Amalia von Solms
| Amalia of Solms-Braunfels | |
|---|---|
Amalia of Solms-Braunfels, portrait by Anthony Van Dyck
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| Princess consort of Orange | |
| Tenure | 1625-1647 |
| Born |
31 August 1602 Braunfels Castle in Braunfels |
| Died | 8 September 1675 (aged 73) the Hague |
| Spouse | Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange |
| Issue |
William II, Prince of Orange Louise Henriette, Duchess of Prussia Henriette Amalia of Nassau Elisabeth of Nassau Isabella Charlotte of Nassau Albertine Agnes, Countess of Nassau-Dietz Henriette Catherine, Princess of Anhalt-Dessau Henry Louis of Nassau Maria, Countess Palatine of Simmern-Kaiserslautern |
| Father | John Albert I, Count of Solms-Braunfels |
| Mother | Countess Agnes of Sayn-Wittgenstein |
Amalia of Solms-Braunfels (31 August 1602, Braunfels – 8 September 1675, The Hague), was a regent of Orange-Nassau. She was the wife of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, and the daughter of count John Albert I of Solms-Braunfels and countess Agnes of Sayn-Wittgenstein.
Early years: Amalia of Solms-Braunfels, born into the House of Solms, a ruling family with Imperial immediacy, spent her childhood at the parental castle at Braunfels. She became part of the train of Elizabeth, wife of Frederick V, Elector Palatine, the "Winter King" of Bohemia. After imperial forces defeated Frederick V, she fled from Prague with the pregnant queen to the west. Shelter was denied to them along the way because the emperor forbade it as Frederick had been placed under an Imperial ban. Elizabeth went into labour during their flight and Amalia helped her with her delivery of Prince Maurice at Küstrin castle
The end of their journey was The Hague, where stadtholder Maurice of Nassau, uncle of the elector gave them asylum in 1621. They often appeared at his court, where Maurice's younger half-brother Frederick Henry became infatuated with Amalia in 1622. She refused to become his lover and held out for marriage.
When Maurice of Nassau died, he made his half-brother Frederick Henry promise to wed. Frederick married Amalia on 4 April 1625.
Their marriage produced five children who lived to adulthood, and four who died young:
When Frederick Henry became stadtholder after the death of his half-brother Prince Maurice, his influence grew substantially, as did Amalia's. Together Frederick Henry and Amalia succeeded in expanding court life in The Hague. They had several palaces built, including Huis ten Bosch. Amalia was a great collector of art and amassed many jewels, which were inherited by her four surviving daughters. She was described as intelligent, arrogant and ambitious, not beautiful but with a fresh and appealing appearance.
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Wikipedia