Ernest Casimir I, Count of Nassau-Dietz

Ernst Casimir of Nassau- Diez ( born December 22, 1573 Dillenburg, † June 2, 1632 in Roermond ) was Count of Nassau- Diez from 1607 to 1632 and governor of Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe.

Life

Ernst Casimir was the son of Count John VI. of Nassau- Dillenburg and of Countess Elisabeth of Leuchtenberg. He was only the fifth son, but he still received on March 30, 1607 the title of Count of Nassau- Diez and thus succeeded his father in the lands.

When his eldest brother Wilhelm Ludwig died in 1620 at the age of 60, he took over his office as governor of Friesland. Five years later he was also the governorship of Groningen and Drenthe, and kept all his offices until his death in in 1632.

Previously he married on June 8, 1607 Duchess Sophie Hedwig of Brunswick- Wolfenbüttel ( 1592-1642 ). With her ​​Ernst Casimir had several children, of whom only two sons survived to adulthood. The oldest was Henry Casimir I. (1612-1640), who officially succeeded his father on June 2, 1632, Count of Nassau- Dietz and as governor of Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe. His younger child was Wilhelm Friedrich 1652 Prince of Nassau- Dietz and took over for his deceased brother in 1640, the governorships.