The House of Nassau-Corroy is a bastard branch of the

House of Nassau The House of Nassau is a diversified aristocratic dynasty in Europe. It is named after the lordship associated with Nassau Castle, located in present-day Nassau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The lords of Nassau were originally titled "Count ...

. Unlike the main branch of the House of Nassau, this illegitimate branch was faithful to the king of Spain and Roman Catholic.

History

The history of the Branch of Corroy was started by the marriage between Otto II of Nassau-Siegen and Adelaide of Vianden. The counts of Vianden built the castle of Corroy in the 13th century. Thus, the ancestors of Henry III already possessed the rights of the Chateau in Corroy. The branch of Nassau-Corroy was founded by Alexis of Nassau-Corroy, the illegitimate son of

Henry III of Nassau-Breda Count Henry III of Nassau-Dillenburg-Dietz (January 12, 1483, Siegen – September 14, 1538, Breda), Lord (from 1530 Baron) of Breda, Lord of the Lek, of Dietz, etc. was a count of the House of Nassau. He was the son of Count John V of Nassau ...

and his mistress Elisabeth Claire van Rosenbach. Alexis was recognised by emperor

Charles V Charles V may refer to: * Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558) * Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain * Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise * Charles V, Duke of Lorraine (1643–1690) * Infa ...

in 1530. In 1540

René of Chalon René of Chalon (5 February 1519 – 15 July 1544), also known as Renatus of Chalon, was a Prince of Orange and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht and Gelre. Life René was born in Breda, the only son of Count Henry III of Nassau-Bred ...

gave the full rights of Corroy to his half-brother. In 1545 the branch was openly recognised by the Prince of Orange. In 1693 Charles II created Joseph-Ignace 1st Count of Corroy. In 1717 the Counts of Corroy added

Zwevegem Zwevegem () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Heestert, Moen, Otegem, Sint-Denijs and Zwevegem. On January 1, 2019, Zwevegem had a total population of 24,648. The total ...

to their possessions and were the last feudal lords in Zwevegem. The familial crest is still the official coat of arms of the municipality

Lords and Counts of Corroy

Alexis I of Nassau-Corroy: Legitimised bastard in 1530.
Married to Wilhelmina of Bronkhorst Batenburg (1526 - 1601) ##René of Nassau-Corroy ### Alexis II of Nassau-Corroy ####Maximilien of Nassau-Corroy ##### Joseph-Ignace de Nassau, 1st Count of Corroy;
acquired the castle of Zwevegem and the title of Count of Zwevegem;
married to Marrie-Anne, daughter of Philippe I Alexandre de Ghistelles, 2nd Marquess of Saint-Floris. ###### Guillaume-Adrien-Joseph de Nassau, Count of Corroy
son of Joseph-Ignace, succeeded his father in 1740 ####### Alexandre-Constantin-Joseph de Nassau, Count of Corroy (1738-1804)
son of Guillaume-Adrien; he was the last count of Zwevegem

Others

* Charles-Florent-Marie de Nassau, Count of Corroy, younger brother of Alexandre, died in 1809 *Amélie-Constance-Marie de Nassau-Corroy, daughter and only descendant of Charles, married in 1803 Gillion, the Marquess of Trazegnies d'Ittre, who inherited the castle of Corroy. The death of Amélie in 1832 signified the end of the noble family of Nassau-Corroy.

Notes

{{reflist Roman Catholic families House of Nassau Illegitimate children of monarchs People from Gembloux