In 1558 her father had written to his mother about a pending visit, his mother having asked the Prince to come to Germany as she wanted to meet her daughter-in-law. However, Anna of Egmond aged twenty-five, died on 24 March 1558 and left her husband with two small children. The Emperor's sister, Maria of Hungary, then took the children to be educated at her court. In 1567 the political situation had changed so much for Maria's father that he removed her and, under the pretext of visiting his aged mother, fled to Germany. However, the son, Philips Willem studying at the Louvain University, was left behind as he was regarded to be safe; but he was abducted and sent to Spain. For the next ten years Maria lived in Dillenburg with her uncle, Johann VI, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg. This uncle at one stage considered a marriage for her with Charles de Croy, Prince of Chimay, but Maria rejected this Catholic suitor. In these years Maria observed her father's unfortunate second marriage which would bring not only a divorce but also more children for the Prince of Orange. His third wife, Charlotte de Bourbon, was only a few years older than Maria and they became very close. However, after having nursed the Prince of Orange after an assassination attempt, Charlotte died, having added six more girls to the Prince's family. The Prince then took Louise de Coligny for his fourth wife, only to be killed in the next attempt in 1584. The Prince of Orange had given control over Philips Willem's properties to Maria; but after several years her younger half-brother, Maurits, demanded she gave him control over those properties which had come from their father. Meanwhile Maria would continue to be in charge of those properties inherited from Maria's mother, Anna of Egmond. The main reason for Maurits's behaviour was his objection to her intended marriage with Count Philipp zu Hohenlohe-Neuenstein. After her marriage on 7 February 1595, a curator was appointed to care for the paternal inheritance. Count Philipp zu Hohenlohe had come to The Netherlands in 1575 but had earned himself a bad reputation. For the sake of wine and women he would cancel appointments, disappear, then reappear again a few days later. In the game of war the seduction and rape of women, especially nuns, was regarded as a pastime. It was probably his life in the army which was the cause of his behaviour as decency was then interpreted as lack of courage. Nevertheless, whatever could be said of him, he did have courage and was reliable in action. In the summer of 1595 her brother, Philips Willem, was allowed to leave Spain and return to Brussels, but was still kept under tight Spanish control. It was recognised that his release was a Spanish plot to cause political division in The Netherlands as well as further the rift between Maria and Maurits. In 1596 Maria and Philips Willem met secretly in Cleves, their first meeting in twenty-eight years. In 1599 Hohenlohe retired from the army and, in 1606, died in IJsselstein. Maria not only continued to administer her properties but founded an orphanage in Buren where Maria died on 10 October 1616. 
 

Source: Leo van de Pas