John Louis, Count of Nassau-Ottweiler
| John Louis, Count of Nassau-Ottweiler | |
|---|---|
| Spouse(s) | Countess Palatine Dorothea Catherine of Birkenfeld-Bischweiler |
| Noble family | House of Nassau |
| Father | William Louis, Count of Nassau-Saarbrücken |
| Mother | Anna Amalia of Baden-Durlach |
| Born |
23 May 1625 Saarbrücken |
| Died | 9 February 1690 (aged 64) Reichelsheim |
John Louis, Count of Nassau-Ottweiler (23 May 1625, Saarbrücken – 9 February 1690, Reichelsheim, was first Count of Nassau-Ottweiler. At times, he was Major General, Regent of the other Nassau territories and chief of the House of Nassau.
He was the second son of William Louis of Nassau-Saarbrücken and his wife Anna Amalia of Baden-Durlach. At the age of ten years he had to flee to Metz with his parents. His father died in 1640. John Louis and his mother were able to return to Saarbrücken three years later. Before his return, he had studied at the University of Saumur. Between 1644 and 1645 he completed his Grand Tour to Paris. The Peace of Westphalia restored all the Nassau territories in 1648.
John Louis took up the government of Nassau-Saarbrücken and Nassau-Usingen. After the death of his mother in 1651 he also became guardian of his younger brothers. In 1653, he founded the Ironworks in Neunkirchen. In 1659 John Louis and his brothers split their father's inheritance. John Louis received the area around Ottweiler. This made him the founder of the Nassau-Ottweiler branch, which existed until 1728.
He entered French military service in 1656 and was Colonel of the Royal-Alsace Regiment. He was taken prisoner during the Franco-Spanish War.
Even when he was still a minor, John Louis sought the return of Homburg, which had been taken by Lorraine. He was assisted by Louis XIV and it came to negotiations before the Reichstag. John Louis was granted sovereign rights over the Homburg district, but the fortress remained in the hands of Lorraine until the Empire had paid its war debts to Lorraine. When another war broke out between France and Lorraine, John Louis surrendered Homburg to the Electorate of Trier.
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