Countess Charlotte Brabantina of Nassau

Charlotte Brabantina ( born September 17, 1580 Antwerp, † in August 1631 at Château -Renard ) was a daughter of Prince William I of Orange -Nassau, the Schweiger, (* 1559, † 1584) and his third wife, Charlotte de Bourbon - Montpensier (* 1546, † 1582).

Life

As a 13 -year-old Charlotte Brabantina went along with her ​​stepmother Louise de Coligny and her sister Elizabeth to Paris, so that the two princesses were married to powerful ally in France. Charlotte's sister Elizabeth married in 1595 Henri de La Tour d' Auvergne, duc de Bouillon. So Charlotte Brabantina met the cousin of her brother, Claude de La Trémoille, duc de Thouars (1566-1604), and married this March 11, 1598.

Charlotte Brabantinas relations with the House of Orange played a significant role in the diplomacy of the French Protestants. She could her husband from a participation in the conspiracy of the Duke of Biron against King Henry IV dissuade and to press for loyalty to the king.

Charlotte Brabantina was described as very beautiful, her sister called usually " la belle Brabant". After six years of marriage, the Duchess was in 1604 Widow and spent the rest of their lives mostly with her sister Elizabeth. 1619 finally married the children of sisters on the advice of the king. Eight years later converted to Catholicism Charlotte Brabantinas son, which led to a break with his Protestant mother.

As administrator of her husband's goods, it was the Duchess succeeded after the death of Count Guy XX. of Laval in 1605 from its heritage to double the estate of the family. It was considered the patroness of the Huguenot communities in Thouars and Vitre.

Progeny

• Henri (1598-1674), duc de La Trémoille, prince de Talmont ∞ 1619 Marie ( 1600-1665 ), daughter of Henri de La Tour d' Auvergne, duc de Bouillon
• Frederic († 1642), comte de Benon et de Laval
• Charlotte (1599-1668) ∞ 1626 James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby