Lodewijk van Nassau was born at the end of 1602. Even though he was illegitimate he was well-educated and well-provided for. When his father died in 1625 he inherited the estate of Beverweerd; and when his older brother died in 1627 he inherited his estate as well.

He joined the army which had claimed his brother Willem's life and served with distinction in 1629 in the battle near Den Bosch. In 1632 he was advanced to Colonel and after 1635 was in charge of a regiment. In 1640 during the battle for Hulst he prevented the cannons from falling into enemy hands. In the same year he was sent to Paris to advise the French king of the forthcoming marriage of the 14-year-old Prince Willem II of Orange to the 9-year-old English Princess Mary Stuart. Also, when the young Prince proceeded to England to fetch his bride, he was accompanied by Lodewijk van Nassau. In 1643 he became General-Major and Governor of the city of Bergen-op-Zoom.

Despite his mother's objections he married Isabella van Hornes in the spring of 1630 and from this marriage ten children were born. Lodewijk was highly regarded by his uncle, Prince Frederik Hendrik, and took part in the Prince's family life. And when his uncle died in 1647 Lodewijk spent even more time at Court. However, the young Willem II lacked the tact of his father and was soon on a collision course with the city of Amsterdam. Lodewijk tried to mediate but was unable
to prevent the prince from attacking the city. However, the Prince died of small-pox aged only twenty-four while just a week later his young widow gave birth to their child, William III, the future king of England. Lodewijk was close to the widow but he was also close to Johan de Witt who, since 1653, was in charge of the Dutch Government.

By now their children were growing up. His second son, Willem Adriaan, became a problem. Part of his education had been a trip to Paris but he stayed there and, setting himself up in a smart
apartment, employed three servants and dressed himself in the latest fashions. Also, in accordance with the Parisian fashion, he started to gamble. To continue this life-style he had to borrow, ignoring his parent's requests to return home but asking for ever more money. After a while he was pursued by creditors and it was his grandmother who sent him the money which enabled him to go home, leaving behind a debt amounting to 15,000 pounds stirling.

In 1658 Lodewijk van Nassau became Governor of Den Bosch and in 1660 was sent as a special ambassador to England. Apart from representing the Dutch republic, two of his daughters were married to British noblemen. Emilia married the heir of the Duke of Ormonde and Elisabeth the Earl of Arlington, one of King Charles II's ministers. By 1662 he had forged an apparently strong relationship between England and the Dutch republic and returned to Holland where he died on 28 February 1665.
 

Source: Leo van de Pas