William Hyacinth, Prince of Nassau-Siegen
| William Hyacinth, Prince of Nassau-Siegen | |
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William Hyacinth, Prince of Nassau-Siegen
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| Spouse(s) | Maria Francisca of Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg |
| Noble family | House of Nassau |
| Father | John Francis Desideratus of Nassau-Siegen |
| Mother | Eleonore Sophie of Baden |
| Born |
3 April 1667 Brussels |
| Died | 18 February 1743 (aged 76) Hadamar |
Prince William Hyacinth of Nassau-Siegen (3 April 1667 in Brussels – 18 February 1743 in Hadamar) was a Prince of Nassau-Siegen. He also claimed the Principality of Orange.
William Hyacinth was the son of Prince John Francis Desideratus of Nassau-Siegen and Eleonore Sophie of Baden, his second wife. In 1695, he took up his residence in Siegen. In the same year, the city fell victim to a great fire, which burned 350 buildings, two churches and the Nassau Court, the headquarters of the ruling family. His father began building a new castle in Siegen as the new family home in 1696.
From 17 December 1699 to 2 March 1707, William Hyacinth was the ruler of Nassau-Siegen. He was hoping to inherit much more than his father's principality of Nassau-Siegen, since he was one of the nearest male relatives of the childless King William III of England, and thus a portential heir to William's extensive lands in Germany and the Dutch Republic. However, William III left his possessions by will to John William Friso of Nassau-Dietz. William Hyacinth later used the title of Prince of Orange in Brabant.
He did not even inherit all of his father's wealth. His father had remarried with Isabella Clara du Puget de la Serre and had had seven surviving children with her. In his will, he left her a bequest of 1100 taler per year. Her two sons each received 500 taler per year and her five daughters 200 taler each. William Hyacinth challenged this will before the Imperial Supreme Court, however, he lost his case in 1702.
In the same year William III died in England. William Hyacinth traveled to Paris to secure the support of France with regard to his rights of inheritance. Other claimants were King Frederick I of Prussia and John William Friso of Nassau-Dietz, who was designated as the sole heir in William III's testament.
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