Adolf of Nassau-Siegen

Count Adolf of Nassau-Siegen (8 August 1586 – 7 November 1608), , official titles: Graf zu Nassau, Katzenelnbogen, Vianden und Diez, Herr zu Beilstein, was a count from the House of Nassau-Siegen, a cadet branch of the Ottonian Line of the House of Nassau. He served as an officer in the Dutch States Army. In the propaganda for the House of Orange, he is regarded as one of the twelve heroes of the House of Nassau who gave their lives in the Eighty Years' War for the freedom of the Dutch people.

Biography Adolf was born at Dillenburg Castle on 8 August 1586 as the third son of Count John VII the Middle of Nassau-Siegen and his first wife, Countess Magdalene of Waldeck-Wildungen. He was baptised on Sunday 21 AugustJul..

Adolf studied in Geneva in 1601, and then in Basel and in France. He entered the Dutch States Army in 1604 and took part in the Siege of Ostend (1604) and the Siege of Sluis (1604). On 3 April 1606 he was appointed ritmeester over a company of 86 horsemen. He was buried on 23 November 1608 in the Saint Stephen's Church in Nijmegen.

In 1901, on the initiative of municipal archivist H.D.J. van Schevichaven, a plaque measuring 103 by 64 cm was affixed to the northern transept of St. Stephen's Church in Nijmegen. The text on this plaque reads (translated into English):

"IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 1608 WAS BURIED HERE ADOLF COUNT OF NASSAU SIEGEN THIRD SON OF JOHN COUNT OF NASSAU SIEGEN AND OF MAGDALENE OF WALDECK FALLEN AT THE AGE OF 22 IN A BATTLE NEAR XANTEN HE WAS ONE OF THE TWELVE HEROES FROM THE HOUSE OF NASSAU WHO IN THE EIGHTY YEARS' WAR GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE DUTCH PEOPLE"

Ancestors