After studying in Heidelberg and Sedan, in 1610 he served in his father's army in the Palatinate. In 1615 he was promoted to captain in the army of the Hanze cities. In 1617, with his eldest brother, Johann Ernst I, he went to Venice. On 16 January 1619 he married Countess Christine zu Erbach and they became the parents of six children. In 1621 he joined the army of the Dutch republic and, on 24 July 1622, became a Colonel of the Infantry.
In 1625 he was appointed governor of the city of Emmerik and, from 1626 till 1637, was governor of Heusden. In 1633 he was appointed a Field Marshal and, from 1637 till 1642, was governor of Sluis. He
bought the property of Poederoijen near the river Maas.
In 1641 near the city of Gennep he was seriously wounded and was taken to Orsoy where, on 18 July 1642, he died. On 24 July 1642 he was buried at Heusden. On 6 July 1646 his widow died in Culemborg and she, too, was buried at Heusden.

Source: Leo van de Pas