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
Born	(1573-12-22)December 22, 1573 Dillenburg
Died	June 2, 1632(1632-06-02) (aged 58) Roermond
Noble family	House of Nassau
Spouse(s)	Sophia Hedwig of Brunswick-Lüneburg
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, 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, July 25, 1614 - Leeuwarden, 18 Sept, 1614)
• Johan Ernst (Arnhem, March 29, 1617 - May 1617)
• Maurice (Groningen, February 21, 1619 - Groningen, 18 Sept, 1628)
• Elisabeth Friso (Leeuwarden, 25 Nov, 1620 - Groningen, 20 September 1628)

Ancestors

Family 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