View source for House of Nassau

{{Short description|European aristocratic dynasty}}
{{about|the European aristocratic dynasty|the former state ruled by this dynasty, the Countship and later Duchy of Nassau|Nassau (state)|the armorial/coats of arms|Armorial of the House of Nassau|other uses|Nassau (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox royal house|surname=House of Nassau|estate=[[Nassau Castle]]|coat of arms=Arms of Nassau.svg|caption=[[Armorial of the House of Nassau]] <br /> ''Azure billetty or, a lion rampant of the last armed and langued gules''|parent house=|country=[[Germany]], [[Netherlands]], [[Belgium]], [[France]], [[England]], [[Scotland]], [[Ireland]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Nassau (state)|Nassau]], [[Principality of Orange|Orange]]|titles=*[[King of the Romans]]
*[[King of the Netherlands]]
*[[King of England]], [[King of Scotland|Scotland]] and [[Kingdom of Ireland|Ireland]]
*[[Grand Duke of Luxembourg]]
*[[Duke of Nassau]]
*[[Duchy of Limburg (1839–1867)|Duke of Limburg]]
*[[Prince of Orange]]
*[[Principality of Orange-Nassau|Prince of Orange-Nassau]]
*[[Principality of Nassau-Orange-Fulda|Prince of Nassau-Orange-Fulda]]
*[[Principality of Nassau-Usingen|Prince of Nassau-Usingen]]
*[[House of Nassau-Weilburg|Prince and Count of Nassau-Weilburg]]
*[[Nassau-Dietz|Prince and Count of Nassau-Dietz]]
*[[House of Nassau-Siegen|Prince and Count of Nassau-Siegen]]
*[[House of Nassau-Hadamar|Prince and Count of Nassau-Hadamar]]
*[[Count of Nassau]]
*[[Laurenburg|Count of Laurenburg]]
*[[Nassau-Dillenburg|Count of Nassau-Dillenburg]]
*[[Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein|Count of Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein]]
*[[County of Nassau-Saarbrücken|Count of Nassau-Saarbrücken]]
*[[Stadtholder]] in the [[Dutch Republic|Netherlands]]|founder=[[Dudo of Laurenburg]]|final ruler=|current head=[[Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg]] (in [[cognatic]] line)|founding year={{circa|1093}}|dissolution={{End date|1985}} (in [[agnatic]] line after death of [[Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg|Grand Duchess Charlotte]])|nationality=|cadet branches=[[House of Nassau-Weilburg|Nassau-Weilburg]]<br />[[House of Orange-Nassau|Orange-Nassau]]<br />[[Nassau-Corroy]] (illegitimate)}}

The '''House of Nassau''' is the name of a European aristocratic dynasty. The name originated with a lordship associated with [[Nassau Castle]], which is located in what is now [[Nassau, Rhineland-Palatinate|Nassau]] in [[Rhineland-Palatinate]], Germany. With the fall of the [[Hohenstaufen]] dynasty in the first half of the 13th century, royal power within [[Franconia]] evaporated and the former [[stem duchy]] fragmented into separate independent states. Nassau emerged as one of those independent states as part of the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. The lords of Nassau were originally titled "Counts of Nassau", subject only to the [[Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor]], and then elevated to princely rank as "Princely Counts". Early on, the family divided into two main branches – the elder (Walramian) branch, which gave rise to the German king [[Adolf, King of the Romans|Adolf]], and the younger (Ottonian) branch, which gave rise to the [[Prince of Orange|Princes of Orange]] and the [[King of the Netherlands|monarchs of the Netherlands]].
 
At the end of the Holy Roman Empire and the [[Napoleonic Wars]], the Walramian branch had inherited or acquired all the Nassau ancestral lands and proclaimed themselves, with the permission of the [[Congress of Vienna]], the "Dukes of Nassau", forming the independent state of [[Duchy of Nassau|Nassau]] (with its capital at [[Wiesbaden]]). This territory now mainly lies in the German Federal State of [[Hesse]], and partially in the neighbouring State of [[Rhineland-Palatinate]]. The Duchy was annexed by [[Prussia]] in 1866 after the Austrian-Prussian War as an ally of Austria. It was subsequently incorporated into the newly created Prussian [[Province of Hesse-Nassau]].

Today, the term [[Nassau (region)|Nassau]] is used in Germany as a name for a geographical, historical and cultural region, but no longer has any political meaning. All Dutch and Luxembourgish monarchs since 1815 have been senior members of the House of Nassau. However, in 1890 in the Netherlands and in 1912 in Luxembourg, the male lines of heirs to the two thrones became extinct, so that since then, they have descended in the female line from the House of Nassau.

According to German tradition, the family name is passed on only in the male line of succession. The House would therefore, from this German perspective, have been extinct since 1985.<ref>Grand Duchess Charlotte abdicated in 1964, but she died in 1985</ref><ref>[[Clotilde Countess of Nassau-Merenberg]] is the last patrilineal descendant of the House of Nassau though she descends from a family considered to be non-dynastic</ref> However, both Dutch and Luxembourgish monarchial traditions, constitutional rules and legislation in that matter differ from the German tradition, and thus neither country considers the House extinct. The [[Grand Duke of Luxembourg]] uses "Duke of Nassau" as his secondary title and a [[title of pretense]] to the dignity of Chief of the House of Nassau (being the most senior member of the eldest branch of the House), but not to lay any territorial claims to the former Duchy of Nassau (which is now part of the [[Federal Republic of Germany]]).

==Origins==
The area that came to be the county of Nassau was part of the [[Duchy of Franconia]]. When [[Franconia]] fragmented in the early 13th century with the fall of the [[Hohenstaufen]] dynasty, Nassau emerged as an independent state as part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Count [[Dudo-Henry of Laurenburg]] ({{Circa|1060|1123}}) ({{langx|de|Dudo von Laurenburg}}; {{langx|la|Tuto de Lurinburg}}) is considered the founder of the House of Nassau.<ref name="hesselfelt">Hesselfelt (1965).</ref><ref name="venne">Van de Venne & Stols (1937).</ref> Dudo was a son of [[Rupert of Laurenburg|Rupert]] (German: ''Ruprecht''), the [[Archbishop of Mainz]]'s [[Vogt]] in [[Siegerland]].<ref>Lück (1981), p. 16–17.</ref> Dudo was himself lord or Vogt of [[Lipporn]] and [[Miehlen]] and owned large parts of the lands of Lipporn/[[Laurenburg]]. There are more persons known who, as owners of the lands of [[Lipporn]]/Laurenburg (and thus the predecessors of Dudo), probably also were his ancestors. The first is a certain Drutwin mentioned in 881 as a landowner in [[Prüm]], and who is the oldest known possible ancestor of the House of Nassau.<ref name="hesselfelt" />
[[File:LaurenburgBurgLaurenburg08.jpg|left|thumb|Laurenburg Castle]]
Dudo is mentioned as ''Tuto de Lurinburg'' between 1093 and 1117. Dudo built the castle of [[Laurenburg]] on the [[Lahn]] a few kilometers upriver from Nassau around 1090 as the seat of his lordship.<ref name="dek">Dek (1970).</ref> He is first mentioned in a document in the purported founding-charter of [[Maria Laach Abbey]] in 1093 (although many historians consider the document to be fabricated). In 1159, [[Nassau Castle]] became the ruling seat, and the house is now named after this castle. In a charter dated 1134 (after his death) he is mentioned as Count of Laurenburg.<ref name="hesselfelt" />

[[File:Nassau Luftbild 071.jpg|thumb|[[Nassau Castle]] became the seat of dynasty in 1159.|left]]

In 1117, Dudo donated land to Schaffhausen Abbey for construction of a monastery in Lipporn. Around 1117, [[Dudo of Laurenburg|Dudo, Count of Laurenburg]] founded at Lipporn a Benedictine priory dedicated and named for [[Florinus of Remüs|Saint Florin of Koblenz]], and dependent on the Benedictine [[Kloster Allerheiligen, Schaffhausen|All Saints Abbey]] in Schaffhausen. About 1126, his son, [[Rupert I, Count of Laurenburg]], the [[Vogt]] of [[Lipporn]], established it as a separate and independent abbey.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=vfIjyDEMd5kC&dq=Sch%C3%B6nau+Abbey+%28Nassau%29&pg=PA287 ''Elisabeth of Schönau: The Complete Works'', (Anne L. Clark, trans.) Paulist Press, 2000, p. 287, n.162]{{ISBN|9780809139590}}</ref> The Romanesque buildings were constructed between 1126 and 1145, presumably with a three-nave [[basilica]]. The abbey included both a monastery for monks and a small, separate one for nuns.<ref name=steele>[https://books.google.com/books?id=VqvPAAAAMAAJ&dq=Sch%C3%B6nau+Abbey+%28Nassau%29&pg=PA393 Steele, F.M., "St. Elizabeth von Schönau and her Visions", ''American Catholic Quarterly Review'', (James Andrew Corcoran, Patrick John Ryan, Edmond Francis Prendergast, eds.) Hardy and Mahony., 1911, p. 393]{{PD-notice}}</ref>

In 1122, Dudo received the castle of [[Idstein]] in the [[Taunus]] as a fief under the [[Archbishopric of Mainz]]. This was part of the inheritance of Count Udalrich of Idstein-Eppstein. He also received the Vogtship of the richly endowed [[Benedictine]] Bleidenstadt Abbey (in present-day [[Taunusstein]]).<ref>Reuling.</ref>

The Counts of Laurenburg and Nassau expanded their authority under the brothers [[Robert I of Nassau|Robert (''Ruprecht'') I]] (1123–1154) and [[Arnold I of Laurenburg]] (1123–1148). Robert was the first person to call himself Count of Nassau, but the title was not confirmed until 1159, five years after Robert's death. Robert's son [[Walram I of Nassau|Walram I]] (1154–1198) was the first person to be legally titled Count of Nassau.

The chronology of the Counts of Laurenburg is not certain and the link between Robert I and Walram I is especially controversial. Also, some sources consider Gerhard, listed as co-Count of Laurenburg in 1148, to be the son of Robert I's brother, [[Arnold I of Laurenburg|Arnold I]].<ref>[http://www.nassau-info.de/geschichte-sb-alt.htm Family tree of the early House of Nassau], retrieved on 2009-01-22.</ref> However, Erich Brandenburg in his ''Die Nachkommen Karls des Großen'' states that it is most likely that Gerhard was Robert I's son, because Gerard was the name of Beatrix of Limburg's maternal grandfather.<ref>Table 11, Page 23 and note on page 151, quoted at [http://www.genealogie-mittelalter.de/nassau/ruprecht_2_graf_1166/ruprecht_2_graf_von_nassau_+_1166.html Genealogy of the Middle Ages], retrieved on 2009-01-23</ref>

==Geography==
{{Further|County of Nassau}}
As noted above, the county of Nassau was part of the stem [[Duchy of Franconia]]. It branched off northeast from the [[Rhine River]] and followed the course of the Lahn and Sieg rivers. Northeast and southeast of it was the lands of the [[House of Hesse]]. With the fall of the [[Hohenstaufen]] in the first half of the 13th century royal power within [[Franconia]] evaporated
and the former [[stem duchy]] fragmented into separate independent states. Nassau emerged as one of those independent states as part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Nassau, originally a county, but part of the duchy of Franconia, developed on the lower [[Lahn]] river in what is known today as [[Rhineland-Palatinate]]. The town of [[Nassau, Rhineland-Palatinate|Nassau]] was founded in 915.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Abramson|first=Scott F.|date=2017-01-01|title=The Economic Origins of the Territorial State|journal=International Organization|volume=71|issue=1|pages=97–130|doi=10.1017/S0020818316000308|issn=0020-8183|doi-access=free}}</ref> As noted above, [[Dudo of Laurenburg]] held Nassau as a [[fiefdom]] as granted by the [[Bishopric of Worms]].  His son, [[Rupert I, Count of Laurenburg|Rupert]], built the [[Nassau Castle]] there around 1125, declaring himself "Count of Nassau". This title was not officially acknowledged by the Bishop of Worms until 1159 under the rule of Rupert's son, Walram. By 1159, the County of Nassau effectively claimed rights of taxation, toll collection, and justice, at which point it can be considered to become a state.<ref name=":0" />

The Nassauers held the territory between the [[Taunus]] and the [[Westerwald]] at the lower and middle Lahn. By 1128, they acquired the [[bailiwick]] of the [[Bishopric of Worms]], which had numerous rights in the area, and thus created a link between their heritage at the lower Lahn and their possessions near [[Siegen]]. In the middle of the 12th century, this relationship was strengthened by the acquisition of parts of the Hesse-Thüringen feudal kingdom, namely the ''[[Herborn (Hesse)|Herborn]]er Mark'', the ''Kalenberger Zent'' and the Court of Heimau ([[Löhnberg]]). Closely linked to this was the "Lordship of Westerwald", also in Nassau's possession at the time. At the end of the 12th century, the House acquired the ''Reichshof'' [[Wiesbaden]], an important base in the southwest.

In 1255, after the Counts of Nassau acquired the estates of [[Weilburg]], the sons of Count [[Henry II, Count of Nassau|Henry II]] divided Nassau for the first time.  [[Walram II, Count of Nassau|Walram II]] received the county of [[Nassau-Weilburg]].  From 1328 on, his younger brother, [[Otto I, Count of Nassau|Otto I]], held the estates north of the [[Lahn]] river, namely the County of Nassau-Siegen and [[Nassau-Dillenburg]].  The boundary line was essentially the Lahn, with Otto receiving the northern part of the county with the cities of [[Siegen]], [[Dillenburg]], [[Herborn (Hesse)|Herborn]] and [[Haiger]] and Walram retaining the section south of the river, including the cities of [[Weilburg]] and [[Idstein]].

{{Annotated image
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| caption = Nassau (light yellow) within the [[Holy Roman Empire]] during the rule of the Staufers
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[[File:Verlaufskarte Lahn.png|thumb|center|400px|Course of the Lahn River through Nassau and Hesse.]]
[[File:Kurmainz um 1400.png|thumb|right|300px|County of Nassau (grey) within the Holy Roman Empire in 1400 A.D.]]
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==List of rulers==
===Counts of Laurenburg (ca. 1093–1159) and Nassau (1159–1255)===
In 1255, Henry II's sons, [[Walram II of Nassau|Walram II]] and [[Otto I of Nassau|Otto I]], split the Nassau possessions. The descendants of Walram became known as the Walram Line, which became important in the [[Nassau (state)|Countship of Nassau]] and [[Luxembourg]]. The descendants of Otto became known as the Ottonian Line, which would inherit parts of Nassau, [[France]] and the [[Netherlands]]. Both lines would often themselves be divided over the next few centuries. In 1783, the heads of various branches of the House of Nassau sealed the [[Nassau Family Pact]] (''Erbverein'') to regulate future succession in their states, and to establish a dynastic hierarchy whereby the Prince of Orange-Nassau-Dietz was recognised as President of the House of Nassau.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.academia.edu/25907933|title = The House of Nassau between France and Independence, 1795–1814: Lesser Powers, Strategies of Conflict Resolution, Dynastic Networks}}</ref>

==={{anchor|Walram Line}}The Walramian Line (1255–1985)===
{{Further|County of Nassau #Rulers}}
{{multiple image
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 200
| align             = right
| footer            = Crowned Lion arms and crest of the Walram line now seen in the [[coat of arms of Luxembourg]]: "d'azur, semé de billettes d'or, au lion couronné du second, armé, lampassé de gueules.'"<ref name="Rietstap 1861 p297" />
| image1            = Walram Nassau wapen.svg
| alt1              = Walram Nassau wapen
| caption1          = Arms with crest and motto
| image2            = Wappen - Provinz Nassau.svg
| alt2              = Walramian Nassau arms with crowned lion
| caption2          = Walramian Nassau arms with crowned lion
}}

The Walramian Line concentrated their efforts primarily on their German lands. The exception was [[Adolf, King of the Romans]] ({{circa|1255}} – 2 July 1298) who was the [[count of Nassau]] from about 1276 and the elected [[king of Germany]] from 1292 until his deposition by the [[prince-elector]]s in 1298. He was never crowned by the pope, which would have secured him the [[Holy Roman Emperor|imperial title]]. He was the first physically and mentally healthy ruler of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] ever to be deposed without a papal [[excommunication]]. Adolf died shortly afterwards in the [[Battle of Göllheim]] fighting against his successor [[Albert I of Germany|Albert of Habsburg]]. He was the second in the succession of so-called [[count-kings]] of several rivalling comital houses striving after the Roman-German royal dignity after the expiration the [[Hohenstaufen]]. The Nassaus, however, were not on the imperial throne long enough to establish themselves in larger landholdings to increase their hereditary power such as the [[House of Luxembourg|Luxemburgers]] did in [[Kingdom of Bohemia|Bohemia]] or the [[House of Habsburg|Habsburgs]] did in [[Duchy of Austria|Austria]].

After Gerlach's death, the possessions of the Walram line were divided into Nassau-Weilburg and Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein.

====Nassau-Weilburg (1344–1816)====
{{main article|House of Nassau-Weilburg}}[[Image:Flag of the House of Nassau Weilburg.svg|thumb|right|Flag of Nassau-Weilburg]]
Count Walram II began the Countship of Nassau in Weilburg (Nassau-Weilburg), which existed to 1816. The Walram line also received the lordship of [[Merenberg]] in 1328 and [[Saarbrücken]] (by marriage) in 1353. The sovereigns of this house afterwards ruled the [[Nassau (state)|Duchy of Nassau]] from its establishment in 1806 as part of the [[Confederation of the Rhine]] (jointly with Nassau-Usingen until 1816). The last reigning Duke, [[Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Adolph]], became [[Duke of Nassau]] in August 1839, following the death of his father [[William, Duke of Nassau|William]]. The Duchy was annexed to Prussia in 1866 after Austria's defeat in the [[Austro-Prussian War]].

From 1815 to 1839, [[Grand Duchy of Luxembourg]] was ruled by the [[kings of the Netherlands]] as a province of the [[Netherlands]]. Following the [[Treaty of London (1839)]], the [[Grand Duchy of Luxembourg]] became independent but remained in personal union with the [[Netherlands]]. Following the death of his sons, the Dutch king William III had no male heirs to succeed him. In the Netherlands, females were allowed to succeed to the throne. Luxembourg, however, followed [[Salic law]] which barred females from succession. Thus, upon King William III's death, the crown of the Netherlands passed to his only daughter, [[Wilhelmina of the Netherlands|Wilhelmina]], while that of Luxembourg passed to Adolph in accordance with the [[Nassau Family Pact]]. Adolph died in 1905 and was succeeded by his son, [[William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|William IV]].

and from 1890 the [[Grand Duchy of Luxembourg]]. The branch of [[Nassau-Weilburg]] ultimately became rulers of [[Luxembourg]].

<gallery class="center">
File:Weilburg Luftbild 058.jpg|[[Weilburg]]
Weilburg Schloss Gesamtansicht.jpg|[[Weilburg]] Castle
File:Weilburg - Schloss - Ostflügel.jpg|East wing of the castle
</gallery>

=====Counts of Nassau-Weilburg (1344–1688), {{anchor|princes of weilburg}}Princely counts of Nassau-Weilburg (1688–1816) and {{anchor|duchy}}Dukes of Nassau (1816–1866)=====
{{Further|County of Nassau #Rulers}}
<gallery class="center">
Schloss Biebrich fg01.JPG|[[Biebrich Palace]]
</gallery>
[[File:Nassau1812.jpg|thumb|right|Duchy of Nassau in 1812 as part of the [[Confederation of the Rhine]]. ]]
[[File:Nassau1848.png|thumb|right|Duchy of Nassau in 1848.]]

====={{anchor|Grand Dukes of Luxembourg (from the House of Nassau-Weilburg) - 1890–1912 and succesion through a female onwards}}Grand Dukes of Luxembourg (from the House of Nassau-Weilburg) – 1890–1912 and succession through a female onwards=====
{{main article|Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg}}
[[File:Religionskarte des Herzogtums Nassau 1815.png|thumb|right|Religious Lines in the Duchy of Nassau]]
[[File:Duchy of Nassau.png|thumb|right|Duchy of Nassau after 1815]]
*1890–1905: [[Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Adolphe]]
*1905–1912: [[William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|William IV]]
*1912–1919: [[Marie-Adélaïde, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg|Marie-Adélaïde]]
*1919–1964: [[Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg|Charlotte]]
*1964–2000: [[Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Jean]]
*2000–present: [[Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Henri]]

<gallery class="center">
Luxembourg Grand Ducal Palace 01.jpg|[[Grand Ducal Palace, Luxembourg]] 
Residenz der Grossherzoeglichen Familie.jpg|[[Berg Castle]], Luxembourg 
</gallery>

=====Counts of Merenberg=====
{{main article| Count of Merenberg}}
''Count of Merenberg'' (German: ''[[Graf]] von Merenberg'') is a [[hereditary title]] of nobility that was bestowed in 1868 by the [[reign]]ing Prince of [[Waldeck (state)|Waldeck and Pyrmont]], [[George Victor, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont|George Victor]], upon the [[morganatic marriage|morganatic]] wife and [[patrilineality|male-line]] descendants of [[Prince Nikolaus Wilhelm of Nassau]] (1832–1905), younger brother of Adolf, last Duke of Nassau/Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Nicholas married Natalia Alexandrovna Pushkina (1836–1913), former wife of Russian [[general]] Mikhail Leontievich von Dubelt.

In 1907 Grand Duke Adolph declared the family non-dynastic/[[Morganatic marriage|morganatic]]. Had they not been excluded from the succession, they would have inherited the headship of the house in 1912. Georg Nickolaus would have thus become the reigning [[Grand Duke of Luxembourg]].

In 1907, William IV, obtained passage of a law in Luxembourg confirming the exclusion of the Merenbergs from succession to the grand ducal throne. Georg Nikolaus's protests against the Luxembourg [[Diet (assembly)|Diet]]'s confirmation of the succession rights of William IV's daughter, [[Marie Adelaide, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg|Princess Marie-Adélaïde]], were expected to be taken up by the Netherlands and by the [[Great Powers]] which had guaranteed Luxembourg's neutrality in 1867.<ref>New York Times. ''Count Merenberg Protests: Would Not Have a Woman Reign in Luxembourg''. 16 June 1907.</ref> Nonetheless, Marie-Adélaïde did succeed her father, to become Luxembourg's first female monarch, in 1912. She, in turn, abdicated in favour of her sister [[Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg|Charlotte]], whose descendants have reigned over Luxembourg since then. Georg Nikolaus died in 1948. His son Georg Michael Alexander was the last legitimate descendant of the House of Nassau. He died in 1965

====Counts of Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein (1344–1728)====
{{main article|Idstein|Wiesbaden|County of Nassau #Rulers}}
From the documentary mention in 1102 until 1721, Idstein was, with interruptions, residence of the Counts of Nassau-Idstein and other Nassau lines. One of the Counts was, as said above, [[Adolf of Germany]], the [[Holy Roman Empire|Holy Roman Emperor]] from 1292 to 1298.

The Nassau Counts' holdings were subdivided many times among heirs, with the parts being brought together again whenever a line died out. This yielded an older Nassau-Idstein line from 1480 to 1509, later merging once again with Nassau-Wiesbaden and Nassau-Weilburg and, from 1629 to 1721, a newer Nassau-Idstein line.

In 1721, Idstein passed to Nassau-Ottweiler, and in 1728 to Nassau-Usingen, thereby losing its status as a residence town, although it became the seat of the Nassau Archives and of an ''[[Amt (country subdivision)|Oberamt]]''.

In the 1170s, the [[Count]] of [[Nassau (state)|Nassau]], Walram I, received the area around Wiesbaden as a [[fiefdom]]. In 1232, Wiesbaden became a [[Reichsstadt]], an imperial city, of the Holy Roman Empire. Wiesbaden returned to the control of the House of Nassau in 1270 under Count [[Walram II, Count of Nassau]]. However, Wiesbaden and the castle at [[Wiesbaden-Sonnenberg|Sonnenberg]] were again destroyed in 1283 in conflict with [[Eppstein]].

Walram's son and successor [[Adolf of Germany|Adolf]] was, as said above, king of [[Kingdom of Germany|Germany]] from 1292 until 1298. In 1329, under Adolf's son [[Gerlach I of Nassau-Wiesbaden|Gerlach I of Nassau-Weilburg]] the House of Nassau and thereby, Wiesbaden, received the right of [[currency|coinage]] from Holy Roman Emperor [[Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Louis the Bavarian]].

In 1355, the County of Nassau-Weilburg was divided among the sons of Gerlach. The County of Nassau's holdings would be subdivided many times among heirs, with the parts being brought together again whenever a line died out. Wiesbaden became the seat of the County of Nassau-Wiesbaden under Count Adolf I (1307–1370), eldest son of Gerlach. It eventually fell back to Nassau-Weilburg in 1605.

<gallery>
Stadtschloss Wiesbaden.jpg|[[Stadtschloss, Wiesbaden|Wiesbaden City Palace]]
Kastelo Residenzschloss Idstein 4.jpg|[[Idstein]] Castle
</gallery>

===={{anchor|Saarbrucken}}Counts of Nassau-Saarbrücken (1429–1797)====
{{main article|Nassau-Saarbrücken}}
{{Further|County of Nassau #Rulers}}
Philipp I ruled both Nassau-Saarbrücken and [[Nassau-Weilburg]] and in 1393 inherited through his wife Johanna of [[Hohenlohe]] the lordships [[Kirchheimbolanden]] and Stauf. He also received half of [[Ottweiler|Nassau-Ottweiler]] in 1393 and other territories later during his reign. After his death in 1429 the territories around Saarbrücken and along the [[Lahn]] were kept united until 1442, when they were again divided among his sons into the lines Nassau-Saarbrücken (west of the Rhine) and Nassau-Weilburg (east of the Rhine), the so-called Younger line of Nassau-Weilburg.

In 1507, Count John Ludwig I significantly enlarged his territory. After his death in 1544 the county was split into three parts, the three lines (Ottweiler, Saarbrücken proper and Kirchheim) were all extinct in 1574 and all of Nassau-Saarbrücken was united with Nassau-Weilburg until 1629. This new division, however, was not executed until the [[Thirty Years' War]] was over and in 1651 three counties were established: [[Nassau-Idstein]], Nassau-Weilburg and Nassau-Saarbrücken.

[[File:Zweibruecken 1400.png|300px|thumb|The county of Saarbrücken in the Rheinland in light yellow.]]

Only eight years later, Nassau-Saarbrücken was again divided into:
*Nassau-Saarbrücken proper, fell to [[Nassau-Ottweiler]] in 1723
*[[Nassau-Ottweiler]], fell to [[Nassau-Usingen]] in 1728
*[[Nassau-Usingen]]

In 1735, Nassau-Usingen was divided again into Nassau-Usingen and Nassau-Saarbrücken. In 1797 Nassau-Usingen finally inherited Nassau-Saarbrücken, it was (re-)unified with Nassau-Weilburg and raised to the [[Duchy of Nassau]] in 1806. The first Duke of Nassau was Frederick August of Nassau-Usingen who died in 1816. [[Wilhelm, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg]] inherits the Duchy of Nassau. But, territories of Nassau Saarbrücken was occupied by [[France]] in 1793 and was annexed as [[Sarre (department)|Sarre]] department in 1797. Finally County of Nassau-Saarbrücken was part of [[Prussia]] in 1814.

After Henry Louis's death, Nassau-Saarbrücken fell to [[Charles William, Prince of Nassau-Usingen]] until Adolph came of age in 1805.
<gallery>
Schloss Saarbruecken, HDR.jpg|[[Saarbrücken Castle]]
</gallery>

====Princes of Nassau-Usingen (1659–1816)====
{{main article| Nassau-Usingen}}
{{Further|County of Nassau #Rulers}}
The origin of the county lies in the medieval county of Weilnau that was acquired by the counts of [[Nassau-Weilburg]] in 1602. That county was divided in 1629 into the lines of [[Nassau-Weilburg]], [[Nassau-Idstein]] and [[Nassau-Saarbrücken]] that was divided only 30 years later in 1659. The emerging counties were Nassau-Saarbrücken, [[Nassau-Ottweiler]] and Nassau-Usingen. At the beginning of the 18th century, three of the Nassau lines died out and Nassau-Usingen became their successor (1721 Nassau-Idstein, 1723 Nassau-Ottweiler und 1728 Nassau-Saarbrücken).
In 1735 Nassau-Usingen was divided again into Nassau-Usingen and Nassau-Saarbrücken. In 1797 Nassau-Usingen inherited Nassau-Saarbrücken. In 1816, Nassau-Usingen merged with Nassau-Weilburg to form the [[Duchy of Nassau]]. See "[[#duchy|Dukes of Nassau]]" above.

Following Frederick Augustus' death, the princely title was adopted (in pretense) by his half brother through an unequal marriage, Karl Philip. As head of the House in 1907, [[William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Wilhelm IV]] declared the [[Count of Merenberg]] non-dynastic; by extension, this would indicate that (according to Luxembourgish laws regarding the House of Nassau) this branch would assume the Salic headship of the house in 1965, following the death of the last male Count of Merenberg.<ref>Pütter, Johann Stephan. ''Primae lineae juris privati Principum speciatim Germanicae''. Göttingen, 1789 (3rd ed.).</ref>

<gallery>
Usingen 1864.jpg|[[Usingen]] Castle
</gallery>

==={{anchor|ottonian}}The Ottonian line===
{{multiple image
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 200
| align             = right
| footer            = Arms and crest of the Ottonian line (since the 13th century) now part of the [[coat of arms of the Netherlands]]: "d'azur semé de billettes d'or, au lion du même, armé et lampassé de gueules, brochant sur le tout".<ref name="Rietstap 1861 p297">{{cite book|first= Johannes Baptist |last= Rietstap |author-link = Johannes Rietstap|title= Armorial général, contenant la description des armoiries des familles nobles et patriciennes de l'Europe : précédé d'un dictionnaire des termes du blason |editor= G.B. van Goor |year= 1861 |page= 297|publisher= Genealogical Publishing Com |isbn= 9780806304427 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KGwv4BDnlaQC&q=nassau|access-date=26 May 2015 }}</ref>
| image1            = Otto Nassau wapen.svg
| alt1              = Ottonian Nassau wapen
| caption1          = Arms with crest
| image2            = Arms of Nassau.svg
| alt2              = Ottonian Nassau Arms
| caption2          = Ottonian Nassau Arms
}}

[[File:Nassau1547.jpg|thumb|right|300px|the County of Nassau (green) in 1547]]
[[File:Kurhessen und Nassau.jpg|thumb|right|Electoral Hesse and the Nassau lands in the earl 19th century showing the multiple divisions based on family lines.]]

The partition of the county of Nassau between Otto, and his older brother Walram (above), resulted in a permanent division between the 2 branches of the family. The Walramian branch tended to concentrate on their German lands, while the Ottonians, as we will see below, established themselves in the Netherlands and became great magnates, leaders of the [[Dutch Revolt]], the [[stadtholder]]s of the [[Politics and government of the Dutch Republic|Dutch Republican government]], and eventual [[kings of the Netherlands]]. This, however, was not before many divisions and reunitings. The first was between sons of Otto, with the main power base being centered around the caste of Dillenburg:

*1255–1290: [[Otto I of Nassau|Otto I]], Count of Nassau in Siegen, Dillenburg, Beilstein, and Ginsberg
*1290–1303: Joint rule by [[Henry, Count of Nassau in Siegen|Henry]], [[John, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg|John]] and [[Emicho I, Count of Nassau-Hadamar|Emicho I]], sons of Otto I

In 1303, Otto's sons divided the possessions of the Ottonian line. [[Henry, Count of Nassau in Siegen|Henry]] received Nassau-Siegen, [[John, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg|John]] received Nassau-Dillenburg and [[Emicho I, Count of Nassau-Hadamar|Emicho I]] received Nassau-Hadamar. After John's death. Nassau-Dillenburg fell to Henry.

===={{anchor|dillenburg}}Counts of Nassau-Dillenburg====
{{Further|County of Nassau #Rulers}}
The Ottonian portion of the county of Nassau was divided and sub-divided, as shown in the genealogical charts below, several times, so that each son of the previous count would have a portion. Eventually, these lines would all die out in favor of the main branch of the family, which had established themselves in The Netherlands.

<gallery class="center" caption="Ottonian Nassau Fortresses" widths="300px" heights="300px">
File:Dillenburg ansicht hessische chronika wilhelm dilich 1605.jpg| [[Dillenburg]] Castle
Herborn - Schloss Rückseite.jpg|[[Herborn Castle]]
</gallery>

====={{anchor|Beilstein}}Counts of Nassau-Beilstein=====
{{Further|County of Nassau #Rulers}}
The counts of Nassau in Beilstein were involved mostly in local/regional German affairs in their area of the Rhine.

In 1343, Nassau-Beilstein was split off from Nassau-Dillenburg. After John III's death, Nassau-Beilstein fell back to Nassau-Dillenburg. It was split off again in 1607 (see below) for [[George, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg|George]], who inherited the rest of Nassau-Dillenburg in 1620.
[[File:Schloss Beilstein.jpg|thumb|[[Greifenstein|Beilstein]] Castle]]

====First Counts and Princes of Nassau-Hadamar====
{{Further|County of Nassau #Rulers}}

====First House of Nassau-Siegen====
{{main article|House of Nassau-Siegen}}
{{Further|County of Nassau #Rulers}}
The branch of ''Nassau-Siegen'' was a collateral line of the House of Nassau, and ruled in [[Siegen]]. The first Count of Nassau-Siegen was [[Henry I, Count of Nassau-Siegen]] (d. 1343), the elder son of [[Otto I, Count of Nassau]]. His son [[Otto II, Count of Nassau-Siegen]] ruled also in [[Dillenburg]]. In 1328, [[John, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg]] died unmarried and childless, and Dillenburg fell to Henry I of Nassau-Siegen. For counts of Nassau-Siegen in between 1343 and 1606, see "[[#dillenburg|Counts of Nassau-Dillenburg]]" above.

====Netherland Nassaus/Orange-Nassau====
{{main article|House of Orange-Nassau}}
[[File:Schloss Breda 1743.jpg|thumb|[[Breda Castle]] in the 1550s]]
The [[House of Orange-Nassau]] stems from the elder branch of the Ottonian Line. The connection was via [[Engelbert I of Nassau|Engelbert I]], who offered his services to the [[Duke of Burgundy]], married in 1403 [[Johanna van Polanen]], the heiress of the [[Breda|barony of Breda]], the [[De Lek|lordship of den Lek]] and other lands in the [[duchy of Brabant]] at the mouth of the Rhine delta and the [[Scheldt]] river. As the Scheldt was the main trade artery in the [[Burgundian Netherlands|Burgundian]]/[[Habsburg Netherlands]] during the time, the Netherand Nassaus benefitted from the commerce. These lands formed the core of the Nassau's Dutch possessions.

[[File:Veianen Buerg 05.jpg|thumb|[[Vianden Castle]], Luxembourg, fortress of the [[Counts of Vianden]]]]
[[File:Wilhelm1Nassau.JPG|thumb|150px|[[William the Silent|William I. "the Silent"]] (1544–1584), founder of the Netherlands, statue at [[Wiesbaden]]]]

The importance of the Nassaus grew throughout the 15th and 16th century. [[Hendrik III of Nassau-Breda|Henry III of Nassau-Breda]] was appointed [[stadtholder]] of [[Holland]], [[Zeeland]] and [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]] by Emperor [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] in the beginning of the 16th century. Henry married [[Claudia of Chalon-Orange]] from French [[Burgundy (region)|Burgundy]] in 1515. Their son [[René of Chalon]] inherited in 1530 the independent and sovereign [[Principality of Orange]] from his mother's brother, [[Philibert of Chalon]]. As the first Nassau to be the Prince of Orange, René could have used "Orange-Nassau" as his new family name. However, his uncle, in his will, had stipulated that René should continue the use of the name Chalon-Orange. At René's death in 1544, he left all his lands to his cousin William of Nassau-Dillenburg, including the sovereign [[principality of Orange]]. This "William I of Orange", in English better known as [[William the Silent]], became the founder of the [[House of Orange-Nassau]] and the leader of the [[Dutch Revolt]] that lead to the formation of the [[Dutch Republic]] as a separate sovereign nation.<ref name=Rowen/>{{rp|10}}

Within the [[Politics and government of the Dutch Republic|government]] of the [[Dutch Republic]], The [[Prince of Orange]] was also not just another noble among equals in the Netherlands. First, he was the traditional leader of the nation in war and in rebellion against Spain. He was uniquely able to transcend the local issues of the cities, towns and provinces. He was also a sovereign ruler in his own right (see [[Prince of Orange]] article). This gave him a great deal of prestige, even in a republic. He was the center of a real court like the Stuarts and Bourbons, French speaking, and extravagant to a scale. It was natural for foreign ambassadors and dignitaries to present themselves to him and consult with him as well as to the [[States General of the Netherlands|States General]] to which they were officially credited. The marriage policy of the princes, allying themselves twice with the Royal Stuarts, also gave them acceptance into the royal caste of rulers.<ref name="Haley">{{cite book |title=The Dutch in the Seventeenth Century|first=K(enneth) H(arold) D(obson)|last =Haley|publisher=Thames and Hudson|year=1972|pages= 75–83|isbn=0-15-518473-3}}</ref>{{rp|76–77,80}}

The house of Orange-Nassau was relatively unlucky in establishing a hereditary dynasty in an age that favoured hereditary rule. The [[House of Stuart|Stuarts]] and the [[House of Bourbon|Bourbons]] came to power at the same time as the Oranges, the [[House of Vasa|Vasas]] and [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburgs]] were able to establish a hereditary kingship in Sweden and Denmark, and the [[House of Hohenzollern|Hohenzollerns]] were able to set themselves on a course to the rule of Germany. The House of Orange was no less gifted than those houses, in fact, some might argue more so, as their ranks included some the foremost statesmen and captains of the time. Although the institutions of the [[Dutch Republic|United Provinces]] became more republican and entrenched as time went on, William the Silent had been offered the countship of Holland and Zealand, and only his assassination prevented his accession to those offices. This fact did not go unforgotten by his successors.<ref name="Rowen">{{cite book |title=The princes of Orange: the stadholders in the Dutch Republic|first=Herbert H.|last =Rowen|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1988}}</ref>{{rp|28–31,64,71,93,139–141}}

[[File:Nason, Pieter (attributed to) - Four generations Princes of Orange - William I, Maurice and Frederick Henry, William II and William III - 1662-1666.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Painting by Willem van Honthorst (1662), showing four generations of Princes of Orange: [[William the Silent|William I]], [[Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange|Maurice]] and [[Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange|Frederick Henry]], [[William II, Prince of Orange|William II]], and [[William III of England|William III]].]]

Besides showing the relationships among the family, the tree above then also points out an extraordinary run of bad luck. In the 211 years from the death of William the Silent to the conquest by France, there was only one time that a son directly succeeded his father as Prince of Orange, Stadholder and Captain-General without a minority (William II). When the Oranges were in power, they also tended to settle for the actualities of power, rather than the appearances, which increasingly tended to upset the ruling regents of the towns and cities. On being offered the dukedom of Gelderland by the States of that province, [[William III of England|William III]] let the offer lapse as liable to raise too much opposition in the other provinces.<ref name="Haley"/>{{rp|75–83}}

The main house of Orange-Nassau also spawned several illegitimate branches. These branches contributed to the political and economic history of England and the Netherlands. [[Justinus van Nassau]] was the only extramarital child of [[William the Silent|William of Orange]]. He was a Dutch army commander known for unsuccessfully [[Siege of Breda (1624)|defending Breda against the Spanish]], and the depiction of his surrender on the famous picture by [[Diego Velázquez]], ''[[The Surrender of Breda]]''. [[Louis of Nassau, Lord of De Lek and Beverweerd]] was a younger illegitimate son of [[Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange|Prince Maurice]] and [[Margaretha van Mechelen]]. His descendants were later created Counts of Nassau-LaLecq. One of his sons was the famous general [[Henry de Nassau, Lord Overkirk|Henry de Nassau, Lord of Overkirk]], [[William III of England|King William III]]'s [[Master of the Horse]], and one of the most trusted generals of [[John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough]]. His descendants became the [[Earl of Grantham|Earls of Grantham]] in England. [[Frederick Nassau de Zuylestein|Frederick van Nassau, Lord of Zuylestein]], an illegitimate son of [[Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange]], gave rise to the [[Earl of Rochford|Earls of Rochford]] in England. The [[William Nassau de Zuylestein, 4th Earl of Rochford|4th earl of Rochford]] was a famous English diplomat and a statesman.

[[File:Prins Maurits vergezeld door zijn twee broeders, Frederik V, keurvorst van de Palts en enkele graven van Nassau te paard Rijksmuseum SK-A-445.jpeg|thumb|right|500px|Prins Maurice with his two brothers, their nephew, Frederik V of the Palatine and King of Bohemia, and various members of the House of Nassau on parade. In the first row, from left to right: Prince Maurice, Stadholder of Holland and Captain-General, his nephew Frederik V (1596–1632), Elector Palatine and King of Bohemia, Prince Philip William, then the reigning prince of Orange, and Prince Frederick Henry. in the 2nd row, among others: William Louis, count of Nassau-Dillenburg and Stadholder of Friesland, Ernst Casimir (1573–1632), count of Nassau-Dietz and Louis Gunther, count of Nassau. The painting was entitled 'de Nassausche helden'.]]

With the death of [[William III of England|William III]], the legitimate direct male line of William the Silent became extinct and thereby the first House of Orange-Nassau. John William Friso, the senior agnatic descendant of William the Silent's brother and a cognatic descendant of Frederick Henry, grandfather of William III, inherited the princely title and all the possessions in the low countries and Germany, but not the [[Principality of Orange]] itself. Orange had been invaded and captured by [[Louis XIV of France|King Louis XIV]] in 1672 during the [[Franco-Dutch War]], and again in August 1682, but William did not concede his claim to rule, and recovered the principality via the peace treaties. Louis again invaded and captured the principality in 1702. He enfeoffed [[François Louis, Prince of Conti]], a Bourbon relative of the Chalon dynasty, with the Principality of Orange, so that there were three claimants to the title. The Principality was finally ceded to France under the [[Treaty of Utrecht]] that ended the wars with [[Louis XIV of France|King Louis XIV]]. Frederick I of Prussia ceded the Principality to France (without surrendering the princely title), though John William Friso of Nassau-Dietz, the other claimant to the principality, did not concur. Only with the treaty of partition in 1732 did John William Friso's successor William IV, Prince of Orange, renounce all his claims to the territory, but again (like Frederick I) he did not renounce his claim to the title. In the same treaty an agreement was made between both claimants, stipulating that both houses be allowed to use the title.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.heraldica.org/topics/royalty/berlin1732.htm|title=Treaty between Prussia and Orange-Nassau, Berlin, 1732|website=Heraldica.org|language=fr|access-date=16 June 2015}}</ref> John William Friso, who also was the Prince of Nassau-Dietz, founded thereby the '''second House of Orange-Nassau''' (the suffix name "Dietz" was dropped of the combined name Orange-Nassau-Dietz).

The Revolutionary and Napoleonic era was a tumultuous episode of the history of both the Ottonian and Walramian branches of the House of Nassau. France's dominance of the international order severely strained the House of Nassau's traditional strategy of international conflict resolution, which was to maintain links with all serious power-brokers through a dynastic network in the hope of playing one off against the other. Despite that both branches of the House of Nassau reinvigorated the dynastic network in the years of liberation, 1812–1814, the post-Napoleonic European order saw both branches set on different historical paths.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.academia.edu/25907933|title = The House of Nassau between France and Independence, 1795–1814: Lesser Powers, Strategies of Conflict Resolution, Dynastic Networks}}</ref>

After the post-Napoleonic reorganization of Europe, the head of House of Orange-Nassau became "King/Queen of the Netherlands".

=====Princes of Orange=====
======House of Orange-Nassau======
*1544–1584: [[William the Silent|William I]], also Count of Katzenelnbogen, Vianden, Dietz, Buren and Leerdam and Lord of IJsselstein, Baron of Breda, etc. Stadholder of Holland, Zealand and Utrect, etc.
*1584–1618: [[Philip William, Prince of Orange|Philip William]], also Count of Nassau-Dillenburg, Count of Vianden, Buren and Leerdam and Lord of IJsselstein, Baron of Breda, etc.
*1618–1625: [[Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange|Maurice]], also Count of Nassau-Dillenburg, Count of Vianden, Buren and Leerdam and Lord of IJsselstein, Baron of Breda, etc. Stadholder of Holland, Zealand and Utrect, etc., Captain-General of the Armies of the Dutch Republic.
*1625–1647: [[Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange|Frederick Henry]], also Count of Nassau-Dillenburg, Count of Vianden, Buren and Leerdam and Lord of IJsselstein, Baron of Breda, etc. Stadholder of Holland, Zealand and Utrect, etc., Captain-General of the Armies of the Dutch Republic.
*1647–1650: [[William II, Prince of Orange|William II]], also Count of Nassau-Dillenburg, Count of Vianden, Buren and Leerdam and Lord of IJsselstein, Baron of Breda, etc., Stadholder of Holland, Zealand and Utrect, etc., Captain-General of the Armies of the Dutch Republic.
*1650–1702: [[William III of England|William III]], also Count of Nassau-Dillenburg, Count of Vianden, Buren and Leerdam, Lord of IJsselstein, Baron of Breda, etc., Stadholder of Holland, Zealand and Utrect, etc., Captain-General of the Armies of the Dutch Republic, and (from 1689) King of England, Scotland, and Ireland

In 1702, the Orange-Nassau line ended with King William III. He named his cousin John William Friso of Nassau-Dietz as his heir in The Netherlands and the [[principality of Orange]], passing over the claims of the [[House of Hohenzollern|Hohenzollerns]] of [[Brandenburg-Prussia|Brandenburg]]/[[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]].

======Second House of Orange-Nassau(-Dietz)======
*1702–1711: [[John William Friso, Prince of Orange|John William Friso]], also Prince of Nassau-Dietz, Count of Vianden, Buren and Leerdam and Lord of IJsselstein, Baron of Breda, etc. Stadholder of Holland, Zealand and Utrect, etc., Captain-General of the Armies of the Dutch Republic.
*1711–1751: [[William IV, Prince of Orange|William IV]], also Prince of Nassau-Dietz, Count of Vianden, Buren and Leerdam and Lord of IJsselstein, Baron of Breda, etc. Stadholder of Holland, Zealand and Utrect, etc., Captain-General of the Armies of the Dutch Republic.
*1751–1806: [[William V, Prince of Orange|William V]], also Prince of Nassau-Dietz, Count of Vianden, Buren and Leerdam and Lord of IJsselstein, Baron of Breda, etc. Stadholder of Holland, Zealand and Utrect, etc., Captain-General of the Armies of the Dutch Republic.
*1806–1815: [[William I of the Netherlands|William VI]], also Prince of Fulda and Count of Corvey, Weingarten and Dortmund; in 1815 became King William I of the Netherlands

[[File:Royal Coat of Arms of the Netherlands.svg|thumb|300px|Royal coat of arms of the Netherlands]]

=====Kings and Queens of the Netherlands (from the House of Orange-Nassau-Dietz)=====
*1815–1840: [[William I of the Netherlands|William I]], also Duke and Grand Duke of Luxemburg and Duke of Limburg
*1840–1849: [[William II of the Netherlands|William II]], also Grand Duke of Luxemburg and Duke of Limburg
*1849–1890: [[William III of the Netherlands|William III]], also Grand Duke of Luxemburg and Duke of Limburg
*1890–1948: [[Wilhelmina of the Netherlands|Wilhelmina]]
Following the laws of the Holy Roman Empire (which was abolished in 1806), the House of Orange-Nassau(-Dietz) has been extinct since the death of Wilhelmina (1962). Dutch laws and the Dutch nation do not consider it extinct.
*1948–1980: [[Juliana of the Netherlands|Juliana]]
*1980–2013: [[Beatrix of the Netherlands|Beatrix]]
*2013–''present'': [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands|Willem-Alexander]]

<gallery>
Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam.jpg|[[Royal Palace of Amsterdam]]
Denhaag paleis noordeinde.jpg|[[Noordeinde Palace]], Den Haag
Huis ten Bosch.jpg|[[Huis ten Bosch]], Den Haag
't Loo.jpg|[[Het Loo Palace]] 
</gallery>

====Younger lines of the Ottonian House of Nassau, 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries====
{{Further|County of Nassau #Rulers}}
[[File:Nassau-totaal.png|thumb|right|300px|Lands of Nassau in 1789]]
[[File:Nassau-Oranien-map.png|thumb|right|300px|Lands of Nassau in 1796]]
When William the Silent inherited the lands of the Netherland Nassaus and the [[Principality of Orange]], the German lands in the county of Nassau went to his younger brother, Jan VI, as shown below, and were subdivided amongst his surviving sons in 1606. A good many of these maintained ties with the [[Dutch Republic]] and served as stadholders and officers in the [[Dutch States Army]].

=====Counts of Nassau-Dillenburg, continuation=====
The counts of Nassau in Dillenburg were the continuation of the main line of the Ottonian counts of Nassau, although only the 2nd oldest after The Netherlands Nassaus/house of Orange-Nassau. John VI is called the "elder", but this is not in relation to his older brother William the Silent, but in relation to his son, John VII "the Middle" and his grandson, John VIII "the younger". In the male line, the kings of The Netherlands spring from John VI until [[Queen Wilhelmina]] abdicated in 1948. John VI played a leading role during the [[Dutch Revolt]]: he was the principal author of the [[Union of Utrecht]], which was the constitution of the [[Dutch Republic]]. He also served as stadholder of Utrect and Gelderland when they were reconquered from the Spanish. His eldest son, [[William Louis, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg|William Louis]] "Us Heit" ([[West Frisian language|West Frisian]] for "our father") was Stadholder of [[Friesland]], [[Groningen]], and [[Drenthe]], a General in the [[Dutch States Army]] and the chief lieutenant of his cousin [[Prince Maurice of Nassau]], in their innovations in military strategy and organization, victories in the field, and governing of the Dutch Republic.

=====Second House of Nassau-Dietz=====
The counts (later princes in 1650) of Nassau-Dietz continued their service to the [[Dutch Republic]]. After the death of William Louis (see Second House of Nassau-Dillenburg) they were usually elected Stadholder of [[Friesland]], [[Groningen]], and [[Drenthe]]. They also served as senior Generals in the [[Dutch States Army]].

[[File:Groepsportret van Vier Graven van Nassau met bedienden 1662-1670.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Princes of the House of Nassau-Dietz from the Stadhouderlijk Hof of Paleis in Leeuwaarden, H.Prince of Nassau, Henry Casimir, Prince of Nassau, George, Prince of Nassau, and Willem Frederick, Prince of Nassau-Dietz]]

In his will, [[William III of England|William III]] appointed John William Friso as his heir in The Netherlands (his lordships being his property to dispose of by law) as well as his heir to the [[principality of Orange]], the principality being a sovereign state, and so his right to appoint his successor. This was contested by the [[House of Hohenzollern]], [[kings of Prussia]], and not finally settled until the mid 18th century. In any case, the succession was in the title only, as [[Louis XIV of France]] had conquered the actual territory.

<gallery class="center">
Diez - Landgrafenschloss.jpg|[[Diez, Germany|Diez]] Castle
File:Diez Oranienstein.JPG|Oranienstein Castle, Diez
</gallery>

=====Second House of Nassau-Hadamar=====
{{Further|County of Nassau #Rulers}}
[[File:Hadamar - Schloss vom Herzenberg aus.jpg|thumb|center|250px|[[Hadamar]] Castle]]In 1620, the younger line of Nassau-Hadamar was split off from Nassau-Dillenburg, as shown below. John Louis, the first count, was a diplomat, who tried to protect his county from the ravages of the [[Thirty Years War]]. In 1647, for his efforts in bringing about peace between Spain and the Netherlands, King Philip IV of Spain appointed him a knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece. In addition, as a special thanks for his role in establishing the Peace of Westphalia, he was elevated to the rank of prince in 1650 by Emperor Ferdinand III. He did convert to Catholicism, so that Hadamar was Catholic after that.

=====Second House of Nassau-Siegen=====
{{main article|House of Nassau-Siegen|County of Nassau #Rulers}}
In 1606, the younger line of Nassau-Siegen was split off from the House of Nassau-Dillenburg for John VII "the Middle". As Dillenburg eventually was inherited by a younger son of John VI (see below), the line of Nassau-Siegen became the elder line of the Ottonian House of Nassau. After John VII of Nassau-Siegen died in 1628, the land was divided:
* His eldest son, [[John VIII, Count of Nassau-Siegen|John VIII]] "the Younger", had converted to Catholicism and joined the Spanish Army. This caused a rivalry between him and his brother John Maurice below. The result was that Siegen was split. John VIII received the part of the county south of the river [[Sieg River|Sieg]] and the original castle in Siegen (which after 1695 was called the "Upper Castle"). John VIII was the founder of the Catholic line of Nassau-Siegen.

[[File:Verlaufskarte Sieg.png|thumb|center|400px|Sieg River through Nassau]]

* [[John Maurice of Nassau|John Maurice]], who remained Protestant, was a soldier. He received the part of the county north of the Sieg. He was the founder of the Protestant line of Nassau-Siegen and he converted the former Franciscan monastery into a new residence, called the "Lower Castle", which was reconstructed after having burnt down at large parts in 1695. John Maurice spent most of his time away from Siegen, since he was governor of [[Dutch Brazil]] and later of the Prussian province of Cleves, Mark, and Ravensberg. In 1668, he was appointed first field-marshal of the [[Dutch States Army]], and in 1673, he was charged by the ''Stadtholder'' [[William III of England|William III]] to command the forces in [[Friesland]] and [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]], and to defend the eastern frontier of the provinces, again against Van Galen. In 1675, his health compelled him to give up active military service, and he spent his last years in his beloved [[Cleves]], where he died in December 1679. Between 1638 and 1674, his brother [[George Frederick of Nassau-Siegen|George Frederick]] ruled the Protestant part of the country.

[[File:Nason Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen.jpg|thumb|John Maurice of Nassau]]

In 1652, [[John Francis Desideratus of Nassau-Siegen|John Francis Desideratus]] of the Catholic line was elevated to [[Imperial Prince]]. Count [[Henry of Nassau-Siegen (1611–1652)|Henry]] of the Protestant line married [[Mary Magdalene of Limburg-Stirum]], who brought the Lordship of [[Wisch, Gelderland|Wisch]] in the [[County of Zutphen]] into the marriage. In 1652, [[John Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen|John Maurice]] of the Protestant line was also elevated to Imperial Prince.

In 1734, the Protestant line died out with the death of [[Frederick William II, Prince of Nassau-Siegen|Frederick William II]]. Protestant Nassau-Siegen was annexed by [[Christian, Prince of Nassau-Dillenburg|Christian of Nassau-Dillenburg]] and [[William IV, Prince of Orange|William IV of Nassau-Diez]]. When [[William Hyacinth, Prince of Nassau-Siegen|William Hyacinth]], the last ruler of the Catholic line, died in 1743, Nassau-Siegen had died out in the male line, and the territory fell to Prince [[William IV, Prince of Orange|William IV]] of the Orange-Nassau-Dietz line, who thereby reunited all the lands of the [[House of Nassau#ottonian|Ottonian]] line of the House of Nassau.

[[File:SI Oberes Schloss Giersberg.jpg|thumb|[[Siegen]], Upper Castle]]

[[Image:Pałac Gozdzkich - de Nassau.jpg|thumb|Gozdzki – de Nassau Palace in [[Warsaw]] that belonged to wealthy Karolina Gozdzka (1747–1807) and her husband Charles Henry de Nassau-Siegen (1745–1808).<ref>{{cite news |author = |url = http://www.warszawa1939.pl/index.php?r1=kopernika_nassau&r3=0 |title = Pałac Gozdzkich – de Nassau |work = www.warszawa1939.pl |accessdate = 2009-03-23|language=pl}}</ref>]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+ House of Nassau in(zu) Siegen
|-
! Elder (Catholic) Line !! Younger (Protestant) Line !! Dates
|-
| [[John VII, Count of Nassau-Siegen|John VII]] || || 1606–1623
|-
| [[John VIII of Nassau|John VIII]] || || 1623–1638 
|-
| || [[William, Count of Nassau-Siegen|William]]|| 1624–1642 
|-
| || [[John Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen|John Maurice]]|| 1632–1636 
|-
| [[John Francis Desideratus of Nassau-Siegen|John Francis Desideratus]]|| ||1638–1699
|-
| || [[John Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen|John Maurice]]|| 1642–1679 
|-
| ||[[William Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen|William Maurice]]||1679–1691
|-
| ||[[Frederick William Adolf, Prince of Nassau-Siegen|Frederick William Adolf]] ||1691–1722
|-
| [[William Hyacinth, Prince of Nassau-Siegen|William Hyacinth]]|| ||1699–1743
|-
| || [[Frederick William II, Prince of Nassau-Siegen|Frederick William II]]||1722–1734
|-
| ||annexed by Nassau-Dillenburg and Orange-Nassau(-Dietz)|| 1734
|-
| inherited by Orange-Nassau(-Dietz)|| ||1743
|}

==Overview of Nassau coats of arms==
{{main|Armorial of the House of Nassau|nl:Wapen van Nassau#Tak van Otto}}
{{See also|Coat of arms of the Netherlands}}

===Background and origins===
The ancestral coat of arms of the Ottonian line of the house of Nassau is shown below. Their distant cousins of the Walramian line added a red coronet to distinguish them. There is no documentation on how and why these arms came to be. As a symbol of nobility, the lion was always a popular in western culture going all the way back to [[Hercules]]. Using the heraldic insignia of a dominant power was a way, and still is a way, to show loyalty to that power. Not using that insignia is a way to show independence. The Netherlands, as territories bordering on the [[Holy Roman Empire]] with its [[Reichsadler|Roman eagle]] and [[France]] with its [[Fleur-de-lis]], had many examples of this. The lion was so heavily used in the Netherlands for various provinces and families (see [[Leo Belgicus]]) that it became the national arms of the [[Dutch Republic Lion|Dutch Republic]], its successor states [[Coat of arms of the Netherlands|the Netherlands]], [[Coat of arms of Belgium|Belgium]], and [[Coat of arms of Luxembourg|Luxembourg]]. Blue, because of its nearness to purple, which in the northern climes tended to fade (red was the other choice), was also a popular color for those with royal aspirations. The billets could have been anything from blocks of wood to abstractions of the reinforcements holding the shield together. The fact that these were arms were very similar to those of the [[List of counts of Burgundy|counts of Burgundy]] (Franche-Comté) did not seem to cause too much confusion. It also held with one of the basic tenants of heraldry, that arms could not be repeated within a kingdom, but Nassau was considered to be in the Kingdom of Germany, while Franche-Comté was in the kingdom of Burgundy (see also [[Scrope v Grosvenor]]).<ref>D. Endean Ivall, ''Cornish Heraldry and Symbolism'', 1988. {{ISBN|1-85022-043-3}} (Source: Misc. Rolls of Chanc. Nos 311 and 312.)</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Fox-Davies| first = Arthur Charles| author-link = Arthur Charles Fox-Davies| title = A COMPLETE GUIDE TO HERALDRY | publisher = T. C. & E. C. JACK | date = 1909 | location = 16 HENRIETTA STREET, W.C., LONDON AND EDINBURGH| language = English | url = https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/A_Complete_Guide_to_Heraldry | page = 22}}</ref>

Coats of arms of sovereignty also show the territories that the dynasty claims to rule over. The principle ones are depicted below, i.e.

*The [[Principality of Orange]], which gave them their major title and claim to equal status with all the other sovereign rulers of the world, [[Prince of Orange]].

Then, 
*The [[House of Chalon-Arlay|Lordship of Chalons and Arlay]], a large set of lands in the Franche-Comté
*The [[County of Geneva]]

And in Germany,
*[[County of Katzenelnbogen]] a large set of lands near the [[County of Nassau]]
*The County of [[Diez, Germany|Dietz]], also near the [[County of Nassau]]
*[[:nl:Vorstendom Meurs|County of Meurs]], bordering on the northeastern Netherlands

Finally, in the Netherlands, the real base of their wealth and power:
*[[Counts of Vianden|County of Vianden]], in the southern Netherlands along the river Meuse.
*[[Marquis of Veere and Flushing|Marquisate of Vlissingen (Flushing) and KampenVeere]], which sat along the mouth of the Rhine and the trade routes across the North Sea and the world beyond.
*[[County of Buren]], also long the delta of the Rhine, but further inland.

In most of the estates in the more populous provinces of Holland and Zealand, the land itself was secondary to the profit on the commerce that flowed through it.

{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
!align=center colspan=2|Arms of dynastic founders
|-
|align=center width="50%"|[[File:Arms of Nassau.svg|140px]]
|align=center width="50%"|[[File:Wappen - Provinz Nassau.svg|140px]]
|-
|[[House of Nassau#The Ottonian Line|Ottonian (Younger) Line]]
|[[House of Nassau#The Walramian Line (1255–1985)|Walramian (Elder) Line]]
|}
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
!align=center colspan=4|Arms of the dominions of the Princes of Orange
|-
|align=center width="33%"|[[File:Arms of the Principality of Orange.svg|140px]]
|align=center width="33%"|[[File:Blason gueules-bande or.svg|140px]]
|align=center width="33%"|[[File:Arms of the House of Geneva.svg|140px]]
|-
|[[Prince of Orange]]
|[[House of Chalon-Arlay|Lords of Chalons and Arlay]]
|[[County of Geneva|Counts of Geneva]]
|-
|align=center width="33%"|[[File:Katzenelnbogen wapen klein.svg|140px]]
|align=center width="33%"|[[File:Dietz wapen.svg|140px]]
|align=center width="33%"|[[File:Graafschap Vianden.svg|140px]]
|-
|[[County of Katzenelnbogen|Counts of Katzenelnbogen]]
|County of [[Diez, Germany|Dietz]]
|[[Counts of Vianden]]
|-
|-
|align=center width="33%"|[[File:Markizaat Veere wapen.svg|140px]]
|align=center width="33%"|[[File:Buren wapen klein.svg|140px]]
|align=center width="33%"|[[File:Graafschap Meurs wapen.svg|140px]]
|-
|[[Marquis of Veere and Flushing|Marquis of Vlissingen (Flushing) and KampenVeere]]
|[[County of Buren|Count of Buren]]
|[[:nl:Vorstendom Meurs|Count of Meurs]]
|-
|}

===Arms of branches===
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
!align=center colspan=5|Arms of the Grand Dukes of Luxembourg
|-
|align=center width="20%"|[[File:Armoiries empereur Adolphe de Nassau (DL).svg|140px]]
|align=center width="20%"|[[File:CoA Grand Duke of Luxembourg 1890-1898.svg|140px]]
|align=center width="20%"|[[File:CoA Grand Duke of Luxembourg 1898-2000.svg|140px]]
|align=center width="20%"|[[File:CoA Grand Duke of Luxembourg 2000-.svg|140px]]
|align=center width="20%"|[[File:CoA Grand Duke of Luxembourg 2000- (shield for greater arms).svg|140px]]
|-
|Arms of [[Adolf of Germany|Adolf of Nassau]], [[List of German monarchs|King of Germany]]/[[King of the Romans]] (1292–1298)
|Arms of the [[Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg|Grand Duke of Luxembourg]] (1890–1898)<ref name="AdolpheauJean"/>
|Arms of the [[Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg|Grand Duke of Luxembourg]] (1898–2000)<ref name="AdolpheauJean">{{Cite web|language= French| work = Cour de Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg| title = Armoiries |editor= La Cour grand-ducale |location = Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | url = http://www.monarchie.lu/fr/monarchie/symboles/armoiries/index.html| access-date = 24 April 2019}}:{{Blockquote|Armoiries valables du Grand-Duc Adolphe au Grand-Duc Jean
Grandes armes
Parti de trois coupé de trois, qui font seize quartiers, les quatre quartiers du centre formant écu sur le tout, écartelé de Nassau et de Luxembourg :

au I de Sarrebruck qui est d'azur semé de croisettes recroisettées au pied fiché d'argent,
au lion du même couronné d'or, brochant,
au II de Merenberg qui est de sinople au sautoir d'or cantonné de douze croisettes du même,
au III de Weilnau qui est d'or à deux léopards de gueules, lampassés d'azur,
au IV de Moers, qui est d'or à la fasce de sable,
au V de Katzenelnbogen qui est d'or au léopard lionné de gueules, armé et lampassé d'azur,
au VI de Nassau qui est d'azur semé de billettes d'or, au lion même, armé et lampassé de gueules, couronné d'or brochant (formant premier quartier du surtout),
au VII de Luxembourg qui est burelé d'argent et d'azur, au lion de gueules, armé, lampassé et couronné d'or, la queue fourchue et passée en sautoir, brochant (deuxième quartier surtout),
au VIII de Saarwerden, qui est de sable à l'aigle éployée d'argent, armée d'or, lampassée de gueules,
au IX de Dietz qui est de gueules à deux léopards d'or, armés et lampassés d'azur, l'un sur l'autre,
au X de Luxembourg (voir VII), formant le quartier III du surtout,
au XI de Nassau (voir VI), formant le quartier IV du surtout,
au XII de Lahr qui est d'or à la fasce de gueules,
au XIII de Vianden qui est de gueules à la fasce d'argent,
au XIV de Kirchberg, qui est d'argent à trois pals de sable,
au XV de Sayn, qui est de gueules à léopard lionné d'or, armé et lampassé d'azur, la queue fourchue (et passé en sautoir),
au XVI de Mahlberg qui est d'or au lion de sable, armé, lampassé et couronné de gueules.
L'écu est surmonté de six casques, le premier et le sixième couronnés.

Cimiers :

Une tête et col de lévrier contourné d'or, lampassé de gueules, colleté de sable, bordé et bouclé d'argent. Lambrequins d'or et de sable (Moers).
Un vol coupé d'argent et de sable. L. d'argent et de sable (Sarrebruck).
Un lion assis d'or, lampassé et couronné de gueules, entre deux proboscides d'azur semées de billettes d'or (Nassau). Lambrequins d'or et d'azur.
Un vol de sable (pour Luxembourg). Lambrequins d'argent et d'azur.
Un vol de sable chargé d'un disque de gueules à deux léopards d'or. L. d'or et de gueules (Diez).
Un chapeau pyramidal d'or, la pointe recourbée. L. d'or et de gueules (Sayn).
Support : deux lions couronnés d'or, lampassés de gueules, la tête contournée.

L'écu et les supports posés sur quatre rinceaux entrelacés d'or.

Manteau de pourpre, frangé et lié d'or, doublé d'hermines, sommé de la couronne royale.

Théoriquement, les trois ordres : Lion d'Or de Nassau, Couronne de Chêne et Ordre d'Adolphe de Nassau devraient être appendus en bas de l'écu, mais cela ne fut jamais réalisé.

Moyennes armes
L'écartelé de Nassau-Luxembourg (formant surtout dans les grandes armes), sommé d'une couronne royale, supporté par les deux lions, le tout sous le manteau de pourpre couronné de la couronne royale.

Petites Armes
L'écartelé Nassau-Luxembourg sommé de la couronne royale (sans supports ni manteau).}}</ref>

|Arms of the [[Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg|Grand Duke of Luxembourg]] (2000–present).<ref>{{cite web| url = https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:SVG_coats_of_arms_of_Luxembourg| title = Other versions of Grand Ducal Arms | quote = [[Image:Arms of Grand Duke of Luxembourg (House of Bourbon-Parma).svg|75px]]}}</ref><ref name="Armoiries">{{Cite web|language= French| work = Cour de Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg| title = Armoiries |editor= La Cour grand-ducale |location = Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | url = http://www.monarchie.lu/fr/monarchie/symboles/armoiries/index.html| access-date = 24 April 2019}}:{{Blockquote|Armoiries fixées par S.A.R. le Grand-Duc Henri
Petites armoiries
Ecartelé, aux I et IV de Luxembourg qui est un burelé d'argent et d'azur, au lion de gueules, la queue fourchue et passée en sautoir, armé, lampassé et couronné d'or, aux II et III de Nassau qui est d'azur semé de billettes d'or, au lion couronné d'or, armé et lampassé de gueules.

L'écu est timbré d'une couronne royale.

Armoiries moyennes
Les petites armoiries augmentées de supports, à dextre un lion couronné d'or, la tête contournée, la queue fourchue et passée en sautoir, armé et lampassé de gueules, à senestre un lion couronné d'or, la tête contournée, armé et lampassé de gueules.

Grandes armoiries
Ecartelé, aux I et IV de Luxembourg qui est burelé d'argent et d'azur, au lion de gueules, la queue fourchue et passée en sautoir, armé, lampassé et couronné d'or, aux II et III Nassau qui est d'azur semé de billettes d'or, au lion couronné du même, armé et lampassé de gueules, sur le tout en cœur de Bourbon de Parme qui est d'azur à trois (deux, une) fleurs de lys d'or à la bordure de gueules chargée de huit coquilles d'argent posées en orle.

L'écu est timbré d'une couronne royale et entouré du ruban et de la croix de l'Ordre de la Couronne de Chêne.

Les supports sont à dextre un lion couronné d'or, la tête contournée, la queue fourchue passée en sautoir, armé et lampassé de gueules, à senestre un lion couronné d'or, la tête contournée, armé et lampassé de gueules, chaque lion tenant un drapeau luxembourgeois frangé d'or.

Le tout est posé sur un manteau de pourpre, double d'hermine, bordé, frangé et lié d'or et sommé d'une couronne royale, les drapeaux dépassant le manteau.}}</ref>

|Personal Arms of the [[Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg|Grand Duke of Luxembourg]] (2000–present).<ref>{{cite web| url = https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:SVG_coats_of_arms_of_Luxembourg| title = Other versions of Grand Ducal Arms | quote = [[Image:Arms of Grand Duke of Luxembourg (House of Bourbon-Parma).svg|75px]]}}</ref><ref name="Armoiries"/>

|}

{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
!align=center colspan=5|Arms of the Princes of Orange
|-
|align=center width="20%"|[[File:Nassau-Chalons wapen.svg|140px]]
|align=center width="20%"|[[File:Oranje-Nassau wapen voor 1582.svg|140px]]
|align=center width="20%"|[[File:Oranje-Nassau wapen na 1582.svg|140px]]
|align=center width="20%"|[[File:Arms of William Henry, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau.svg|140px]]
|align=center width="20%"|[[File:Royal Arms of England (1694-1702).svg|140px]]
|-
|Arms of [[René of Chalon|René of Chalon and Nassau]] as [[Prince of Orange]], 1530–1544<ref>{{cite book|language=en|title=Armorial general|first=Johannes Baptist|last =Rietstap|publisher=Genealogical Publishing Co.|year=2003|volume= 2|page=297|isbn=0-8063-4811-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KGwv4BDnlaQC&q=orange|accessdate = 26 May 2015}}:{{Blockquote|Arms of Rene of Chalons:''Ecartelé: I et IV [[House of Chalon-Arlay|de Chalon-Orange]]; II et III contre-écartelé d'hermine et d'argent au lion de gueules armé et lampassé d'azur; sur-le-tout écartelé de Nassau et [[Vianden]].''}}</ref> 
|Arms of the [[Prince of Orange]] 1544–1582, 1584–1618<ref name="Rietstap"/><ref name="Nassau-Vianden">{{Cite book|author = Herald of Nassau-Vianden |title = Wapenboek Nassau-Vianden |year = 1485–1495|location = [[:en:Duchy of Brabant|Duchy of Brabant]], [[:en:Breda|Breda]]?|language = Dutch |url = https://www.kb.nl/themas/middeleeuwse-handschriften/wapenboek-nassau-vianden-ca-1490 }}</ref>
|Arms of the [[Prince of Orange]], 1582–1584, 1625–1702<ref name="Pinches 1974 191–192">{{citation|last=Pinches|first=John Harvey|author2=Pinches, Rosemary|title=The Royal Heraldry of England |series=Heraldry Today |year=1974|publisher=Hollen Street Press |location=Slough, Buckinghamshire |isbn=0-900455-25-X|pages=191–192}}</ref><ref name="Rietstap">{{cite book|language=en|title=Armorial general|first=Johannes Baptist|last =Rietstap|publisher=Genealogical Publishing Co.|year=2003|volume= 2|page=297|isbn=0-8063-4811-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KGwv4BDnlaQC&q=orange|accessdate = 26 May 2015}}:{{Blockquote|Arms of William the Silent: Ecartelé: au 1. d'azur, semé de billettes d'or au lion d'or, armé et lampassé de gueules, brochant sur le tout (Maison de Nassau); II, d'or, au léopard lionné de gueules, arméc ouronné et lampassé d'azur (Katzenelnbogen); III, de gueules à la fasce d'argent (Vianden); IV, de gueules à deux lions passant l'un sur l'autre; sur-le-tout écartelé, aux I et IV de gueules, à la bande d'or (Chalon), et aux II et III d'or, au cor de chasse d'azur, virolé et lié de gueules (Orange); sur-le-tout-du-tout de cinq points d'or équipolés à quatre d'azur (Genève); un écusson de sable à la fasce d'argent brochant en chef (Marquis de Flessingue et Veere); un écusson de gueules à la fasce bretessée et contre-bretessée d'argent brochant en pointe (Buren). Trois cq. cour. C.:1. un demi-vol cont., coupé d'or sur gu. (Chalon); 2. une ramure de cerf d'or (Orange); 3. un demi-vol de sa., ch. d'un bisque aux armes de Dietz. Supporters: deus lions d'or, arm. et lampasse de gules. D.: JE MAINTIENDRAI}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|language= English |first1= Herbert H. |last1= Rowen |title= The princes of Orange: the stadholders in the Dutch Republic |edition= 2nd |publisher= [[Cambridge University Press]] |location= Baltimore |year= 1988 |isbn= 978-0-8063-4811-7 |lccn= 65021472 |pages= 29 }}: {{Blockquote | He used these arms until 1582 when he purchased the marquisate of Veere and Vlissingen. It had been the property of Philip II since 1567, but had fallen into arrears to the province. In 1580 the Court of Holland ordered it sold. William bought it as it gave him two more votes in the States of Zeeland. He owned the government of the two towns, and so could appoint their magistrates. He already had one as First Noble for Philip William, who had inherited Maartensdijk. This made William the predominant member of the States of Zeeland. It was a smaller version of the countship of Zeeland (& Holland) promised to William, and was a potent political base for his descendants. William then added the shield of Veere and Buren to his arms. }}</ref>
|Alternate arms of the [[Prince of Orange]]<ref name="Pinches 1974 191–192"/><ref name="en">see [[:en:Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange#Death|Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, death procession]]</ref>
|Arms of [[William III of England|William III]] as [[King of England]], [[King of Scotland|Scotland]] and [[King of Ireland|Ireland]], 1688–1702<ref name="Little, Brown & Co">{{cite book|last1=Maclagan|first1=Michael |last2=Louda|first2=Jiří|title=Line of Succession: Heraldry of the Royal Families of Europe|year=1999|publisher=Little, Brown & Co|location=London|isbn=1-85605-469-1|pages=29–30}}</ref> 
|}

{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
!align=center colspan=4|Arms of the [[King of the Netherlands|Kings of the Netherlands]]
|-
|align=center width="25%"|[[File:Royal Arms of the Netherlands (1815-1907).svg|140px]]
|align=center width="25%"|[[File:Royal Arms of the Netherlands.svg|140px]]
|align=center width="25%"|[[File:Arms of the children of Beatrix of the Netherlands.svg|140px]]
|align=center width="25%"|[[File:Arms of the children of Wilhelm-Alexander of the Netherlands.svg|140px]]
|-
|[[Coat of arms of the Netherlands|Arms]] of the [[King of the Netherlands]], 1815–1907<ref>{{cite book|language=en|title=Armorial general|first=Johannes Baptist|last =Rietstap|publisher=Genealogical Publishing Co.|year=2003|volume= 2|page=297|isbn=0-8063-4811-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KGwv4BDnlaQC&q=orange|accessdate = 26 May 2015}}:{{Blockquote|Arms of the Kings/Kingdom of the Netherlands: ''D'azur, semé de billettes, au lion coiffé d'une couronne fermée, le tout d'or, armé et lampassé de gueules, tenant dans sa patte dextre un faisceau de sept flèches d'argent, pointées et empennées d'or, et dans sa patte sénestre, une épée d'argent, garnie d'or, brochant sur le tout|}}</ref>
|[[Coat of arms of the Netherlands|Arms]] of the [[King of the Netherlands|Queens and King of the Netherlands]], 1907–present<ref>{{Cite web|language=Dutch| title = Wapens van leden van het Koninklijk Huis| work = Coats of Arms of the Dutch Royal Family, Website of the Dutch Monarchy, the Hague |editor= Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst (RVD) |location = the Hague, the Netherlands | url = http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/encyclopedie/monarchie/wapens/wapens-van-leden-van-het-koninklijk-huis/| access-date = 30 April 2012|quote = Het wapen van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden (Rijkswapen) en dat van de Koningen der Nederlanden (Koninklijk wapen) is vanaf de oprichting van het Koninkrijk in 1815 identiek. Het Wapen werd in 1907 gewijzigd en laatstelijk vastgesteld bij Koninklijk Besluit van 23 april 1980, nr. 3 (stb. 206) bij de troonsaanvaarding van Koningin Beatrix. De beschrijving van het wapenschild in het eerste artikel is dwingend voorgeschreven, de in het tweede en derde artikel beschreven uitwendige versierselen zijn facultatief. In de praktijk wordt de basisuitvoering van het wapen wel het Klein Rijkswapen genoemd. Het Koninklijk Wapen wordt sinds 1907 gekenmerkt door een gouden klimmende leeuw met gravenkroon. De blauwe achtergrond (het veld) is bezaaid met verticale gouden blokjes. De term bezaaid geeft in de heraldiek aan dat het aantal niet vaststaat, waardoor er ook een aantal niet compleet zijn afgebeeld. Het wapenschild wordt gehouden door twee leeuwen die in profiel zijn afgebeeld. Op het wapenschild is een Koningskroon geplaatst. Op een lint dat onder het wapenschild bevestigd is, staat de spreuk 'Je Maintiendrai'. Bij Koninklijk Besluit van 10 juli 1907 (Stb. 181) werd het Koninklijk Wapen, tevens Rijkswapen, aangepast. De leeuw in het schild en de schildhoudende leeuwen droegen vóór die tijd alle drie de Koninklijke kroon, maar raakten deze kwijt nu de toegevoegde purperen hermelijn gevoerde mantel, gedekt door een purperen baldakijn, een Koningskroon ging dragen. De schildhouders waren vóór 1907 bovendien aanziend in plaats van en profiel.}}</ref>
|[[Coat of arms of the Netherlands|Arms]] of the [[Prince of Orange]]/Crown Prince of the Netherlands, 1980–2013<ref>
{{Cite web|language=Dutch| title = Wapens van leden van het Koninklijk Huis| work = Coats of Arms of the Dutch Royal Family, Website of the Dutch Monarchy, the Hague | date = 8 January 2015|editor= Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst (RVD) |location = the Hague, the Netherlands | url =https://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/onderwerpen/wapens/wapens-van-leden-van-het-koninklijk-huis| access-date = 11 April 2019|quote = In de wapens van de leden van het Koninklijk Huis zijn steeds in het eerste en vierde kwartier het Rijkswapen en in het tweede en derde kwartier de jachthoorn van het Huis van Oranje opgenomen en in het hartschild is het eigen oorspronkelijke familiewapen geplaatst, ... Het wapen van Prins Constantijn en zijn broers bevat in het eerste en vierde kwartier het Rijkswapen en in het tweede en derde kwartier de jachthoorn van het Huis Oranje. In het hartschild staat het familiewapen Van Amsberg, een gekanteelde witte burcht. Koning Willem-Alexander voerde dit wapen tot zijn troonsbestijging.}}</ref><ref>{{Citation
 | last1 = Schimmelpenninck van der Oije
 | first1 = Coen O.A.
 | last2 = Wolleswinkel
 | first2 = Egbert
 | last3 = van den Borne
 | first3 = Jos
 | last4 = Gietman
 | first4 = Conrad
 | title = Wapenregister van de Nederlandse adel Hoge Raad van Adel 1814 – 2014
 | publisher = Uitgave: WBooks
 | year = 2014
 | page = 140
 | language = Dutch}}</ref>
|[[Coat of arms of the Netherlands|Arms]] of the [[Prince of Orange|Princess of Orange]]/Crown Princess of the Netherlands, 2013–present<ref>
{{Cite web|language=Dutch| title = Wapens van leden van het Koninklijk Huis| work = Coats of Arms of the Dutch Royal Family, Website of the Dutch Monarchy, the Hague | date = 8 January 2015|editor= Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst (RVD) |location = the Hague, the Netherlands | url =https://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/onderwerpen/wapens/wapens-van-leden-van-het-koninklijk-huis| access-date = 11 April 2019|quote = Het wapen van Koningin Máxima bevat in het eerste en vierde kwartier het Rijkswapen en in het tweede en derde kwartier de jachthoorn van het Huis Oranje. In het hartschild staat het familiewapen Zorreguieta, een burcht met deur en drie kantelen. Als getrouwde vrouw voert zij het wapen in ovale schildvorm...Het wapen van de Prinses van Oranje en haar zusjes bevat in het eerste en vierde kwartier het Rijkswapen en in het tweede en derde kwartier de jachthoorn van het Huis Oranje. In het hartschild staat het familiewapen Zorreguieta, een burcht met deur en drie kantelen}}</ref><ref>{{Citation
 | last1 = Schimmelpenninck van der Oije
 | first1 = Coen O.A.
 | last2 = Wolleswinkel
 | first2 = Egbert
 | last3 = van den Borne
 | first3 = Jos
 | last4 = Gietman
 | first4 = Conrad
 | title = Wapenregister van de Nederlandse adel Hoge Raad van Adel 1814 – 2014
 | publisher = Uitgave: WBooks
 | year = 2014
 | language = Dutch}}</ref>

|}

==Family tree==
{{Family tree of the House of Nassau}}

===[[House of Orange-Nassau|House of Orange and Nassau]]===
{{Family tree of the House of Orange-Nassau}}

====Illegitimate lines====
=====Family tree Nassau-den Lek=====
{{Family tree of the House of Nassau-den Lek}}

=====Family Tree Nassau-Zuylestein=====
{{Family tree of the House of Nassau-Zuylestein}}

=====Family Tree Nassau-Grimhuizen=====
{{Family tree of the House of Nassau-Grimhuizen}}

===House of Nassau-Dillenburg===
{{Family tree of the House of Nassau-Dillenburg}}

===[[House of Nassau-Weilburg]]===
{{transcluded section|part=yes|House of Nassau-Weilburg}}
{{#section-h::House of Nassau-Weilburg|Family tree}}

===The Grand-Ducal Family of Luxembourg===
{{Family tree of the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg}}

==See also==
*[[Kings of Germany family tree]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081023205402/http://www.genealogie-mittelalter.de/nassau/familie_der_grafen_von_nassau.html Genealogy of the Middle Ages – House of Nassau]
* [http://www.nassau-info.de Nassau-info.de]
* [http://eurulers.altervista.org/nassau.html Titles of Counts, Princes, and Dukes of Nassau]
* {{cite web |last=Marek |first=Miroslav |url=http://genealogy.euweb.cz/nassau/index.html |title= Nassau Genealogies |publisher= Genealogy.EU}}{{Self-published source|date=August 2012}}{{Better source needed|date=August 2012}}
* Hay, Mark Edward, [https://www.academia.edu/25907933/The_House_of_Nassau_between_France_and_Independence_1795_1814_Lesser_Powers_Strategies_of_Conflict_Resolution_Dynastic_Networks 'The House of Nassau between France and Independence, 1795–1814: Lesser Powers, Strategies of Conflict Resolution, Dynastic Networks'], ''The International History Review'', 38/3 (2016), 482–504

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120328113604/http://www.hauptstaatsarchiv.hessen.de/irj/HHStAW_Internet?cid=d0ecd10ef00eb80549c2fc2a4e16253d Archives of the House of Nassau]

{{Royal houses of Germany}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nassau, House of}}
[[Category:House of Nassau| ]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic families]]
[[Category:Military families of Germany|Nassau]]
[[Category:Monarchy of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Modern history of Luxembourg]]
[[Category:Lists of office-holders]]
[[Category:Lists of monarchs]]
[[Category:1090s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire]]
[[Category:1093 establishments in Europe]]