Ernest Casimir I, Count of Nassau-Dietz

Ernst Casimir I
Ernst Casimir I
	Count of Nassau-Dietz
	Portrait (1633) by Wybrand de Geest, oil on panel, 66.8 × 58 cm, Rijksmuseum, Muiderslot
Period	1620–1632
Successor	Henry Casimir
Born	22 December 1573; Dillenburg
Died	2 June 1632 (aged 58); Roermond
Buried	Grote of Jacobijnerkerk in Leeuwarden
Noble family	House of Nassau
Spouse(s)	Sophia Hedwig of Brunswick-Lüneburg
	Detail Issue Henry Casimir I; William Frederick;
Father	John VI, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg
Mother	Countess Elisabeth of Leuchtenberg

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, his counties Nassau-Dillenburg, Nassau-Siegen, Nassau-Diez and Vianden were divided among his five living sons. Ernst Casimir followed him as Count of Nassau-Dietz in Diez, Germany. In 1631 he also inherited the small county of Spiegelberg (near Lauenstein).

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

Political offices
Ernest Casimir I, Count of Nassau-Dietz House of Nassau Born: 22 December 1573 Died: 2 June 1632
Preceded by Willem Lodewijk	Stadtholder of Friesland 1620–1632	Succeeded by Henry Casimir
Preceded by Maurice of Nassau	Stadtholder of Groningen and Drenthe 1625–1632	Succeeded by Henry Casimir
Regnal titles
New title	Count of Nassau-Dietz 1606–1632	Succeeded by Henry Casimir

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