LOWLANDS DESCENTS

LOWLANDS RULERS - FLAGS

-------------BELGIUM----------------------NETHERLANDS-----------LUXEMBOURG

---------------Wettin-----------------------------Nassau----------------------Nassau
-------------------------------------------------Mecklenburg--------------Bourbon-Parma

------- ---------------------

LUXEMBOURG DYNASTY - BOURBON-PARMA DESCENT

LUXEMBOURG GRAND DUCHY - BOURBON-PARMA DESCENT

 

1. Charibert of Haspengau                                                                                   ROBERTIAN       b.575;d.637

2. Chruodbert I of Neustria, Count of Haspengau                                                          """      b.600;d.630
   sp: Wulfgard of Paris, Consort of Haspengau                                 KARLOVINGIAN       b.600

3. Lambert I of Haspengau                                                                                                        """      b.620;d.651

4. Chrodobertus II, Count of Haspengau                                                                            """       b.650
   sp: Doda of Poitiers, Countess Consort of Haspengau                            GUIDESCHI       b.655

5. Lambert II, Count of Hesbaye & Bishop of Metz                                                          """      b.670;d.741
   sp: Chrotlind of Austrasia, Countess Consort Hesbaye                  MEROVINGIAN       b.675;d.710

6. Robert I, Graf im Worms & Oberrheingau                                                                      """      b.710;d.764
   sp: Williswinthe, Countess Consort in Wormsgau                                ALERMIDEN       b.698;d.776

7. Thuringbert, Count of Worms & Rheingau                                                                    """      b.740;d.770

8. Robert II, Duke of Hesbaye                                                                                                 """                   d.807
   sp: Theoderata of Wormsgau, Duchess Consort                                 ALERAMIDEN       b.770;d.789

9. Robert III, Count of Worms & Rheingau                                                                       """      b.800;d.834
   sp: Waldraith of Toulouse , Countess Consort of Worms                      TOULOUSE       b.801

10. Robert "the Strong" IV of Worms, Margrave in Neustria                                      """                    d.866
   sp: Adelaide of Tours, Countess Consort of Worms                                         TOURS       b.820;d.866

11. Robert I, King of West Francia                                                                                          """      b.866;d.923
   sp: Béatrice of Vermandois, Queen Consort                                    KARLOVINGIAN       b.880;d.931

12. Hugh "the Great", Duke of the Franks                                                                          """      b.898;d.956
   sp: Hedwige of Saxony, Duchess Consort                                                LIUDOLFING       b.910;d.965

13. Hugh Capet, King of the Franks                                                       CAPET DYNASTY       b.941;d.996
   sp: Adelaide of Aquitaine, Queen Consort of France                                POITIERS       b.945;d.1004

14. Robert II "le Pieux", King of the Franks                                                            CAPET       b.972;d.1031
   sp: Constance of Provence, Queen Consort of France                                    ARLES       b.986;d.1032

15. Henry I, King of the Franks                                                                                          """      b.1008;d.1060
   sp: Anne of Kiev-Rus, Queen Consort                            RURIKID-VARANGIAN        b.1030;d.1075

16. Philip I "Amorous", King of the Franks                                                                     """      b.1052;d.1108
   sp: Bertha of Holland, Queen Consort of the Franks                            HOLLAND       b.1055;d.1093

17. Louis VI "le Gros", King of the Franks                                                                        """      b.1081;d.1137
   sp: Adelaide of Savoy, Queen Consort of France                                             SAVOY       b.1092;d.1154

18. Louis VII "The Young", King of the Franks                                                              """      b.1120;d.1180
   sp: Adela of Champagne, Queen Consort of France                                        BLOIS       b.1140;d.1206

19. Philip II "Augustus", King of France                                                                          """       b.1165;d.1223
   sp: Isabella of Hainaut, Queen Consort of France                                 FLANDERS       b.1170;d.1190

20. Louis VIII "The Lion", King of France                                                                       """      b.1187;d.1226
   sp: Blanche of Castile, Queen Consort                                                       ANSCARID       b.1188;d.1252

21. Louis IX "St Louis", King of France                                                                            """       b.1214;d.1270
   sp: Margaret of Provence, Queen Consort of France                            BARCELONA    b.1221;d.1295

22. Robert, Count of Clermont                                                                                             """      b.1256;d.1317
   sp: Beatrice of Burgundy, Countess Consort                         BURGUNDY-CAPET       b.1257;d.1310

23. Louis I "the Lame", Duke of Bourbon                                     BOURBON-CAPET       b.1279;d.1342
   sp: Marie of Hainaut, Duchess Consort of Bourbon                                AVESNES       b.1280;d.1354

24. James I, Count of Ponthieu & Count of La Marche                                              """      b.1319;d.1362
   sp: Jeanne of Châtillon, Countess Consort of la Marche                  CHATILLON       b.1320;d.1371

25. John I, Count Vendome de uxoris & Jean VII, Count La Marche                  """       b.1344;d.1393
   sp:Catherine of Ponthieu , Countess Regnant of Vendome              MONTOIRE       b.1354;d.1412

26. Louis I, Count of Vendôme                                                                                           """       b.1376;d.1446
   sp: Jeanne de Laval, Countess Consort of Vendome                                     LAVAL       b.1405;d.1468

27. John II, Count of Vendôme                                                                                           """      b.1425;d.1478
   sp: Isabelle de Beauvau, Countess Consort of Vendome                      BEAUVAU       b.1436;d.1474

28. François, Count of Vendôme                                                                                        """      b.1470;d.1495
   sp: Marie of Luxembourg, Countess Consort                                 LUXEMBOURG                     d.1547

29. Charles, Duke of Vendôme                                                                                           """       b.1489;d.1537
   sp: Françoise of Alençon, Duchess Consort of Vendome          VALOIS-CAPET       b.1490;d.1550

30. Antoine, King of Navarre (jure uxoris)                                                                      """      b.1518;d.1562
   sp: Jeanne III d'Albret, Queen Regnant of Navarre                                    ALBRET       b.1528;d.1572

31. Henry IV "Henri-Quatre", King of France & King of Navarre                            """      b.1553;d.1610
   sp: Marie de' Medici, Queen Consort of France                                             MEDICI       b.1573;d.1642

32. Louis XIII, King of France                                                                                             """      b.1601;d.1643
   sp: Anne of Austria, Queen Consort of France                                      HABSBURG       b.1601;d.1666

33. Louis XIV "le Roi-Soleil", King of France                                                                 """      b.1638;d.1715
   sp: Maria Theresa of Spain, Queen Consort of France                       HABSBURG       b.1638;d.1683

34. Louis of France, "Le Grand Dauphin"                                                                         """      b.1661;d.1711
   sp: Maria Anna Victoria of Bavaria, Queen Consort                    WITTELSBACH       b.1660;d.1690

35. PHILIP V, King of Spain                                                                                                 """      b.1683;d.1746
   sp: Elisabeth Farnese, Queen Consort of Spain                                      FARNESE       b.1692;d.1766

36-Philip of Spain, Duke of Parma--------------------------------------------------------1720-1765
   sp: Louise Élisabeth of France, Duchess Consort---------BOURBON-CAPET-----1727-1759

37-Ferdinand, Duke of Parma, Plasencia & Guastalla----------------------------------1751-1802
   sp: Maria Amalia of Austria, Duchess Consort---HABSBURG-LORRAINE-----1746-1804

38-Louis I, King of Etruria----------------------------------------------------------------1773-1803
   sp: Maria Luisa of Spain, Queen Consort----------------BOURBON-CAPET-----1782-1824

39-Charles II, Duke of Parma, Lucca & King of Etruria-------------------------------1799-1883
   sp: Maria Teresa of Sardinia, Queen Consort of Etruria-----------SAVOY-----1803-1879

40-Charles III, Duke of Parma---------------------------------------------------------1823-1854
   sp: Louise Marie of Artois, Duchess Consort--------BOURBON-CAPET-----1819-1864

41-Robert I, Duke of Parma and Piacenza--------------------------------------------1848-1907
sp: Maria Antónia of Portugal, Duchess Consort--BRAGANZA-BURGUNDY--1862-1959

42-Félix of Bourbon-Parma, Grand Ducal Consort Luxembourg--------------------1893-1970
   sp: CHARLOTTE, Grand Duchess Regnant Luxembourg--------NASSAU---1896-1985

43-JEAN, Grand Duke of Luxembourg----------------------------------------------1921-Living
    sp: Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium, Grand Duchess Consort---WETTIN-----1927-2005

44-HENRI, Grand Duke of Luxembourg--------------------------------------------1955-Living
   sp: Maria Teresa Mestre, Grand Duchess Consort------------MESTRE-----1956-Living

 

LUXEMBOURG GRAND DUCHY - NASSAU DESCENT

LUXEMBOURG GRAND DUCHY - NASSAU DESCENT

 

1. Ruprecht, Vogt in Siegerland for Mainz                                             NASSAU DYNASTY

2. Dudo-Henry, Count of Laurenburg                                                                              """      b.1060;d.1123
   sp: Anastasia of Arnstein an der Lahn, Countess Consort                   ARNSTEIN

3. Ruprecht I, Count of Nassau                                                                                           """                     d.1154
   sp: Beatrix of Limburg, Countess Consort of Nassau                           ARDENNES       b.1115

4. Walram I, Count of Nassau                                                                                              """      b.1146;d.1198
   sp: Kunigunde of Ziegenhain, Countess Consort of Nassau                         NIDDA

5. Henry II "the Rich", Count of Nassau                                                                           """      b.1190;d.1251
   sp: Mechtilda of Guelders, Countess Consort of Nassau             WASSENBURG                     d.1247

6. Walram II, Count of Nassau                                                                                            """      b.1220;d.1276
   sp: Adelheid of Katzenelnbogen, Countess Consort         KATZENELNBOGEN                     d.1288

7. Adolf, King of Germany & Count of Nassau                                                              """      b.1255;d.1298
   sp: Imagina of Isenburg-Limburg, Queen Consort                                 LIMBURG        b.1255;d.1313

8. Gerlach I, Count of Nassau                                                                                              """      b.1288;d.1361
   sp: Agnes of Hesse, Countess Consort of Nassau                      HESSE-REGINAR

9. John I, Count of Nassau-Weilburg                                                                                """      b.1309;d.1371
   sp: Johanna of Saarbrücken, Countess Consort                            SAARBRUCKEN

10. Philipp I, Count of Nassau-Weilburg                                                                         """      b.1368;d.1429
   sp: Elizabeth of Vaudémont, Countess Consort                                     LORRAINE       b.1395;d.1456

11. Philip II, Count of Nassau-Weilburg                                                                           """      b.1418;d.1492
   sp: Margrete of Loon-Heinsberg, Countess Consort                                        LOON

12. Johann III of Nassau-Weilburg                                                                                   """      b.1441;d.1480
   sp: Elisabeth "Handsome" of Hesse, Consort                             HESSE-REGINAR

13. Louis I, Count of Nassau-Weilburg                                                                            """      b.1473;d.1523
   sp: Margaret of Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein, Countess Consort            NASSAU       b.1487;d.1548

14. Philip III, Count of Nassau-Weilburg                                                                       """       b.1504;d.1559
   sp: Anne of Mansfield, Countess Consort                                             MANSFIELD       b.1520;d.1537

15. Albert, Count of Nassau-Weilburg-Ottweiler                                                          """      b.1537;d.1593
   sp: Anna of Nassau-Dillenburg, Countess Consort                                     NASSAU       b.1541;d.1616

16. Louis II, Count of Nassau-Weilburg                                                                           """      b.1565;d.1627
   sp: Anna Maria of Hesse-Kassel, Countess Consort               HESSE-REGINAR       b.1567;d.1626

17. Ernest Casimir of Nassau-Weilburg                                                                           """      b.1607;d.1655
   sp: Anna Maria of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hachenburg , Consort                       SAYN       b.1610;d.1656

18. Frederick, Count of Nassau-Weilburg                                                                       """      b.1640;d.1675
   sp: Christiane of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Homburg, Consort                                SAYN       b.1646;d.1678

19. Johann Ernst, Furst Nassau-Weilburg                                                                    """        b.1664;d.1719
   sp: Maria Polyxena of Leiningen-Dagsburg-Harte, Consort            LEININGEN       b.1662;d.1725

20. Charles August, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg                                                           """      b.1685;d.1753
   sp: Augusta of Nassau-Idstein, Princess Consort                                        NASSAU       b.1699;d.1750

21. Charles Christian, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg                                                       """      b.1735;d.1788
   sp: Carolina of Orange-Nassau, Princess Consort                                       NASSAU       b.1743;d.1787

22. Frederick William, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg                                                      """      b.1768;d.1816
   sp: Louise of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hachenburg, Princess Consort                SAYN       b.1788;d.1816

23. Wilhelm, Duke of Nassau, Prince Nassau-Weilburg                                           """      b.1792;d.1839
   sp: Charlotte Luise von Sachsen-Hildburghausen                                     WETTIN       b.1794;d.1825

24. ADOLPHE, Grand Duke of Luxemburg                                                                    """      b.1817;d.1905
   sp: Adelheid-Marie of Anhalt-Dessau, Consort                  ANHALT-ASCANIAN       b.1833;d.1916

25. WILLIAM IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg                                                             """      b.1852;d.1912
   sp: Marie Anne of Portugal, Grand Duchess Consort                          BRAGANZA       b.1861;d.1942

26. CHARLOTTE, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg                                                    """       b.1896;d.1985
   sp: Félix of Bourbon-Parma, Consort of Luxembourg                          BOURBON       b.1893;d.1970

27. JEAN, Grand Duke of Luxemburg                                                           BOURBON       b.1921
   sp: Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium, Grand Duchess Consort               WETTIN       b.1927;d.2005

28. HENRI, Grand Duke of Luxembourg                                                                        """      b.1955
   sp: Maria Teresa Mestre, Grand Duchess Consort                                      MESTRE       b.1956

BELGIUM MONARCHY - WETTIN DESCENT

    BELGIUM MONARCHY - WETTIN DESCENT

 

1. Ditmar of Wettin                                                                                WETTIN DYNASTY
   sp: Willa of Raveningen                                                                            RAVENINGEN

2. Dietrich I of Liesgau                                                                                                               """       b.916;d.976
sp: Jutta von Merseburg                                                                                   MERSEBURG       b.925;d.992

 3. Dedo I of Wettin & Merseburg------------------------------------------------------- b.950;d.1009
   sp: Thietberga of Nordmark                                                                           NORDMARK

4. Dietrich II, Margrave of Lower Lusatia                                                                         """      b.989;d.1034
   sp: Mathilde von Meissen                                                                                   MEISSEN       b.960;d.1040

5. Thimo "Brave", Count of Wettin and Brehna                                                            """      b.1010;d.1100
   sp: Ida of Nordheim                                                                                          NORDHEIM

6. Conrad "Great", Margrave of Meissen                                                                         """       b.1097;d.1157
   sp: Luitgard of Elchingen-Ravenstein, Margravine Consort          RAVENSTEIN

7. Otto II, Margrave Meissen                                                                                                 """      b.1125;d.1190
   sp: Hedwig von Brandenburg, Margravine Consort                                 ASCANIAN                   d.1203

8. Dietrich I "Oppressed", Margrave of Meissen                                                           """       b.1162;d.1221
   sp: Jutta of Thuringia, Margravine Consort                                   LUDOWINGIAN       b.1184;d.1235

9.Henry III"Erlauchte", Margkraf of Meissen, Markgraf of Lusatia                     """       b.1215;d.1288
   sp: Constance of Babenberg, Margravine Consort                            BABENBURG       b.1212;d.1243

10.Albert II "Degenerate", Margrave of Meissen, LG of Thuringia                        """       b.1240;d.1314
   sp: Margaret of Sicily, Margravine Consort                                HOHENSTAUFEN       b.1241;d.1270

11. Frederick I"Bitten",Margrave of Meissen, LG of Thuringia                               """       b.1257;d.1323
   sp: Elizabeth of Lobdeburg-Arnshaugk, Margravine Consort       ARNSHAUGK

12. Frederick II "Serious", Margrave of Meissen                                                           """      b.1310;d.1349
    sp: Matilde of Bavaria, Margravine Consort                                   WITTELSBACH       b.1313;d.1346

13.Frederick III "Strict", Markgraf of Meissen, LG of Thuringia                            """       b.1332;d.1381
   sp: Catherine of Henneberg, Margravine Consort

14.Frederick I "Belligerent", El. of Saxony & Markgraf of Meissen                        """      b.1370;d.1428
   sp:Catherine Brunswick-Lüneburg, Electress Consort                     WELF-ESTE       b.1395;d.1442

15.Frederick II "Gentle",El. of Saxony & LG of Thuringia                                          """      b.1412;d.1464
   sp: Margaret of Austria, Electress Consort                                              HABSBURG       b.1416;d.1486

16. Ernst, Elector of Saxony                                                                                                 """       b.1441;d.1486
   sp: Elisabeth of Bavaria-Munich, Electress Consort                   WITTELSBACH       b.1443;d.1484

17. Johann I "Steadfast", Elector of Saxony                                                                   """       b.1468;d.1532
   sp: Sophia of Schwerin, Electress Consort                                    MECKLENBURG       b.1481;d.1503

18. Johann Friedrich I "Magnanimous", Elector of Saxony                                    """        b.1503;d.1554
   sp: Sibylle of Cleves, Electress Consort                                                             MARCK       b.1512;d.1554

19. Johann Wilhelm, Duke of Saxony & Landgrave Thuringia                                """      b.1530;d.1573
   sp: Dorothea Susanne of Simmern, Duchess Consort                WITTELSBACH       b.1544;d.1592

20. Johann II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar                                                                               """      b.1570;d.1605
   sp: Dorothea Maria of Anhalt, Duchess Consort                 ANHALT-ASCANIAN       b.1574;d.1617

21. Ernest I, "the Pious", Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg                                          """      b.1601;d.1675
   sp: Elisabeth Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg, Duchess Consort                      WETTIN       b.1619;d.1680

22. John Ernest IV, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld                                                     """      b.1658;d.1729
   sp: Charlotte Johanna of Waldeck-Wildungen                                         WALDECK     

23. Franz Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld                                                           """      b.1697;d.1764
   sp: Anna Sophie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt                               SCHWARZBURG

24. Ernest Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld                                                 """      b.1724;d.1800
   sp: Sophie Antoinette Wolfenbüttel, Duchess Consort                     WELF-ESTE       b.1724;d.1802

 25. Franz, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld                                                                      """      b.1750;d.1806
   sp: Augusta Reuß zu Ebersdorf, Duchess Consort                                          REUSS       b.1757;d.1831

 26. LEOPOLD I, King of the Belgians                                                                              """      b.1790;d.1865
      sp: Louise of Orleans, Queen Consort                                                       ORLEANS       b.1812;d.1850

27. Philippe of Belgium, Count of Flanders                                                                   """       b.1837;d.1905
   sp: Marie of Sigmaringen, Consort             HOHENZOLLERN-SIGMARINGEN       b.1845;d.1912

 28. ALBERT I, King of the Belgians                                                                                 """      b.1875;d.1934
   sp: Elisabeth in Bavaria, Queen Consort                                          WITTELSBACH       b.1876;d.1965

 29. LEOPOLD III, King of the Belgians                                                                           """      b.1901;d.1983
   sp: Astrid of Sweden, Queen Consort                                                  BERNADOTTE       b.1905;d.1935

 30. ALBERT II, King of the Belgians                                                                               """       b.1934
      sp: Paola Ruffo, Queen Consort                                               RUFFO DI CALABRI       b.1937

 31. PHILLIPPE, King of the Belgians                                                                                 """       b.1960
   sp: Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz, Queen Consort                                                    ACOZ       b.1973

HOLLAND RULERS - FAMILY TREE

                                 HOLLAND RULERS - FAMILY TREE

NETHERLANDS MONARCHY - MECKLENBURG DESCENT

     NETHERLANDS MONARCHY - MECKLENBURG DESCENT

1-Gottschalk, Prince of the Obotrites--------------MECKLENBURG DYNASTY-----b.ca 1020

2-Kruto, Prince of the Obotrites------------------------------------------------------------b.ca 1046

3-Niklot, Prince of the Obotrites----------------------------------------------------------1090-1160
    sp: Woizlawa

4-Pribislav Prince of Obotrites, Lord of Mecklenburg-------------------------------ca 1075-1178
     sp: Wojsława Warcisławówna

5-Henry Borwin I, Lord of Mecklenburg-----------------------------------------------------d.1227
   sp: Matilda von Sachsen und Bayern, Lady Consort-----------WELF-ESTE-----1150-1219

6-Henry Borwin II, Lord of Mecklenburg----------------------------------------------1170-1226
   sp: Kristina of Sweden, Lady Consort zu Mecklenburg--------------SVERKER-----d.1248

7-Johann I "the Theologian", Lord of Mecklenburg--------------------------------ca 1211-1264
    sp: Luitgard von Henneberg, Lady Consort---------------HENNEBERG-----ca 1215-1267

8-Henry I "the Pilgrim", Lord of Mecklenburg--------------------------------------ca 1230-1302
   sp: Anastasia of Pomerania, Lady Consort of Mecklenburg-----GRIFFINS-----1245-1317

9-Henry II "the Lion", Lord of Mecklenburg----------------------------------------ca 1266-1329
   sp: Anna von Sachsen-Wittenberg, Lady Consort--------------ASCANIAN-----1282-1327

10-Albrecht II "der Große", Duke of Mecklenburg-------------------------------ca 1318-1379
   sp: Eufemia Eriksdotter of Sweden, Consort----------BJELBO-FOLKUNG---1317-1370

11-Magnus I, Duke of Mecklenburg---------------------------------------------------1345-1384
   sp: Elizabeth of Pomerania-Wolgast, Duchess Consort--------GRIFFINS-----1360-1388

12-Johann IV, Duke of Mecklenburg-----------------------------------------------ca 1370-1422
     sp: Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg, Duchess Consort---------WETTIN-----ca 1400-1450

13-Henry IV "The Fat", Duke of Mecklenburg---------------------------------------1417-1477
   sp: Dorothea of Brandenburg, Duchess Consort-------HOHENZOLLERN-----1420-1491

14-Magnus II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Güstrow-----------------------1441-1503
   sp: Sophie of Pomerania-Stettin, Duchess Consort--------GRIFFINS-----ca 1460-1504

15-Albrecht VII "the Handsome", Duke of Mecklenburg in Güstrow---------------1486-1547
   sp: Anna of Brandenburg, Duchess Consort-----------HOHENZOLLERN-----1507-1567

16-Johann Albert I, Duke of Mecklenburg--------------------------------------------1525-1576
   sp: Anna Sophia of Prussia, Duchess Consort---------HOHENZOLLERN-----1527-1591

17-Johann VII, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin-------------------------------------1558-1592
   sp: Sophia of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp, Consort--------OLDENBURG---1569-1634

18-Adolf Frederick I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin-----------------------------1588-1658
   sp: Maria Katharina of Brunswick-Dannenberg, Consort---WELF-ESTE-----1616-1665

19-Frederick I of Grabow, Duke of Mecklenburg-----------------------------------1638-1688
   sp: Christine Wilhelmine of Hesse-Homburg, Consort--HESSE-REGINAR---1653-1722

20-Christian Ludwig II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin---------------------------1683-1756
   sp: Gustave Caroline of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Consort--MECKLENBURG--1694-1748

21-Louis of Mecklenburg-Schwerin--------------------------------------------------1725-1778
   sp: Charlotte Sophie of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Consort--------WETTIN-----1731-1810

22-Frederick Francis I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin=============1756-1837
   sp: Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, Grand Duchess Consort---WETTIN-----1756-1808

23-Frederick Louis of Mecklenburg-Schwerin---------------------------------------1778-1819
   sp: Elena Pavlovna of Russia, Grand Duchess Consort----OLDENBURG-----1784- 1803

24-Paul Friedrich, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin--------------------------1800-1842
   sp: Alexandrine of Prussia, Grand Duchess Consort--HOHENZOLLERN-----1803-1892

25-Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin---------------------1823-1883
   sp: Marie of Rudolstadt, Consort-------SCHWARZBURG-RUDOLSTADT-----1850-1922

26-Henry Duke Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Prince Consort of the Netherlands--------1876-1934
   sp: WILHELMINA Queen Regnant of the Netherlands-----------NASSAU-----1880-1962

27-JULIANA, Queen Regnant of the Netherlands-----------MECKLENBURG-----1909-2004
   sp: Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld, Prince Consort of the Netherlands--LIPPE--1911-2004

28-BEATRIX, Queen Regnant of The Netherlands-------------------------LIPPE-----1938-Living
   sp: Claus von Amsberg, Prince Consort the Netherlands------AMSBERG-----1926-2002

29-WILLEM-ALEXANDER, King of the Netherlands----------AMSBERG-----1967-Living
   sp: Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti

 

NETHERLANDS MONARCHY - MECKLENBURG SYNOPSIS

NETHERLANDS MONARCHY - MECKLENBURG SYNOPSIS

           The Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a duchy in northern Germany created in 1701, when Frederick William and Adolphus Frederick II divided the Duchy of Mecklenburg between Schwerin and Strelitz. Ruled by the successors of the Nikloting House of Mecklenburg, Mecklenburg-Schwerin remained a state of the Holy Roman Empire along the Baltic Sea littoral between Holstein-Glückstadt and Duchy of Pomerania.

                    The dynasty's progenitor, Niklot (1090–1160), was a chief of the Slavic Obotrite tribal federation, who fought against the advancing Saxons and was finally defeated in 1160 by Henry the Lion in the course of the Wendish Crusade. Niklot's son, Pribislav, submitted himself to Henry, and in 1167 came into his paternal inheritance as the first Prince of Mecklenburg.

       After several divisions among Pribislav's descendants, Henry II of Mecklenburg (1266–1329) until 1312 acquired the lordships of Stargard and Rostock, and bequeathed the reunified Mecklenburg lands – except the County of Schwerin and Werle – to his sons, Albert II and John. After they both had received the ducal title, the former lordship of Stargard was recreated as the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Stargard for John in 1352. Albert II retained the larger western part of Mecklenburg, and after he acquired the former County of Schwerin in 1358, he made Schwerin his residence.

       In 1363 Albert's son, Duke Albert III, campaigned in Sweden, where he was crowned king one year later. In 1436, William, the last Lord of Werle, died without a male heir. Because William's son-in-law, Ulric II of Mecklenburg-Stargard, had no issue, his line became extinct upon Ulric's death in 1471. All possessions fell back to Duke Henry IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, who was then the sole ruler over all of Mecklenburg.

         In 1520 Henry's grandsons, Henry V and Albert VII, again divided the duchy, creating the subdivision of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, which Duke Adolf Frederick I of Mecklenburg-Schwerin inherited in 1610. In a second partition of 1621, he granted Güstrow to his brother, John Albert II. Both were deposed in 1628 by Albrecht von Wallenstein, as they had supported Christian IV of Denmark in the Thirty Years' War. Nevertheless, the Swedish Empire forced their restoration three years later. When John Albert II's son, Duke Gustav Adolph, died without male heirs in 1695, Mecklenburg was reunited once more under Frederick William.

        In June 1692, when Christian Louis I died in exile and without sons, a dispute arose about the succession to his duchy between his brother, Adolphus Frederick II, and his nephew, Frederick William. The emperor and the rulers of Kingdom of Sweden and of Electorate of Brandenburg took part in this struggle, which was intensified three years later, when on the death of Gustav Adolph, the family ruling over Mecklenburg-Güstrow became extinct. In 1701, with the endorsement of the Imperial state of the Lower Saxon Circle, the Treaty of Hamburg (1701) was signed and the final division of the country was made. Mecklenburg was divided between the two claimants. The Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was given to Frederick William, and the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, roughly a recreation of the medieval Stargard lordship, to Adolphus Frederick II. At the same time, the principle of primogeniture was reasserted, and the right of summoning the joint Landtag was reserved to the ruler of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Continued conflicts and partitions weakened the rule of the dukes and affirmed the reputation of Mecklenburg as one of the most backward territories of the Empire.

         Mecklenburg-Schwerin began its existence during a series of constitutional struggles between the duke and the nobles. The heavy debt incurred by Karl Leopold, who had joined Russian Empire in a war against Kingdom of Sweden, brought matters to a crisis; Charles VI interfered, and in 1728 the imperial court of justice declared the duke incapable of governing. His brother, Christian Ludwig II, was appointed administrator of the duchy. Under this prince, who became ruler de jure in 1747, the Convention of Rostock, by which a new constitution was framed for the duchy, was signed in April 1755. By this instrument, all power was in the hands of the duke, the nobles, and the upper classes generally; the lower classes were entirely unrepresented. During the Seven Years' War, Frederick II took up a hostile attitude towards Frederick the Great, and in consequence Mecklenburg-Schwerin was occupied by the Kingdom of Prussia. In other ways his rule was beneficial to the country. In the early years of the French Revolutionary Wars, Frederick Francis I remained neutral, and in 1803 he regained Wismar from Kingdom of Sweden. In 1806 the land was overrun by the First French Empire, and in 1808 he joined the Confederation of the Rhine. He was the first member of the confederation to abandon Napoleon, to whose armies he had sent a contingent, and in 1813–1814 he fought against France.

          With the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Frederick Francis I of Mecklenburg-Schwerin received the title of Grand Duke. After the fall of the monarchies in 1918 resulting from World War I, the Grand Duchy became the Free State of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. On 1 January 1934 it was united with the neighbouring Free State of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (both today part of the Bundesland Mecklenburg-Vorpommern).

 

 

Rulers of Mecklenburg - House of Mecklenburg

 Nicolaus II av Werle (1270 - 1316)

•  
• 
  Ulrich II von Mecklenburg, Herzog zu Mecklenburg-Stargard (c.1430 - 1471)

  Links: Geneall Wikipedia Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard: Reign 1466-1471 'Predecessor: Henry (Heinrich) Successor: Henry (Heinrich) IV as Duke of Mecklenburg
• 
  Heinrich V, Herzog von Mecklenburg Schwerin (1479 - 1552)

  Links: The peerage Geneall Wikipedia Duke of Mecklenburg: Reign 1503–1520, with Albert VII (brother) (1503–1520), Eric II (brother) (1503–1508) and Balthasar (unc...
• 
  Albrecht VII "der Schöne" von Mecklenburg, Herzog zu Mecklenburg-Güstrow (1488 - 1547)

  Albrecht der Schöne Links: The Peerage Geneall Wikipedia: English Deutsch Duke of Mecklenburg: 1503–1520 with Henry V (brother) (1503–1520) , Eric II (brother) (1503&#x...
• 
  Nikolaus II von Mecklenburg, Fürst zu Mecklenburg, Herr zu Gadebusch (c.1180 - 1225)

  Nikolaus II - war von 1217 bis 1225 Herr von Gadebusch . Links: Geneall Wikipedia in German

 

Princes (Kings) of the Obotrites

• Niklot (1090–August 1160) 1131–1160 [Prince of the Obotrites]
• Pribislav (unknown–30 December 1178) 1167–1178 [Son of Niklot, Prince of the Obotrites, Lord of Mecklenburg]
• Wertislav (unknown)–1164) [Son of Niklot), Prince of the Obotrites]

Lords in the Land of the Obotrites

Name/Geni link (lived) Reign [Notes]

• Heinrich Borwin I (d. 28 January 1227) 1178–1227 [Son of Pribislav]
• Nicholas I (before 1164—25 May 1200) 1183–1200 [Son of Wertislav, Lord of Rostock]
• Heinrich Borwin II (1170–5 December 1226) 1219–1226 [Son of Heinrich Borwin I, Lord of Rostock]
• Nicholas II (before 1180–28 September 1225) 1283–1316 [Son of Heinrich Borwin I, Lord of Mecklenburg]

Johann I Line (Mecklenburg)

• Johann I, "the Theologian" (ca. 1211–1 August 1264) 1227–1264 [Son of Heinrich Borwin II, Lord of Mecklenburg]
• Heinrich I, the Pilgrim (ca. 1230–2 January 1302) 1264-1271, 1298-1302 [Son of Johann I, Lord of Mecklenburg]
• Albert I (after 1230–15 May or 17 May 1265) 1264–1265 [Brother of Heinrich I, Lord of Mecklenburg]
• Nicholas III (after 1230–8 June 1289 or 1290) 1264–1289 [Brother of Heinrich I, Lord of Mecklenburg, regent]
• Johann II (ca. 1250–12 October 1299) 1264–1299 [Brother of Heinrich I, Lord of Mecklenburg at Gadebusch, regent]
• Johann III (after 1266–27 May 1289) 1287–1289 [Son of Heinrich I, Lord of Mecklenburg]
• Heinrich II "the Lion" (1266 (after April 14)–21 January 1329) 1287–1329 [Son of Heinrich I, Lord of Mecklenburg, Stargard and Rostock]
• Albrecht II (ca. 1318–18 February 1379) 1329–1348 [Son of Heinrich II, Lord of Mecklenburg, from 1348 Duke of Mecklenburg]

Nicholas I Line(Werle)

Nicholas I (ca. 1210–14 May 1277) 1227–1277 [Son of Heinrich Borwin II, Lord of Werle]

• Heinrich I (ca. 1234–8 October 1291) 1277–1291 [Son of Nicholas I, Lord of Werle-Gustrow]
• John(Johann) I (ca. 1245–15 October 1283) 1277–1283 [Son of Nicholas I, Lord of Werle-Parchim]
• Bernhard I (ca. 1245– ca. 1286) 1277–1281 [Son of Nicholas I, Lord of Werle]
• Nicholas II (before 1283–18 February 1316) 1283–1316 [Son of Johann I, Lord of Werle]
• Johann II "the Bald" (after 1250–27 August 1337) 1316–1337 [Son of Johann I, Lord of Werle-Parchim]
• Johann III "van Ruoden" (before 1300–1352)1316–1350 [Son of Nicholas II, Lord of Werle-Goldberg]
• Nicholas III "Staveleke" (after 1311–1360/1361) 1337–1360 [Son of Johann II, Lord of Werle-Güstrow]
• Bernhard II (ca. 1320–1382) 1337–1382[Son of Johann II, Lord of Werle-Waren-Güstrow]
• Nicholas IV "Poogenoge" (after 1311–1360/1361) 1350–1354 [Son of Johann III, Lord of Werle-Goldberg]
• [http://www.geni.com/people/Helen-Weiss/1394) 1360–1393 [Son of Nicholas III, Lord of Werle-Güstrow]
• Johann V (after 1338–1378) 1365–1378 [Son of Nicholas III, Lord of Werle-Güstrow, co-regent]
• Johann VI (after 1341–after 16 October 1385) 1382–1385(1395) [Son of Bernhard II, Lord of Werle-Waren]
• Johann IV (before 1350–1374) 1354–1374 [Son of Nicholas IV), Lord of Werle-Goldberg]
• Balthasar (ca. 1375–5 April 1421) 1393–1421 [Son of Lorenz, Lord of Werle-Güstrow, Prince of the Wends]
• Johann VII ca. 1375–between 14 August and 17 December 1414) [1395–1414 (Son of Lorenz), Lord of Werle-Güstrow, co-regent]
• William (before 1398–8 September 1436) 1393–1436 [Son of Lorenz, Lord of Werle-Güstrow, Prince of the Wends]
• Nicholas V (before 1385–after 21 January 1408) 1385(1395)–1408 [Son of Johann VI, Lord of Werle-Waren]
• Christoph (before 1385–25 August 1425) 1385(1395)–1425 [Son of Johann VI, Lord of Werle-Waren, Prince of the Wends]

Werle fell to the Duke of Mecklenburg in 1436.

Heinrich Borwin III Line(Rostock)

• Borwin III (ca. 1220–1 August 1278) 1227–1277 [Son of Heinrich Borwin II), Lord of Rostock]
• Waldemar (before 1262–9 November 1282) 1277–1282 [Son of Heinrich Borwin III, Lord of Rostock]
• Nicholas "the Child" (before 1262–25 November 1314) 1282–1314 [Son of Waldemar, Lord of Rostock]

Rostock fell to the Prince of Mecklenburg in 1323.

Pribislaw I Line(Parchim-Richenberg)

• Pribislaw I (1224–after 12 February 1275) 1227–1256 [Son of Heinrich Borwin II, Lord of *Parchim]

Pribislav was deprived of his power in 1256 and the country divided among his brothers.

Dukes of Mecklenburg

Mecklenburg-Schwerin Lines (I) and (II)

• Albert(Albrecht) II) "the Great" (1318–18 February 1379) 1329–1379 [Son of Henry II, Lord of Mecklenburg, from 1348 Duke]
• Henry(Heinrich) III (ca. 1337–24 April 1383) 1379–1383 [Son of Albert II]
• Magnus I (ca. 1345–1 September 1384) 1379–1384 [Son of Albert II]
• Albert(Albrecht) III (ca. 1338–March 1412) 1384–1412 Duke of Mecklenburg, King of Sweden (1364–1389), [Son of Albert II]
• Albert(Albrecht) IV (before 1363–between 24 and 31 December 1388) 1383–1388 [Son of Henry III], co-regent
• Erik (after 1359–26 July 1397) to 1397 [Son of Albert III], co-regent
• Albert V (1397–between 1 June and 6 December 1423) 1412–1423 [Son of Albert III]
• John(Johann) IV (before 1370–16. October 1422) 1384–1422 [Son of Magnus I, co-regent]
• Henry IV "the Thick" (before 1417–9 March 1477) 1422–1477 [Son of John IV], united the Werle and Stargard Mecklenburg Lines under one ruler upon their extinction
• John(Johann) V (1418–1442) 1436–1442 [Son of John IV], co-regent
• John(Johann) VI (1439–1474) 1439–1474 [Son of Henry IV], co-regent
• Albert(Albrecht) VI (1438–before 27 April 1483) 1477–1483 [Son of Henry IV]
• Magnus II (1441–20 November 1503) 1477–1503 [Son of Henry IV]
• Balthasar (1451–16 March 1507 in Wismar) 1477–1507 [Son of Henry(Heinrich) IV], co-regent, Bishop of Schwerin in 1479-1482
• Henry(Heinrich V "the Peaceful"] (3 May 1479–6 February 1552) 1503–1552 [Son of Magnus II]
• Erik(Erich) II (3 September 1483–22 December 1508) 1503–1508 [Son of Magnus II], co-regent
• Philip (d. 1557) 1552–1557 [Son of Henry(Heinrich) V], co-regent
• John Albrecht(Johan Albert) I (23 December 1525–12 February 1576) 1547–1576 [Son of Albert VII]
• John(Johan) VII (7 March 1558 in Güstrow–22 March 1592 in Stargard) 1576–1592 [Son of John Albrecht I]
• Adolf Frederick I (15 December 1588–27 February 1658) 1592–1628, 1631–1658 [Son of John VII]
• Albrecht von Wallenstein 1628–1631 Ruled after Adolf Frederick I was deposed by Emperor Ferdinand II
• Christian I Ludwig (1 December 1623—between 11 June and 21 June 1692) 1658–1692 [Son of Adolf Friedrich I]

Mecklenburg-Stargard Line

• John (Johann) IV/I (1326–between 9 August 1392 and 9 February 1393) 1329–1392 [Son of Heinrich II, Lord of Mecklenburg, from 1348 Duke]
• John (Johann) II (before 1370–between 6 July and 9 October 1416) 1392–1416 [Son of Johann , Duke of Mecklenburg [-Stargard-Sternberg]
• Ulrich I (before 1382–8 April 1417) 1392–1417 [Son of Johann I, Duke of Mecklenburg -Stargard-Neubrandenburg]
• Albrecht I (before 1377–between 11 February and 15 July 1397) 1392–1397 [Son of Johann I, co-regent]
• Johann III (1389–after 11 November 1438) 1416–1438 [Son of Johann II], Duke of Mecklenburg [-Stargard-Sternberg]
• Albrecht II (before 1400–between 11 February 1421 and 4 October 1423)1417–1423 [Son of Ulrich I, co-regent, Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard-Neubrandenburg]
• Heinrich "der Gaunt" (before 1412–between 26 May and 20 August 1466) 1417–1466 [Son of Ulrich I]
• Ulrich II (before 1428–13 July 1471) 1466–1471 [Son of Heinrich]

Mecklenburg-Güstrow Line

• Albert VII, "the Handsome" (25 July 1486–7 January 1547) 1503–1547 [Son of Magnus II]
• John Albert I (23 December 1525 – 12 February 1576) '1547-1556 [Son of Albert VII]
• Ulrich III (5 March 1527–14 March 1603) 1555–1603 [Son of Albert VII, initiator of the German Imperial Diet]
• Johann Albrecht II (5 May 1590–23 April 1636) 1592–1628, 1631–1636 [Son of Johann VII]
• Albrecht von Wallenstein (24 September 1583–25 February 1634) 1628–1631 [Ruled after Adolf Frederick I was deposed by Emperor Ferdinand II]
• Gustav Adolf (26 February 1633–6 October 1695) 1636–1695 [Son of Johann Albrecht II]

Dukes of Mecklenburg / Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg

Mecklenburg-Schwerin Line (III)

• Frederick William (28 March 1675–31 July 1713) 1692–1713 [Nephew of Christian Ludwig I]
• Karl Leopold (26 November 1678–28 November 1747) 1713–1728 [Brother of Frederick William], named in the Reichsexekution of 1717, was deposed in 1728 by the Aulic Council in Vienna in favour of his brother Christian Ludwig II.
• Christian II Ludwig (15 November 1683–30 May 1756) 1728–1756 [Brother of Karl Leopold]
• Frederick(Friedrich "the Pious" (9 November 1717–24 April 1785) 1756–1785 [Son of Christian Ludwig II]
• Frederick Francis I (10 December 1756–1 February 1837) 1785–1837 from 1815 Grand Duke – [Son of Archduke Friedrich Ludwig, Nephew of Friedrich II]
• Paul Frederick(Paul Friedrich) (15 September 1800–7 March 1842) 1837–1842 [Nephew of Frederick Francis I]
• Frederick Francis II(Friedrich Franz II) (28 February 1823–15 April 1883) 1842–1883 [Son of Paul Frederick]
• Frederick Francis III(Friedrich Franz III) (19 March 1851–10 April 1897) 1883–1897 [Son of Frederick Francis II]
• [ John Albert(Johann Albrecht)] (8 December 1857–16 February 1920) 1897–1901 [Brother of Grand Duke Frederick Francis III], from 11 April 1897 until 9 April 1901 [regent as Frederick Francis IV was underage.]
• [ Frederick Francis IV] 9 April 1882–17 November 1945 1897–1918 [Son of Grand Duke Frederick Francis III, from 1918 Administrator of the District of Mecklenburg]

Mecklenburg-Strelitz line

• Adolf Frederick II (19 October 1658–12 May 1708) 1701–1708 [son of Adolf Frederick I]
• Adolf Friedrich III (7 June 1686–11 December 1752) 1708–1752 [Son of Adolf Frederick II]
• [http://www.geni.com/people/Ping/53–1794 [Nephew of Adolf Friedrich III]
• Charles II (10 October 1741–6 November 1816) 1794–1816 [Brother of Adolf Friedrich IV], from 1815 Grand Duke
• Georg (12 August 1779–6 September 1860) 1816–1860 [Son of Charles II]
• Friedrich Wilhelm (17 October 1819–30 May 1904) 1860–1904 [Son of Georg]
• Adolf Friedrich V (22 July 1848–11 June 1914) 1904–1914 [Son of Friedrich Wilhelm]
• Adolf Friedrich VI (17 July 1883–23 February 1918) 1914–1918[Son of Adolf Friedrich V]
• Frederick Francis IV (9 April 1882–17 November 1945) From 1918 District Administrator

 

NETHERLANDS MONARCHY - NASSAU DESCENT

 NETHERLANDS MONARCHY - NASSAU DESCENT

 Click here to view synopsis of William the Silent

 

 William The Silent  

Click "Netherlands - Het Wilmhemus" below to hear The Wilhelmus, the Dutch National Anthem

Netherlands: Het Wilhelmus

 

Click Download Prompt below to view video of the 2012 reenactment of Battle of Heiligerlee.

This battle was won by the Dutch, under William the Silent.

Download Heiligerlee Battle Reenactnent

 Following is a skeleton descent of the Nassau dynasty down to the Kings of the Netherlands:   

1. Ruprecht, Vogt in Siegerland for Mainz

2. Dudo-Henry, Count of Laurenburg----------------------------LAURENBURG----b.1060;d.1123
          sp: Anastasia of Arnstein an der Lahn-------------------------ARNSTEIN

3. Robert I, Count of Nassau-----------------------------------------------NASSAU-----------d.1154
         sp: Beatrix of Limburg. Countess Consort-------------------ARDENNES----ca 1115-ca 1164

4. Walram I, Count of Nassau-----------------------------------------------------------b.1146;d.1198
        sp: Kunigunde of Ziegenhain, Countess Consort-------------------------NIDDA

5. Henry II "the Rich", Count of Nassau------------------------------------------------b.1190;d.1251
       sp. Mechtilda of Guelders, Countess Consort-------------------WASSENBERG

6. Otto I Count of Nassau-Dillenburg---------------------------------------------------b.1247;d.1290
        sp: Agnes of Leiningen, Countess Consort--------------------------LEININGEN 

7. Henry, Count of Nassau---------------------------------------------------------------b.1288;d.1343
        sp: Adelheid of Heinsberg, Countess Consort----------------------HEINSBERG

8. Otto II, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg-------------------------------------------------b.1305;d.1350
        sp: Adelheid of Vianden, Countess Consort--------------------------VIANDEN

9. Johann I, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg---------------------------------------------b.1340;d.1416
        sp: Margareta of the Marck, Countess Consort-------------------------MARCK

10. Engelbert I of Nassau----------------------------------------------------------------b.1370;d.1442
        sp: Johanna von Polanen-------------------------------------------------POLANEN

11. Johann IV, Count of Nassau----------------------------------------------------------b.1410;d.1475
         sp: Maria of Loon, Countess Consort-------------------------------------LOON

12. Johann V Count of Nassau-Vianden-Dietz------------------------------------------b.1455;d.1516
      sp: Elisabeth of Hesse-Marburg, Countess Consort---HESSE-REGINAR-------b.1466;d.1523

13. William I "The Rich", Count of Nassau-Dillenburg-------------------------------b.1487;d.1559
      sp: Juliane of Stolberg-Wernigerode, Countess Consort--------WERNIGERODE

14. Willem I "Zwijger-the Silent", Prince of Orange----------------------------------b.1533;d.1584
      sp: Louise de Coligny, Princess Consort----------------------------COLIGNY----b.1555;d.1620

15. Frederick Henry, Stadtholder Holland & Prince Orange--------------------------b.1584;d.1647
      sp: Amalia of Solms-Braunfels, Princess Consort------------------------SOLMS

16. Albertine Agnes of Nassau, Regent of Friesland----------------------------------b.1634;d.1696
   sp: Willem Frederick of Nassau-Dietz, Stadholder Friesland--------NASSAU----b.1613;d.1664

17. Henry Casimir II of Nassau-Dietz, Stadholder of Friesland-----------------------b.1657;d.1696
      sp: Henriëtte Amalia of Anhalt-Dessau, Consort-----ANHALT-ASCANIAN----b.1666;d.1726

18. John William Friso, Stadtholder Friesland-----------------------------------------b.1687;d.1711
      sp: Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel, Consort------------HESSE-REGINAR------b.1688;d.1765

19. Williem IV, Stadholder the Netherlands & Prince of Orange----------------------b.1711;d.1751
      sp: Anne of England,  Princess Consort-------------------------WELF-ESTE----b.1709;d.1759

20. Willem V, Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic-----------------------------------b.1748;d.1806
      sp: Wilhelmina of Prussia, Princess Consort-------------HOHENZOLLERN----b.1751;d.1820

21. WILLEM I, King the Netherlands---------------------------------------------------b.1772;d.1843
      sp: Wilhelmina of Prussia, Queen Consort---------------HOHENZOLLERN----b.1774;d.1837

22. WILLEM II, King of the Netherlands-----------------------------------------------b.1792;d.1849
     sp: Anna of Russia, Queen Consort-----------------------------OLDENBURG----b.1795;d.1865

23. WILLEM III, King of the Netherlands-------------------------------------------b.1817;d.1890
      sp:Emma of Waldeck-Pyrmont, Queen Consort-----------------------WALDECK

24. WILHELMINA Queen Regnant of the Netherlands-------------------------b.1880;d.1962
  sp: Henry Duke Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Prince Consort-MECKLENBURG----b.1876;d.1934

25. JULIANA, Queen Regnant of the Net----------------MECKLENBURG-----b.1909;d.2004
   sp: Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld, Prince Consort-----------------LIPPE----b.1911;d.2004

26. BEATRIX, Queen Regnant of the Netherlands---------------------------LIPPE-----b.1938
   sp: Claus von Arnsberg, Prince Consort----------------------ARNSBERG----b.1926;d.2002

27. WILLEM ALEXANDER, King of the Netherlands-------------------ARNSBERG----b.1967
      sp: Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti, Queen Consort------ -------ZORREGUIETA      b.1971

WILLIAM THE SILENT - SYNOPSIS

                                        WILLIAM THE SILENT - SYNOPSIS

 

Click Download prompt below to view video of Dutch resistance to Spain

Download Dutch Battles Against Spaniards

WILLIAM THE SILENT William the Silent - statue 2

               William I, Prince of Orange (24 April 1533 – 10 July 1584), also widely known as William the Silent (Dutch: Willem de Zwijger), or more commonly known as William of Orange (Dutch: Willem van Oranje), was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years' War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. He was born in the House of Nassau as Count of Nassau-Dillenburg. He became Prince of Orange in 1544 and is thereby the founder of the branch House of Orange-Nassau and the ancestor of the monarchy of the Netherlands. A wealthy nobleman, William originally served the Habsburgs as a member of the court of Margaret of Parma, governor of the Spanish Netherlands. Unhappy with the centralisation of political power away from the local estates and with the Spanish persecution of Dutch Protestants, William joined the Dutch uprising and turned against his former masters. The most influential and politically capable of the rebels, he led the Dutch to several successes in the fight against the Spanish. Declared an outlaw by the Spanish king in 1580, he was assassinated by Balthasar Gérard (also written as "Gerardts") in Delft in 1584. William was born on 24 April 1533 in the castle of Dillenburg in the duchy of Nassau in the Holy Roman Empire, now in Hesse, Germany. He was the eldest son of William, Count of Nassau, and Juliana of Stolberg-Werningerode, and was raised a Lutheran. He had four younger brothers and seven younger sisters: John, Hermanna, Louis, Maria, Anna, Elisabeth, Katharine, Juliane, Magdalene, Adolf and Henry. When his cousin, René of Châlons, Prince of Orange, died childless in 1544, the eleven-year-old William inherited all Châlon's property, including the title Prince of Orange, on the condition that he receive a Roman Catholic education. This was the founding of the house of Orange-Nassau. Besides Châlon's properties, he also inherited vast estates in the Low Countries (present-day Netherlands and Belgium). Because of his young age, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V served as the regent of the principality until William was fit to rule. William was sent to the Netherlands to receive the required education, first at the family's estate in Breda, later in Brussels under the supervision of Mary of Habsburg (Mary of Hungary), the sister of Charles V and governor of the Habsburg Netherlands (Seventeen Provinces). In Brussels, he was taught foreign languages and received a military and diplomatic education under the direction of Champagney (Jérôme Perrenot), brother of Granvelle. On 6 July 1551, he married Anna van Egmond en Buren, the wealthy heir to the lands of her father, and William gained the titles Lord of Egmond and Count of Buren. They had three children. Later that same year, William was appointed captain in the cavalry. Favoured by Charles V, he was rapidly promoted, and became commander of one of the Emperor's armies at the age of 22. He was sent to Bayonne with an army by the Emperor to take the city in a siege from the French. There is a plaque in Bayonne commemorating the French victory in 1523. He was made a member of the Raad van State, the highest political advisory council in the Netherlands. It was in November 1555, shortly after Charles had abdicated in favour of his son, Philip II of Spain that the gout-afflicted Emperor leaned on William's shoulder during his abdication ceremony. His wife Anna died on 24 March 1558. Later, William had a brief relationship with Eva Elincx, leading to the birth of their illegitimate son, Justinus van Nassau: William officially recognised him and took responsibility for his education – Justinus would become an admiral in his later years. In 1559, Philip appointed William as the stadtholder (governor) of the provinces Holland, Zeeland and Utrecht, thereby greatly increasing his political power. A stadtholdership over Franche-Comté followed in 1561. Although he never directly opposed the Spanish king, William soon became one of the most prominent members of the opposition in the Council of State, together with Philip de Montmorency, Count of Hoorn, and Lamoral, Count of Egmont. They were mainly seeking more political power for themselves against the de facto government of Count Berlaymont, Granvelle and Viglius of Aytta, but also for the Dutch nobility and, ostensibly, for the Estates, and complained that too many Spaniards were involved in governing the Netherlands. William was also dissatisfied with the increasing persecution of Protestants in the Netherlands. Brought up as a Lutheran and later a Catholic, William was very religious but was still a proponent of freedom of religion for all people. The activity of the Inquisition in the Netherlands, directed by Cardinal Granvelle, prime minister to the new governor Margaret of Parma (1522–83) (natural half-sister to Philip II), increased opposition to Spanish rule among the then mostly Catholic population of the Netherlands. Lastly, the opposition wished to see an end to the presence of Spanish troops. On 25 August 1561, William of Orange married for the second time. His new wife, Anna of Saxony, was described by contemporaries as "self-absorbed, weak, assertive, and cruel", and it is generally assumed that William married her to gain more influence in Saxony, Hesse and the Palatinate. The couple had five children. Up to 1564, any criticism of governmental measures voiced by William and the other members of the opposition had ostensibly been directed at Granvelle; however, after the latter's departure early that year, William, who may have found increasing confidence in his alliance with the Protestant princes of Germany following his second marriage, began to openly criticize the King's anti-Protestant politics. In an iconic speech to the Council of State, William to the shock of his audience justified his conflict with Philip by saying that, even though he had decided for himself to keep to the Catholic faith, he could not agree that monarchs should rule over the souls of their subjects and take from them their freedom of belief and religion. Later, in his Apology (1580), William stated that his resolve to oppose the King's policies had originated in June 1559. William and the Duke of Alva had been sent to France as hostages for the proper fulfillment of the Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis following the Hispano-French war. During a hunting trip to the Bois de Vincennes with King Henry II of France, William and Alva had openly discussed a secret understanding between Philip and Henry which aimed at the extermination of the Protestants in both France and the Netherlands. William at that time had kept silent, but had decided for himself that he would not allow the slaughter of so many innocent subjects. In early 1565, a large group of lesser noblemen, including William's younger brother Louis, formed the Confederacy of Noblemen. On 5 April, they offered a petition to Margaret of Parma, requesting an end to the persecution of Protestants. From August to October 1566, a wave of iconoclasm (known as the Beeldenstorm) spread through the Low Countries. Calvinists (the major Protestant denomination), Anabaptists, and Mennonites, angered by Catholic repression and theologically opposed to the Catholic use of images of saints (which in their eyes conflicted with the Second Commandment), destroyed statues in hundreds of churches and monasteries throughout the Netherlands. Following the Beeldenstorm, unrest in the Netherlands grew, and Margaret agreed to grant the wishes of the Confederacy, provided the noblemen would help to restore order. She also allowed more important noblemen, including William of Orange, to assist the Confederacy. In late 1566, and early 1567, it became clear that she would not be allowed to fulfil her promises, and when several minor rebellions failed, many Calvinists and Lutherans fled the country. Following the announcement that Philip II, unhappy with the situation in the Netherlands, would dispatch his loyal general Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba (also known as "The Iron Duke"), to restore order, William laid down his functions and retreated to his native Nassau in April 1567. He had been (financially) involved with several of the rebellions. Philip II of Spain berated William the Silent. Prince of Orange was painted by Cornelis Kruseman, painting from 19th century. This scene was purported to have happened on the dock in Flushing when Philip departed the Netherlands. After his arrival in August 1567, Alba established the Council of Troubles (known to the people as the Council of Blood) to judge those involved in the rebellion and the iconoclasm. William was one of the 10,000 to be summoned before the Council, but he failed to appear. He was subsequently declared an outlaw, and his properties were confiscated. As one of the most prominent and popular politicians of the Netherlands, William of Orange emerged as the leader of armed resistance. He financed the Watergeuzen, refugee Protestants who formed bands of corsairs and raided the coastal cities of the Netherlands (often killing Spanish and Dutch alike). He also raised an army, consisting mostly of German mercenaries, to fight Alba on land. William allied with the French Huguenots, following the end of the second Religious War in France when they had troops to spare. Led by his brother Louis, the army invaded the northern Netherlands in 1568. However the plan failed almost from the start. The Huguenots were defeated by French royal troops before they could invade, and a small force under Jean de Villers was captured within two days. Villers gave all the plans of the campaign to the Spanish following his capture. On 23 May, the army under the command of Louis won the Battle of Heiligerlee in the northern province of Groningen against a Spanish army led by the stadtholder of the northern provinces, Jean de Ligne, Duke of Aremberg. Aremberg was killed in the battle, as was William's brother Adolf. Alba countered by killing a number of convicted noblemen (including the Counts of Egmont and Hoorn on 6 June), and then by leading an expedition to Groningen. There, he annihilated Louis' forces on German territory in the Battle of Jemmingen on 21 July, although Louis managed to escape. These two battles are now considered to be the start of the Eighty Years' War. The so-called Prinsenvlag (Prince's flag), based on the colours in the coat of arms of William of Orange, was used by the Dutch rebels, and was the basis of the current flag of the Netherlands. In October 1568, William responded by leading a large army into Brabant, but Alba carefully avoided a decisive confrontation, expecting the army to fall apart quickly. As William advanced, disorder broke out in his army, and with winter approaching and money running out, William turned back. William made several more plans to invade in the next few years, but little came of them, since he lacked support and money. He remained popular with the public, in part through an extensive propaganda campaign conducted through pamphlets. One of his most important claims, with which he attempted to justify his actions, was that he was not fighting the rightful ruler of the land, the King of Spain, but only the inadequate rule of the foreign governors in the Netherlands, and the presence of foreign soldiers. On 22 August 1571, his second wife Anna gave birth to a daughter - named Christina von Dietz - fathered by Jan Rubens, best known as the father of painter Peter Paul Rubens; Jan Rubens had been sent by her uncle in 1570 to manage her finances. Later that year, William had this marriage legally dissolved on the grounds that Anna was insane. On 1 April 1572 a band of Watergeuzen captured the city of Brielle, which had been left unattended by the Spanish garrison. Contrary to their normal "hit and run" tactics, they occupied the town and claimed it for the prince by raising the Prince of Orange's flag above the city. This event was followed by other cities opening their gates for the Watergeuzen, and soon most cities in Holland and Zeeland were in the hands of the rebels, notable exceptions being Amsterdam and Middelburg. The rebel cities then called a meeting of the Staten Generaal (which they were technically unqualified to do), and reinstated William as the stadtholder of Holland and Zeeland. Concurrently, rebel armies captured cities throughout the entire country, from Deventer to Mons. William himself then advanced with his own army and marched into several cities in the south, including Roermond and Leuven. William had counted on intervention from the Huguenots as well, but this plan was thwarted after the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre on 24 August, which signalled the start of a wave of violence against the Huguenots. After a successful Spanish attack on his army, William had to flee and he retreated to Enkhuizen, in Holland. The Spanish then organised countermeasures, and sacked several rebel cities, sometimes massacring their inhabitants, such as in Mechelen or Zutphen. They had more trouble with the cities in Holland, where they took Haarlem after seven months and a loss of 8,000 soldiers, and they had to break off their siege of Alkmaar. In 1573, William joined the Calvinist Church. In 1574, William's armies won several minor battles, including several naval encounters. The Spanish, led by Don Luis de Zúñiga y Requesens since Philip replaced Alba in 1573, also had their successes. Their decisive victory in the Battle of Mookerheyde in the south east, on the Meuse embankment, on 14 April cost the lives of two of William's brothers, Louis and Henry. Requesens's armies also besieged the city of Leiden. They broke off their siege when nearby dykes were breached by the Dutch. William was very content with the victory, and established the University of Leiden, the first university in the Northern Provinces. William married for the third time on 24 April 1575 to Charlotte de Bourbon-Monpensier, a former French nun, who was also popular with the public. They had six daughters. The marriage, which seems to have been a love match on both sides, was happy. After failed peace negotiations in Breda in 1575, the war continued. The situation improved for the rebels when Don Requesens died unexpectedly in March 1576, and a large group of Spanish soldiers, not having received their salary in months, mutinied in November of that year and unleashed the Spanish Fury on the city of Antwerp, a tremendous propaganda coup for the rebels. While the new governor, Don Juan of Austria, was en route, William of Orange got most of the provinces and cities to sign the Pacification of Ghent, in which they declared themselves ready to fight for the expulsion of Spanish troops together. However, he failed to achieve unity in matters of religion. Catholic cities and provinces would not allow freedom for Calvinist. When Don Juan signed the Perpetual Edict in February 1577, promising to comply with the conditions of the Pacification of Ghent, it seemed that the war had been decided in favour of the rebels. However, after Don Juan took the city of Namur in 1577, the uprising spread throughout the entire Netherlands. Don Juan attempted to negotiate peace, but the prince intentionally let the negotiations fail. On 24 September 1577, he made his triumphal entry in the capital Brussels. At the same time, Calvinist rebels grew more radical, and attempted to forbid Catholicism in areas under their control. William was opposed to this both for personal and political reasons. He desired freedom of religion, and he also needed the support of the less radical Protestants and Catholics to reach his political goals. On 6 January 1579, several southern provinces, unhappy with William's radical following, signed the Treaty of Arras, in which they agreed to accept their Catholic governor, Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma (who had succeeded Don Juan). Five northern provinces, later followed by most cities in Brabant and Flanders, then signed the Union of Utrecht on 23 January, confirming their unity. William was initially opposed to the Union, as he still hoped to unite all provinces. Nevertheless, he formally gave his support on 3 May. The Union of Utrecht would later become a de facto constitution, and would remain the only formal connection between the Dutch provinces until 1797. The Duke of Anjou, who had been recruited by William as the new sovereign of the Netherlands, was hugely unpopular with the public. In spite of the renewed union, the Duke of Parma was successful in reconquering most of the southern part of the Netherlands. Because he had agreed to remove the Spanish troops from the provinces under the Treaty of Arras, and because Philip II needed them elsewhere subsequently, the Duke of Parma was unable to advance any further until the end of 1581. In the mean time, William and his supporters were looking for foreign support. The prince had already sought French assistance on several occasions, and this time he managed to gain the support of Francis, Duke of Anjou, brother of King Henry III of France. On 29 September 1580, the Staten Generaal (with the exception of Zeeland and Holland) signed the Treaty of Plessis-les-Tours with the Duke of Anjou. The Duke would gain the title "Protector of the Liberty of the Netherlands" and become the new sovereign. This, however, required that the Staten Generaal and William renounce their formal support of the King of Spain, which they had maintained officially up to that moment. On 22 July 1581, the Staten Generaal declared that they no longer recognised Philip II of Spain as their ruler, in the Act of Abjuration. This formal declaration of independence enabled the Duke of Anjou to come to the aid of the resisters. He did not arrive until 10 February 1582, when he was officially welcomed by William in Flushing. On 18 March, the Spaniard Juan de Jáuregui attempted to assassinate William in Antwerp. Although William suffered severe injuries, he survived thanks to the care of his wife Charlotte and his sister Mary. While William slowly recovered, Charlotte became exhausted from providing intensive care, and died on 5 May. The Duke of Anjou was not very popular with the population. The provinces of Zeeland and Holland refused to recognise him as their sovereign, and William was widely criticised for what were called his "French politics". When Anjou's French troops arrived in late 1582, William's plan seemed to pay off, as even the Duke of Parma feared that the Dutch would now gain the upper hand. However, Anjou himself was displeased with his limited powers, and secretly decided to seize Antwerp by force. The citizens, who had been warned in time, ambushed Anjou and his troops as they entered the city on 18 January 1583, in what is known as the "French Fury". Almost all of Anjou's men were killed, and he was reprimanded from both Catherine de Medici and Elizabeth I of England (whom he had courted). The position of Anjou after this attack became untenable, and he eventually left the country in June. His departure also discredited William, who nevertheless maintained his support for Anjou. He stood virtually alone on this issue, and became politically isolated. Holland and Zeeland nevertheless maintained him as their stadtholder, and attempted to declare him count of Holland and Zeeland, thus making him the official sovereign. In the middle of all this, William married for the fourth and final time on 12 April 1583 to: Louise de Coligny, a French Huguenot and daughter of Gaspard de Coligny. She was to be the mother of Frederick Henry (1584–1647), William's fourth legitimate son. The Catholic Frenchman Balthasar Gérard (born 1557) was a supporter of Philip II, and in his opinion, William of Orange had betrayed the Spanish king and the Catholic religion. After Philip II declared William an outlaw and promised a reward of 25,000 crowns for his assassination, and of which Gérard learned in 1581, he decided to travel to the Netherlands to kill William. He served in the army of the governor of Luxembourg, Peter Ernst I von Mansfeld-Vorderort, for two years, hoping to get close to William when the armies met. This never happened, and Gérard left the army in 1584. He went to the Duke of Parma to present his plans, but the Duke was unimpressed. In May 1584, he presented himself to William as a French nobleman, and gave him the seal of the Count of Mansfelt. This seal would allow forgeries of the messages of Mansfelt to be made. William sent Gérard back to France to pass the seal on to his French allies. Gérard returned in July, having bought two wheel-lock pistols on his return voyage. On 10 July, he made an appointment with William of Orange in his home in Delft, nowadays known as the Prinsenhof. That day, William was having dinner with his guest Rombertus van Uylenburgh. After William left the dining room and walked down-stairs, Van Uylenburgh heard Gérard shoot William in the chest at close range. Gérard fled to collect his reward. According to official records, William's last words are said to have been: "Mon Dieu, ayez pitié de mon âme; mon Dieu, ayez pitié de ce pauvre peuple." "My God, have pity on my soul; my God, have pity on this poor people." Gérard was caught before he could flee Delft, and imprisoned. He was tortured before his trial on 13 July, where he was sentenced to be brutally – even by the standards of that time – killed. The magistrates decreed that the right hand of Gérard should be burned off with a red-hot iron, that his flesh should be torn from his bones with pincers in six different places, that he should be quartered and disembowelled alive, that his heart should be torn from his bosom and flung in his face, and that, finally, his head should be cut off. Traditionally, members of the Nassau family were buried in Breda, but as that city was in Spanish hands when William died, he was buried in the New Church in Delft. His monument on his tomb was originally very modest, but it was replaced in 1623 by a new one, made by Hendrik de Keyser and his son Pieter. Since then, most of the members of the House of Orange-Nassau, including all Dutch monarchs, have been buried in the same church. His great-grandson William the third, King of England and Scotland and Stadtholder in the Netherlands, was buried in Westminster Abbey According to a British historian of science Lisa Jardine, he is reputed to be the first world head of state to be assassinated by handgun. The Scottish Regent Moray had been shot 13 years earlier, being the first recorded firearm assassination. There is a statue of William of Orange in The Hague. His finger originally pointed towards the Binnenhof, but the statue has since been moved. A similar statue stands in Voorhees Mall on the campus of Rutgers University. Philip William, William's eldest son by his first marriage, to Anna of Egmond, succeeded him as the Prince of Orange at the suggestion of Johan van Oldenbarneveldt. Phillip William died in Brussels on 20 February 1618 and was succeeded by his half-brother Maurice, the eldest son by William's second marriage, to Anna of Saxony, who became Prince of Orange. A strong military leader, he won several victories over the Spanish. Van Oldenbarneveldt managed to sign a very favourable twelve-year armistice in 1609, although Maurice was unhappy with this. Maurice was a heavy drinker and died on 23 April 1625 from liver disease. Maurice had several sons by Margaretha van Mechelen, but he never married her. So, Frederick Henry, Maurice's half-brother (and William's youngest son from his fourth marriage, to Louise de Coligny) inherited the title of Prince of Orange. Frederick Henry continued the battle against the Spanish. Frederick Henry died on 14 March 1647 and is buried with his father William "The Silent" in Nieuwe Kerk, Delft. The Netherlands became formally independent after the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. The son of Frederick Henry, William II of Orange succeeded his father as stadtholder, as did his son, William III of Orange. The latter also became king of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1689. Although he was married to Mary II, Queen of Scotland and England for 17 years, he died childless in 1702. He appointed his cousin Johan Willem Friso (William's great-great-great-grandson) as his successor. Because Albertine Agnes, a daughter of Frederick Henry, married William Frederik of Nassau-Dietz, the present royal house of the Netherlands is descended from William the Silent through the female line. As the chief financer and political and military leader of the early years of the Dutch revolt, William the Silent is considered a national hero in the Netherlands, even though he was born in Germany, and usually spoke French. Many of the Dutch national symbols can be traced back to William of Orange: He is the ancestor of the Dutch monarchy The flag of the Netherlands (red, white and blue) is derived from the flag of the prince, which was orange, white and blue. The coat of arms of the Netherlands is based on that of William of Orange. Its motto Je maintiendrai (French, "I will maintain") was also used by William of Orange, who based it on the motto of his cousin René of Châlons, who used Je maintiendrai Châlon. The national anthem of the Netherlands, the Wilhelmus, was originally a propaganda song for William. It was probably written by Philips of Marnix, Lord of Saint-Aldegonde, a supporter of William of Orange. The national colour of the Netherlands is orange, and it is used, among other things, in the clothing of Dutch athletes. The orange sash of the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle was in honour of the Dutch Dynasty of William the Silent, since the order's founder, Frederick I of Prussia's mother, Louise Henrietta of Nassau, was the granddaughter of William the Silent. Other remembrances of William of Orange: A statue of William the Silent was erected in 1928 on the main campus of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, a legacy of the university's founding by ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church in 1766. The statue is commonly known to students and alumni as "Willie the Silent" and contains an inscription referring to William as "Father of his Fatherland." In January 2008, the asteroid 12151 Oranje-Nassau was named after him. In the 19th century the Netherlands became a constitutional monarchy, currently with King Willem-Alexander as head of state: he has cognatic descent from William of Orange. All stadtholders after William of Orange where drawn from his descendants or the descendants of his brother. There are several explanations for the origin of the style, "William the Silent" (Dutch: Willem de Zwijger) . The most common one relates to his prudence in regard to a conversation with the king of France. One day, during a stag-hunt in the Bois de Vincennes, King Henry, finding himself alone with the Prince, began to speak of the great number of Protestant sectaries who, during the late war, had increased so much in his kingdom to his great sorrow. His conscience, said the King, would not be easy nor his realm secure until he could see it purged of the "accursed vermin," who would one day overthrow his government, under the cover of religion, if they were allowed to get the upper hand. This was the more to be feared since some of the chief men in the kingdom, and even some princes of the blood, were on their side. But he hoped by the grace of God and the good understanding that he had with his new son, the King of Spain, that he would soon get the better of them. The King talked on thus to Orange in the full conviction that he was aware of the secret agreement recently made with the Duke of Alba for the extirpation of heresy. But the Prince, subtle and adroit as he was, answered the good King in such a way as to leave him still under the impression that he, the Prince, knew all about the scheme proposed by Alba; and on this understanding the King revealed all the details of the plan which had been arranged between the King of Spain and himself for the rooting out and rigorous punishment of the heretics, from the lowest to the highest rank, and in this service the Spanish troops were to be mainly employed. Exactly when and by whom the nickname "the Silent" (Modern Dutch: "de Zwijger", meaning more "the Taciturn". The verbs "zwijgen" in Dutch, "schweigen" in German, "tiga" in Swedish, "se taire" in French, "callar/callarse" in Spanish and "tacere" in Italian have no real equivalent in English; they mean the opposite of "to talk".) was used for the first time is not known with certainty. It is traditionally ascribed to Cardinal de Granvelle, who is said to have referred to William as "the silent one" sometime during the troubles of 1567. Both the nickname and the accompanying anecdote are first found in a historical source from the early 17th century.

          Between his first and second marriages, William had an extramarital affair with Eva Elincx. They had a son, Justinus van Nassau (1559–1631), whom William acknowledged.

LEGITIMATE ISSUE, 4 marriages:
By Anna of Egmond (married 6 July 1551; b. est 1534, d.24 March 1558); with issue:
            Countess Maria of Nassau. 22 November 1553 ca. 23 July 1555 Died in infancy.
            Philip William, Prince of Orange and Count of Nassau 1554-1618 
                      married Eleonora of Bourbon-Condé.
           Countess Maria of Nassau 7 February 1556 10 October 1616
                    married Count Philip of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein

By Anna of Saxony (married 1561 annulled 1571; b. 1544, d. 1577; with issue:
          Countess Anna of Nassau 31 October 1562 23 November 1562 Died in infancy
          Countess Anna of Nassau 5 November 1563 13 June 1588
                     married Count Wilhelm Ludwig von Nassau-Dillenburg
         Maurits August Philips of Nassau 1564-1566 Count, Died in infancy.
         Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange and Count of Nassau 1567-1625 never married
         Countess Emilia of Nassau 10 April 1569 16 March 1629
                     married Manuel de Portugal (son of pretender António, Prior of Crato),10 children

By Charlotte of Bourbon (married 1575; b. about 1546, d. 1582); with issue:
         Countess Louise Juliana of Nassau 1576-1644
                       married Frederick IV, Elector Palatine, 8 children.
        Countess Elisabeth of Nassau 1577-1642
                   married to Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, and had issue
        Countess Catharina Belgica of Nassau 1578 1648
        Countess, married to Count Philip Louis II of Hanau-Münzenberg
        Countess Charlotte Flandrina of Nassau 1579 1640 A nun.
        Countess Charlotte Brabantina of Nassau 1580 1631
                         married Claude, Duc de Thouars, and had issue
         Countess Orpiana of Nassau 1581 1657
                    married Frederick Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Landsberg

By Louise de Coligny (married 24 April 1583; b. 23 September 1555, d. 13 November 1620)
            Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange and Count of Nassau b. 1584 d. 1647
                          married to Countess Amalia of Solms-Braunfels

COUNTS OF LOUVAIN

COUNTS OF LOUVAIN (LEUVEN)

1. Giselbert, Count of Maasgau-------------------------------REGINAR DYNASTY-----b.790;d.842
   sp: Ermengarde of Germany, Countess Consort of Maasgau-KARLOVINGIAN-----b.825;d.849

2. Reginar I "Longneck", Duke of Lorraine------------------------------------------------b.850;d.915
  sp: Alberade de Mons, Duchess Consort of Basse Lorraine----------------MONS-----b.870;d.916

3. Reginar II, Count of Hainault-----------------------------------------------------------b.890;d.932
  sp: Adelaide of Burgundy, Countess Consort of Hainault-----------BURGUNDY-----b.894

4. Reginar III, Count of Hainaut-----------------------------------------------------------b.920;d.973
  sp: Adèle Toxandrie of Equisheim, Countess Consort of Hainaut---DAGSBURG-----b.929;d.961

5. Lambert I "The Bearded", Count of Louvain------------------------------------------b.950;d.1015
  sp: Gerberga of Lower Lorraine, Coutess Consort of Louvain------------METZ-----b.980;d.1018

6. Lambert II, Count of Louvain-----------------------------------------------------------------d.1054
  sp: Oda of Verdun, Countess Consort of Louvain----------------------VERDUN-----b.990;d.1062

7. Henry II, Count of Louvain------------------------------------------------------------b.1021;d.1078
  sp: Adela in de Betuwe, Countess Consort of Louvain---------------BETUWE-----b.1023;d.1090

8. Godfrey I "the Courageous", Landgrave of Brabant---------------------------------b.1060;d.1139
  sp: Ida Chiny, Countess Consort of Louvain------------------------------CHINY-----b.1078;d.1117

9. Godfrey II, Count of Louvain & Duke of Lower Lorraine----------------------------b.1110;d.1142
  sp: Lutgardis of Sulzbach, Countess Consort of Louvain-----------SULZBACH-----b.1109;d.1162

10. Godfrey III, Count of Louvain & Duke of Lower Lorraine--------------------------b.1142;d.1190
  sp: Margaretha van Limburg, Countess Consort of Louvain---------REGINAR-----b.1118;d.1173

11. Henry I "The Courageous", Duke of Brabant----------------------------------------b.1165;d.1235
  sp: Matilda of Boulogne, Duchess Consort of Brabant--------------------METZ-----b.1170;d.1210

12. Henry II, Duke of Brabant------------------------------------------------------------b.1207;d.1248
  sp: Maria of Suabia, Duchess Consort of Brabant----------HOHENSTAUFEN-----b.1201;d.1235

13. Henry III, Duke of Brabant-----------------------------------------------------------b.1230;d.1261
  sp: Adelaide of Burgundy, Duchess Consort of Brabant-----------BURGUNDY-----b.1233;d.1273

14. John I "the Victorious". Duke of Brabant--------------------------------------------b.1252;d.1294
  sp: Margaret Dampierre of Flanders, Duchess Consort of Braban-DAMPIERRE-----------d.1285

15. John II, "The Peaceful", Duke of Brabant--------------------------------------------b.1275;d.1312
  sp: Margaret of England, Duchess Consort-------PLANTAGENET-ANGEVIN-----b.1275;d.1333

16. John III, Duke of Brabant------------------------------------------------------------b.1300;d.1355
  sp: Marie of Évreux, Duchess Consort of Brabant-----------------------CAPET-----b.1303;d.1335

17. Joanna, Duchess Regnant of Brabant------------------------------REGINAR-----b.1322;d.1406
                    Johanna married twice:

Joanna's first marriage, in 1334, was to William IV, Count of Holland (1307-1345), who 
subsequently died in battle while their only son William died young.

Joanna's second marriage was to Wenceslaus of Luxemburg.

Johanna died without leaving a living child

From 1183 onwards the titles of Count of Louvain, Count of Brussels and Landgrave of Brabant
were merged in the title of Duke of Brabant.