Matilda of Guelders

Noble seals from the twelfth century; Matilda’s is on the left, bottom row. Matilda of Guelders and Zutphen (died 28 October 1247, or later), was a countess from the House of Wassenberg and by marriage countess of Nassau. She is a direct ancestor of both the Kings of the Netherlands and the Grand Dukes of Luxembourg.

Life Matilda was the youngest daughter of Count Otto I of Guelders and Zutphen and Richardis of Bavaria, daughter of Otto I Wittelsbach, Duke of Bavaria and Agnes of Loon.

Matilda is among others mentioned in the following charters: A charter dated 11 December 1215, in which ‘Heinricus et Roppertus comites de Nassovva’ with the consent of ‘uxorum nostrarum Methildis et Gertrudis’ bought property from Mainz Cathedral. A charter dated 9 June 1239, in which ‘Heinricus … comes de Nassowe … collateralis nostra … Methildis’ confirmed the dependence of ‘ecclesie in Nepphe’ to Arnstein Abbey. A charter dated 20 July 1245, in which ‘Henricus comes de Nassowe et Methildis comitissa uxor eiusdem, Walramus primogenitus, ceterique liberi eorundem’ donated tolls from a bridge to Altenberg Abbey. A charter dated 1247, in which ‘Heinricus comes de Nassowe et Mectildis comitissa’ donated ‘ecclesiam in Inferi[ori] Diffenbach’ to Arnstein Abbey, witnessed by ‘filiorum nostrorum Walerami, Ottonis, Henrici, Gerardi, Johannis’.

The necrology of Arnstein Abbey records the death of ‘Mecktildis comitisse de Nassauw sororis nostre’ on 28 October. She is last mentioned in a charter from 1247, therefore she died on 28 October in 1247 or a later year.

Marriage and children Matilda married before 11 December 1215 to Count Henry II "the Rich" of Nassau ( Rupert (died 19 September before 1247), was a knight of the Teutonic Order. was a clergyman. John (died Deventer, 13 July 1309), was Bishop-Elect of Utrecht 1267–1290. Catharine (died 27 April 1324), became Abbess of Altenberg Abbey near Wetzlar in 1249. Jutta (died 1313), married around 1260 to John I, Lord of Cuijk (died 13 July 1308). ? Irmgard (died 1 August 1297), was Abbess of Val-Benoît.