Heinrich III, Count von Nassau,
(1483-1538)
Born 12 January 1483 Siegen
Died 14 September 1538 Breda
Married (1) 3 August 1503
Francoise Louise de Savoie, daughter of Jacques de Savoie,
Comte de Romont, Baron de Vaud and Marie de Luxembourg,
Comtesse de St.Pol, Ligny et Enghien
Born before 1486
Died 17 September 1511
Married (2) May 1515
Claude de Chalon, daughter of Jean II de Chalon, Prince
d'Orange and Philiberte de Luxembourg, Comtesse de Charny
Born 1498
Died 31 May 1521 Diest
Married (3) 27 June 1524 Burgos
Mencia Hurtado de Mendoza, Marquesa de Zenette, daughter of
Rodrigo Hurtado de Mendoza, Marques de Zenette and Maria de
Fonseca
Born 30 November 1508 Castle Jadraque, Spain
Died 4 January 1554
Buried Valencia
Child by (a) Margaretha van Schoondonck
Child by (b) Elisabeth van Roosenbach
Child by (c) Marie de Reval
He was brought up at the court of Archduke Philip whom he accompanied
on his journeys to Spain and France. In 1503, he married Francoise of Savoy,
a rich heiress. Proving his ability as a soldier, he was appointed as tutor
and chamberlain to the future Emperor Charles V. Later, as a widower, he
was sent to the French Court to try to arrange a marriage alliance between
Charles V and a French royal princess. However, he failed, at least for
the Emperor, but he himself married another heiress, Claude de Chalon.
Although his father protested his marrying this French woman unseen, he
did marry her,
proclaiming that "his obedience to the Emperor and the dowry of 130,000
pound" demanded this. In 1518 their son Rene was born, later changing his
name to Rene de Chalon when he became heir of his
mother's brother, Philibert de Chalon, Prince of Orange.When Claude
died on 31 May 1521, Heinrich married the 16-year-old Mencia de Mendoza.
Not only was she of Jewish origins, but her father,
Rodrigo, Marquess of Zenette, was the bastard-son of a Cardinal-Bishop.
As Mencia was a very wealthy heiress, the highly influential Duke of Alva
had wanted her for his grandson; however,
Charles V, Emperor and King of Spain, supported the 41-year-old Count
of Nassau.
They remained for seven years in the castle of Zenette where Mencia
studied Latin, Greek and philosophy. In 1530 they travelled to Bologna
in Italy to be present at the coronation of Charles V; and then, via Augsburg,
they went to Breda in The Netherlands. Here they lived in luxury, played
host to the Emperor, and encouraged art and artists. In 1533 Mencia, Heinrich
and Heinrich's only legitimate child,
Rene, went to visit Spain; but first they went to Franche-Comte to
inspect and improve the defence, then on to Paris where they met the French
King, Francois I.
After a fire destroyed Breda, he rebuilt the city. When he died on 14
September 1538, great sadness was felt not only in Breda but also in France
and Spain as he had been such a benevolent Lord of all his
territories. Mencia, only 30 years old, returned to Spain and married
the Duke of Calabria, an illegitimate member of the Spanish Royal family.
Source: Leo van de Pas |
