William Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen
William Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen was a Count of Nassau-Siegen. In 1664, he was elevated to Prince of Nassau-Siegen.Life
He was the son of Count Henry II of Nassau-Siegen and his first wife Maria Magdalene of Limburg-Styrum.
In 1664, William Maurice was elevated to the rank of Imperial Prince. In 1678, his childless uncle John Maurice adopted William Maurice as his son, and also made him co-ruler of Nassau-Siegen. When John Maurice died in 1679, William Maurice inherited Nassau-Siegen.
William Maurice had a summer residence in Hilchenbach. In 1683, he built a new castle there, which was largely destroyed by fire in 1689. Today, the Hilchenbach city archives are housed in this castle.
He served in the Dutch army, where he reached the rank of general, and was a member of the Order of Saint John, like his adoptive father, John Maurice.
On 6 February 1678 in Schaumburg, he married Ernestine Charlotte, the daughter of Adolph, Prince of Nassau-Schaumburg. Her maternal grandfather was the famous Field Marshal Peter Melander, Count of Holzappel. The marriage produced two sons:
William Maurice died on 23 January 1691. His widow took up the regency and guardianship for her underage sons.Footnotes
