This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2009)

William of Nassau (Dutch: Willem de Rijke) (10 April 1487 – 6 October 1559), was a count of Nassau-Dillenburg from the House of Nassau. He was called William the Rich.

William was born in Dillenburg as the younger son of Count John V of Nassau-Dillenburg and landgravine Elisabeth of Hesse, daughter of Landgrave Henry III of Hesse-Marburg and Anna of Katzenelnbogen He was the brother of count Henry III of Nassau-Breda and the father of William I of Orange.

His eldest son William inherited the principality of Orange. The early House of Orange-Nassau descends from him, while the later House of Orange-Nassau (and the Dutch royal family) descends from his second son John.

[edit] Family and children

William of Nassau was married twice. Firstly, he married on 29 October 1506 Countess Walburga van Egmond (29 October 1490 – March 1529). She gave him two daughters:

1. Elisabeth ( October 1515 – 31 January 1523)
2. Magdalene ( 6 October 1522 – 18 August 1567), married on 16 July 1538 to Count Hermann of Neuenahr and Mörs

After her death, he married on 20 September 1531 Countess Juliane of Stolberg-Wernigerode (15 February 1506 – 18 June 1580). They had twelve children:

1. William I of Orange (24 April 1533 – 10 July 1584)
2. Hermanna (b. 9 August 1534), died young
3. John VI "The Elder" (22 November 1536 – 28 October 1606)
4. Louis of Nassau (10 January 1538 – 14 April 1574)
5. Maria (15 March 1539 – May 1599), married on 11 November 1556 to Count Wilhelm IV of Berg-s'Heerenberg
6. Adolf (11 July 1540 – 23 May 1568)
7. Anna (21 September 1541 – 12 February 1616), married on 16 June 1559 to Count Albrecht of Nassau-Weilburg-Ottweiler
8. Elisabeth (25 September 1542 – 18 November 1603), married 16 June 1559 to Count Conrad of Solms-Braunfels
9. Katharine (19 December 1542 – 25 December 1624), married on 17 November 1560 to Count Günther XLI of Schwarzburg-Arnstadt
10. Juliane (10 August 1546 – 31 August 1588), married 14 June 1575 to Count Albrecht VII of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
11. Magdalene (15 December 1547 – 16 May 1633), married on 27 January 1567 to Count Wolfgang of Hohenlohe-Weikersheim
12. Henry (15 October 1550 – 14 April 1574)

Preceded by John V

Count of Nassau-Dillenburg 1516–1559

Succeeded by John VI