Rijksmuseum
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