See main article: article and Style of the Dutch sovereign.
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King of the Netherlands Koning der Nederlanden | 1815–present -The monarch of the Netherlands is constitutionally always considered "king" to ensure the powers are continuous. | Royal Arms since 1907 | |||||||
The original main title was taken from the Principality of Orange on the Rhone River outside Avignon and the papal lands of the Comtat Venaissin. The principality was 108 sq mi (280 km2). However, the prince was a sovereign monarch, which put him on the same plane as the kings and monarchs of Europe and the world. This is much the same situation as Monaco today.
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Prince of Orange Prince d'Orange | 793?/885 - 1713 titular 1713-present - Founded by First House of Orange- 885 - Imperial immediacy 1163 as a principality in the Holy Roman Empire - Completely sovereign as Holy Roman Empire retreated from the Kingdom of Burgundy approx. 1254 - Ceded to France by the Treaty of Utrecht 1713 | Principality of Orange | |||||||
Lord of Aumelas Seigneur de Aumelas | Map of Aumelas |
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Grand Duke of Luxembourg Groussherzog vu Lëtzebuerg Grand-duc de Luxembourg | 1815 - 1890 -The Grand Duchy was setup as an associated part of the German Confederation in 1815, but ruled by the King of the Netherlands. -In the founding of the Belgian state in 1830-1831 the status of Luxembourg was at issue. It was repartitioned with the predominantly Germanic/Luxembourgish part remaining as the independent Grand Duchy. -When William III of the Netherlands died in 1890 without a male heir, the next heir by the pact of the Nassau Family was Adolph of Nassau-Weilburg, the former Duke of Nassau, who was installed as Grand Duke. | Grand Ducal Arms | Partitions of Luxembourg | ||||||
Duke of Limburg Hertog van Limburg | 1839 - 1867 | Ducal Arms | The Exchange of 1839. The removal of Western Luxembourg (4) from the German customs union by Belgium (3) resulted in compensation by the Netherlands (1) by the creation of the Duchy of Limburg (2) (this territory was controlled by Belgium until 1839). |
Initially, the family was known as “of Nassau” after their oldest possession the County of Nassau and their part of the subdivisionof the lands, the Countship of Nassau-Dillenburg. This was divided and subdivided amongst the descendants of John the Elder. It generally comprised the northern part of the entire county of Nassau, north of the Lahn River. It was reunited in the 18th century under the line of Nassau-Dietz.
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Princely County of Nassau (Ancestral Estate of the House of Nassau, Imperial Immediate Estate) Gefürstete Grafschaft Nassau specifically Count of Nassau in Dillenburg, Siegen, Dietz, Hadamar, Beilstein, which were all subdivisions of Nassau. | 915 - 1866 - Founded and Acquired by the Lords of Laurenburg 915 – 1125 - Imperial immediacy 1093, on the death of the last Duke of Franconia - Raised to Princely County 1664 - Lost in the Austrian-Prussian War, 1866 | Count of Nassau | |||||||
These subdivisions (baronies and lordships) of Nassau were split into semi-autonomous countships and principalities for the younger members of the House of Nassau. The title for these was Count of Nassau in xyz.
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Count of Nassau in Dillenburg Barony of Dillenburg Graf von Nassau in Dillenburg, und Herr und Baron von Dillenburg | The Counts of Nassau in Dillenburg to 1739 Civic Arms | Dillenburg in Nassau 1547 | |||||||
County of Diez or Dietz Grafschaft Diez or Dietz | Count of Diez | ||||||||
Count of Nassau in Siegen Barony of Siegen Graf von Nassau in Siegen, und Herr und Baron von Siegen | The Counts of Nassau in Siegen to 1679 Counts of Nassau in Siegen to 1743 Civic Arms | The baronies and lordships of Nassau by Blaeu in 1645 | |||||||
Count of Nassau in Beilstein Barony of Beilstein Herr und Baron von Beilstein | Lord and Baron of Beilstein | The baronies and lordships of Nassau by Blaeu in 1645 | |||||||
Count of Nassau in Hadamar Barony of Hadamar Herr und Baron von Hadamar | Lord and Baron of Hadamar | The baronies and lordships of Nassau by Blaeu in 1645 | |||||||
Count of Nassau in Schaumburg County of Holzappel, Lordship of Schaumburg Grafschaft Holzappel, Heerschaft von Schaumburg (Schloss Schaumburg) | Lord and Baron of Schaumburg | ||||||||
Additionally, the House of Nassau acquired other lands in and around their ancestral estates:
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County of Katzenelnbogen (claimed) Grafschaft Katzenelnbogen | Count of Katzenellenbogen | ||||||||
County of Lingen Grafschaft Lingen | Count of Lingen | ||||||||
County of Moers Graafschap Meurs | - | Count of Meurs | |||||||
County of Spiegelberg Grafschap van Spiegelberg | Count of Spiegelberg | ||||||||
Once the House of Nassau acceded to the royal throne, the Queens married with these representatives of other royal houses:
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Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | Queen Wilhelmina m. Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Queen Juliana | Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin within the German Empire | |||||||
Principality of Lippe-Beisterfeld | Queen Juliana m. Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld Queen Beatrix | Principality of Lippe within the German Empire | |||||||
Amsberg | Queen Beatrix m. Claus von Amsberg King Willem-Alexander | N/A | N/A | ||||||
Most of the estates of the family were in the Netherlands in the more populous provinces of northern Brabant, southern Holland, and Zealand, around the delta of the Rhine/Scheldt/Maas rivers, the trading center made by them, and its entrance to the sea. The land itself was secondary to the profit on the commerce that flowed through it and the political influence that accrued with them (see Western Netherlands Commercial Center which developed into Amsterdam Trading Center, which later developed into the Dutch Randstad.).
The family properties in the Netherlands centered around the Barony of Breda. The barony sat on the delta of the Rhine in northwestern Brabant. Before the revolt the main residence of the family outside the Nassau Palace in Brussels was the castle and fortress of Breda. It was as also relatively close to their important function of Viscount of Antwerp. This fortress withstood several sieges during the 80 years war if the Dutch Revolt, but is most famous for being captured in 1624 by the Spanish as immortalized by Velazquez.
The county of Vianden sat high above a tributary of the Moselle that flowed into the trade routes of the Rhine into western Germany and the Netherlands. In the 12th to 15th centuries the counts of Vianden were the mightiest lords of the area between the rivers Rhine, Mosel and Maas. Their territory was in modern Vianden canton, Luxemburg and Bitburg-Prüm, Germany.
William the Silent married as his first wife Anna van Egmont heiress of Maximiliaan van Egmond, Count of Buren. This also included the counties of Leerdam and Lingen. While these lands devolved to Anna's son Philip William, as he died without heirs, they devolved to the prince of Orange. The hier/eldest son of the prince of Orange was titled “Count of Buren”. It remains one of the subsidiary titles of the Dutch Monarch.
These counties, baronies and lordships are in the official titulature of the monarch of the Netherlands:
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Barony of Breda Baronie van Breda in Brabant/Staats-Brabant | Van Polanen family | 1403 – now | The barony of Breda in northern Brabant in 1645. | ||||||||
Lord of Polanen | Van Polanen family | 1403 – now | |||||||||
County of Buren Graafschap Buren in Gelderland | Egmond-Buren | 1395 - now - Inherited by the Egmonds. - 1498 made a county. - Inherited by Nassau Family when William the Silent married Anna van Egmont in 1551 | 200px|County of Buren The county of Buren in 1665 south of the Lek branch of the Rhine. | ||||||||
The County of Leerdam Graafschap van Leerdamin Utrecht | Egmond-Buren | c.1279 - now - formed a part of the Vijfheerenlanden domain, -raised County in 1498. - in 1551, inherited by Nassau Family with Acquoy when William the Silent married Anna van Egmont in 1551. | Arms of Leerdam with the arms of the Count of Leerdam on the lefthand lion. | Leerdam in the 16th century | |||||||
The County of Culemborg Graafschap van Culemborgin Gelderland | awarded by States of Gelderland | 1748 - 1795 - Given to William IV by the States of Gelderland - Arms of Culemborg Family | Arms of Counts of Culemborg | County of Culemborg in the 17th century Municipality today | |||||||
Barony and city of IJsselstein Baronie IJsselstein in Utrecht | Egmond-Buren | c.1279 - now - created for the Van Amstel family. - in 1363 inherited by the Inherited by Egmonds. - Inherited by Nassau Family when William the Silent married Anna van Egmont in 1551. | 1649 map of IJsselstein in Willem and Joan Blaeu's "Toonneel der Steden" | ||||||||
Lordship and barony of Cranendonck Heerschap en baronie van Cranendonck in Brabant/Staats-Brabant | Egmond-Buren | ||||||||||
Lordship and barony of Einhoven Heerschap en baronie van Eindhoven in Brabant/Staats-Brabant | Egmond-Buren | ||||||||||
Lordship and barony of Acquoy Heerschap en baronie van Acquoy in Gelderland | Egmond-Buren | Acquoy within West Betuwe | |||||||||
Lordship and barony of Liesveld Heerschap en baronie van Baronie Liesveld in Holland | Bought | ||||||||||
Lordship and city of St Martinsdijk Heerschap van Sint Maartinsdijk in Zeeland | Egmond-Buren | c.1xxx - now - created for the . - Inherited by Philip William from the Egmonds s part of the county of Buren and willed to his brothers. As the only noble left in Zealand, it gave him the position of First Noble in the Zeeland Estates (nl) and the vote for the nobility in the Estates of Zealand (Zealand gov't). in Zeeland | Map of St. Maartensdijk | ||||||||
Marquisate of Veere and Vlissingen markiezaat van Vlissingen en Kampenveere in Zeeland | Bought | Marquis of Veere and Flushing Veere & Flushing | 1649 map of Flushing 1681 map of Walcheren | ||||||||
Barony of Cuijk Heerschap en baronie van de stad Grave en het Land van Cuijk. in Brabant/Staats-Brabant | Granted | Lord of Cuijk Lord of Grave |
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Lordship of Baarn, Soest en Ter Eem Hoge Heerschap van Baarn, Soest en Ter Eem in Utrecht | Bought | Baarn
| Baarn Soest | ||||||||
Lordship of Bredevoort Heerschap van Bredevoort in Gelderland | Conquered | Bredevoort | |||||||||
Lordship of Hooge en Lage Zwaluwe Heerschap van Hooge en Lage Zwaluwe in Brabant/Staats-Brabant | Granted by Charles V | Hooge en Lage Zwaluwe | |||||||||
Lordship of Het Loo Heerschap van Het Loo in Gelderland | Bought | Hooge en Lage Het Loo with Het Loo Palace | |||||||||
Lordship of Zevenbergen and Turnhout Heer van Zevenbergen en Turnhout in Brabant/Staats-Brabant | Granted by Philip IV | Turnhout Zevenbergen | Turnhout Zevenbergen | ||||||||
Lordship of Willemstad Heer van Willemstad in Brabant/Staats-Brabant | Granted by the States | Willemstad by Blaeu Willemstad | |||||||||
Free Lordship of Ameland Erf- en vrijheer van Ameland in Friesland | Bought | Ameland | |||||||||
Lordship of Borculo & Lichtenvoorde Heer van Borculo en Lichtenvoorde in Friesland. | Bought | Van Bronkhorst Lordship of Borculo Lordship of Lichtenvoorde | Lordship of Borculo in 1741 Lordship of Lichtenvoorde in 1741 The County of Zutphen in the Duchy of Gelderland showing all the Orange possessions: Borculo, Lichtenvoorde, Breedevoort and Wisch | ||||||||
Awarded | Lordship of Montfort | Lordship of Montfort Lordship of Montfort in 1623 |
These lordships are not in the official titulature of the monarch of the Netherlands, but are cited on the board in the picture.
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Lordship & Bannership of Wisch Heerlijkheid & Bannerij van Wisch in Gelderland | lords of Wisch via House of Limburg-Stirum through House of Nassau-Siegen (1646) | House of Limburg-Stirum | Lordship of Wisch Nassau-Siegen showing Wisch | The lordship of Wisch in 1741 | |||||||
Lordship of Dinteloord & Prinsenland Heerlijkheid van Dinteloord en Prinsenland in Brabant/Staats-Brabant | Lordship of Prinsenland 2 versions of the arms | The lordship of Prinsenland in the upper Left | |||||||||
Lordship of Colijnsplaat Heerlijkheid van Colijnsplaat in Zeeland | The lordship of Colijnsplaat Colijnsplaat in the town of Noord-Beveland | ||||||||||
Lordship of Scherpenisse Heerlijkheid van Scherpenisse in Zeeland | Egmond-Buren | Lordship of Scherpenisse Town of Scherpenisse | Scherpenisse in the municipality of Tholen |
While not as substantial as their interests in the northern Netherlands, the estates in the southern Netherlands were in the more populous provinces, in this case Brabant (most importantly Antwerp) around the river systems that ultimately flowed to the sea through the commercial entrepot of Antwerp. Again, the land itself was secondary to the profit on the commerce that flowed through it and the political influence that accrued with them (see Southern Netherlands Commercial Center which developed into Antwerp Trading Center, which later developed into the Belgian Flemish Diamond.).
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Burgrave (Viscount) of Antwerp Burgraaf van Antwerpen in Brabant | lords of Heinsberg | ||||||||||
Lordship and barony of Diest Heerschap en baronie van Diest in Brabant | lords of Heinsberg | ||||||||||
Lordship and of Zichem Heerschap van Zichem in Brabant | lords of Heinsberg | Zichem in Flemish Brabant | |||||||||
Lordship and barony of Warneton Heerschap en baronie van Waasten in County of Hainaut (now Hainaut Province) | House of Luxembourg |
These lordships are not mentioned in the titulature, but are shown on the board of Lordships:
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Lordship and barony of Meerhout Heerschap en baronie van Meerhout in Brabant | |||||||||||
Lordship and barony of Vorst Heerschap en baronie van Vorst in Brabant | which are the arms of the Lords of Diest above |
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County of Vianden Graafschap Vianden in Luxembourg | Lords of Sponheim |
See main article: article.
Franche-Comté was controlled by the King of Spain, so the princes of Orange lost control of the lands that they had inherited from the previous princes of Orange, the House of Chalon-Arlay, the Viscountship of Besançon and lordships of Chalons itself, Arlay, Nozeroy. By the time the King of France had conquered the county of Burgundy, the prince of Orange (William III) was at odds with the King, Louis XIV.
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Baron of Arlay Baron de Arlay | House of Chalon-Arlay | Barons of Arlay & Barons of Chalons-Arlay (after 1256) | Map of County of Burgundy showing Arlay, 1716 | ||||||||
Baron of Nozeroy Baron de Nozeroy | House of Chalon-Arlay | Barons of Nozeroy | County of Burgundy at the end of the XVth Century showing Nozeroy | ||||||||
Baron of Orpierre Baron de Orpierre | House of Chalon-Arlay | Barons of Orpierre | Location of Orpierre | ||||||||
Viscount of Besançon Vicomté de Besançon | House of Chalon-Arlay | Viscounts of Besançon | County of Burgundy at the end of the XVth Century showing Nozeroy |
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Chalon Comte de Chalon Did these go to the Nassaus? | Counts of Chalons | ||||||||||
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Count of Geneva (titular) Comté de Genève | County of Geneva | ||||||||
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Maps of the Lands of the House of Orange".
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