Francis Alexander, Prince of Nassau-Hadamar
| Francis Alexander, Prince of Nassau-Hadamar | |
|---|---|
Francis Alexander's portrait at the City Museum in Hadamar
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| Born |
27 January 1674 Hadamar |
| Died | 27 May 1711 (aged 37) Hadamar |
| Noble family | House of Nassau |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Catherine Felicitas of Hesse-Rotenburg |
| Father | Maurice Henry, Prince of Nassau-Hadamar |
| Mother | Maria Leopoldine of Nassau-Siegen |
Francis Alexander von Nassau-Hadamar (27 January 1674 in Hadamar – 27 May 1711, ibid.) was the last prince of Nassau-Hadamar.
Franz Alexander was the son of prince Maurice Henry of Nassau-Hadamar (23 April 1626 – 24 January 1679) and his second wife Maria Leopoldine of Nassau-Siegen (1652–1675). At the age of 6 years he inherited of Nassau-Hadamar. His guardian and ruler of Nassau-Hadamar during his youth was his uncle Francis Bernard (21 September 1637 – 15 September 1695). In 1710, Francis Alexander was appointed Judge of the Reichskammergericht in Wetzlar. He was sworn in on 28 January 1711.
He died as a result of a fall from his horse near the Limburg Gate (now called the Hammelburg) in Hadamar on 27 May 1711. He was buried in the princely crypt in the Franciscan church at the Mönchsberg in Hadamar, wearing the robe of a Reichskammergericht judge. His heart was placed in the St. Mary chapel on the Herzenberg, like the heart of his uncle Francis Bernard 16 years earlier.
A memorial cross was erected at the site of the fatal accident. It bears the inscription:
(If I forget Thee, o God, forgive me. F.A.F.Z.N.H. [Franz Alexander, Fürst zu Nassau-Hadamar], 26 May 1711.)
The cross was later moved by about 300 meters and is now located on the southeastern edge of Hadamar, but still on the old road connecting Hadamar and Limburg an der Lahn.
On 18 October 1695 in Lovosice (Bohemia), Francis Alexander married Elizabeth Catherine Felicitas (14 February 1677 Rheinfels Castle near St. Goar – 15 May 1739 in Dietz, buried in the Franciscan monastery St. Martin at Boppard), the daughter of William "the Elder" of Hesse-Rheinfels-Rotenburg. The couple had the following children:
The spouses separated in 1705. Ernestine, the sister of the Princess, many have caused increasing tensions between the couple. Even after Ernestine had entered the convent at Altenberg, near Wetzlar, and despite mediations efforts by Archbishop John VIII of Trier and Emperor Joseph I, Francis Alexander and his wife could not reconcile their differences. From 1705, they lived separately: Francis Alexander and the children resided at Hadamar Castle, his wife resided at Mengerskirchen Castle. Another mediation attempt in on 23 October 1708 in Hadamar also failed. Nevertheless, the death of their son, Hereditary Prince Joseph Hugo, brought them closer together.
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Wikipedia