Justinus van Nassau (1559–1631) was the only extramarital child of
William the Silent. He was a Dutch army commander known for his role in the defeat of the
Spanish Armada, his leadership of the forces in Breda during the
siege of 1624, and the depiction of his surrender in the painting by
Diego Velázquez, The Surrender of Breda.
His mother was Eva Elincx, William's mistress between his first and second marriages. William of Orange recognized Justinus and raised him with his other children.
From 1601 until 1625 he was governor of
Breda. In 1625 he had to surrender Breda to the Spanish general
Ambrogio Spinola after a siege of 11 months. Justinus was allowed to leave for
Leiden.
Issue
On 4 December 1597 he married Anne, Baronesse de Mérode (9 January 1567 – Leiden, 8 October 1634) and had three children.
Willem Maurits van Nassau (June 1603 – d. 1638 in Leiden), married Maria van Aerssen van Sommelsdijk and had issue:
Justinus, no issue.
Justina van Nassau (March 1635 – c. 1676), married George van Cats ter Coulster (1632–1676) and had issue:
Willem Maurits van Cats, (c. 1670 – December 1743).
Anna van Nassau (c. 1638 – The Hague, 1721), married Willem Adriaan Count van Horn Batenburg and had issue.
Louise Henriëtte van Nassau (1604 – between 1637 and 1645), no issue.
Philips van Nassau (1605 – somewhere between 1672 and 1676), married and had issue.
He and his wife were buried in the
Hooglandse Kerk in Leiden.
The following arms are recorded for Justinus, based on those of his father
William the Silent.
Anna Margaretha van Nassau (1634–1676)married (1) Diederik Schenk van Nydeggen heer van Blijenbeek, Afferden en Grubbenvorst married (2) Johan Gerard van Oostrum heer van Moersbergen, Cattenbroek en Zeist, col in Dutch Army, 2 daughters.
References
^Rietstap, Johannes Baptist (1861). Armorial général, contenant la description des armoiries des familles nobles et patriciennes de l'Europe: précédé d'un dictionnaire des termes du blason. G.B. van Goor. p. 746.