Ernest Casimir I, Count of Nassau-Dietz

Ernst Casimir I
Count of Nassau-Dietz
Portrait (1633) by Wybrand de Geest, oil on panel, 66.8 × 58 cm, Rijksmuseum, Muiderslot
Successor	Henry Casimir
Spouse(s)	Sophia Hedwig of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Noble family	House of Nassau
Father	John VI, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg
Mother	Countess Elisabeth of Leuchtenberg
Born	22 December 1573 Dillenburg
Died	2 June 1632 (aged 58) Roermond

Engraving of Ernest Casimir I

Ernst Casimir I of Nassau-Dietz (22 December 1573 in Dillenburg – 2 June 1632 in Roermond) was count of Nassau-Dietz and Stadtholder of Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe.

Biography

Sophia Hedwig and some children, by Paulus Moreelse.

Prince Frederick Henry and Count Ernst Casimir during the Siege of 's-Hertogenbosch

He was the eleventh child of John VI, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg and Countess Elisabeth of Leuchtenberg.

After the death of his father, the county of Nassau was divided among his five living sons, Ernst Casimir followed him as Count of Nassau-Dietz.

Ernst Casimir was primarily known as an outstanding military leader during the Eighty Years War. He served under Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange in the siege of the cities of Steenwijk and Oldenzaal, and Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange during the Siege of Groenlo (1627) and the Siege of 's-Hertogenbosch. As Stadholder of Groningen he founded the Nieuweschans fortress in 1628. Although he owned little in Friesland, he was popular there, and people granted his heir the right to rule after his death.

Death

He was killed by a bullet at the Siege of Roermond while he was inspecting the trenches in June 1632. His son, Hendrik Casimir I succeeded him as count of Nassau-Dietz and as stadholder of Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe.

Family

In 1607 Ernst Casimir married Sophia Hedwig of Brunswick-Lüneburg, daughter of Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. From this marriage nine children were born:

• stillborn daughter (1608)
• stillborn son (1609)
• unnamed son (1610-1610)
• Hendrik Casimir I of Nassau-Dietz (Arnhem, 1612-1640)
• Willem Frederik of Nassau-Dietz (Arnhem, 1613-1664), married Albertine Agnes of Orange-Nassau.
• Elisabeth (Leeuwarden, 25 July 1614 - Leeuwarden, 18 September 1614)
• Johan Ernst (Arnhem, 29 March 1617 - May 1617)
• Maurice (Groningen, 21 February 1619 - Groningen, 18 September 1628)
• Elisabeth Friso (Leeuwarden, 25 November 1620 - Groningen, 20 September 1628)

Ancestors

Ancestors of Ernest Casimir I, Count of Nassau-Dietz

16. Jan IV of Nassau               8. John V of Nassau-Dillenburg                       17. Maria of Loon-Heinsberg               4. William I of Nassau-Dillenburg                             18. Henry III, Landgrave of Upper Hesse               9. Elisabeth of Hesse-Marburg                       19. Anna of Katzenelnbogen               2. John VI, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg                                   20. Henry IX of Stolberg               10. Bodo VIII, Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode                       21. Matilda of Mansfeld               5. Juliana of Stolberg                             22. Philip I of Eppstein-Königstein               11. Anna of Eppstein-Königstein                       23. Louise de la Marck               1. Ernest Casimir I of Nassau-Dietz                                         24. Frederick V of Leuchtenberg               12. John IV, Landgrave of Leuchtenberg                       25. Dorothea of Rieneck               6. George III, Landgrave of Leuchtenberg                             26. Günther XXXVIII, Count of Schwarzburg               13. Margaret of Schwarzburg                       27. Catherine of Querfurt               3. Countess Elisabeth of Leuchtenberg                                   28. Albert III, Margrave of Brandenburg               14. Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach                       29. Anna of Saxony               7. Barbara of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Kulmbach                             30. Casimir IV Jagiellon               15. Sophia Jagiellon                       31. Elizabeth of Austria

References