The House of Nassau-Corroy was a bastard branch of the House of Nassau.[1] Unlike the main branch of the House of Nassau, this illegitimate branch was faithful to the king of Spain and Roman Catholic.[2]

Nassau-Corroy
Parent houseHouse of Nassau
Foundedrecognised in 1530
FounderHenry III of Nassau-Breda
TitlesCount of Corroy
Count of Zwevegem
Baron of Warcoing
Lord of Frasnes-lez-Gosselies
Estate(s)Castle of Corroy-le-Château
Zwevegem Castle
Dissolution1832 (1832)

History edit

 
Corroy le Chateau

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.[3] The branch of Nassau-Corroy was founded by Alexis of Nassau-Corroy, the illegitimate son of Henry III of Nassau-Breda and his mistress Elisabeth Claire van Rosenbach. Alexis was recognised by emperor Charles V in 1530.[4] In 1540 René of Chalon gave the full rights of Corroy to his half-brother. In 1545 the branch was openly recognised by the Prince of Orange.[5] In 1693 Charles II created Joseph-Ignace 1st Count of Corroy. In 1717 the Counts of Corroy added Zwevegem to their possessions and were the last feudal lords in Zwevegem.[2] The familial crest is still the official coat of arms of the municipality Zwevegem.[6]

Lords and Counts of Corroy edit

Alexis I of Nassau-Corroy: Legitimised bastard in 1530.[3]
Married to Wilhelmina of Bronkhorst Batenburg (1526 - 1601)

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

Others edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Félix Victor Goethals, Dictionnaire généalogique et héraldique des familles nobles du royaume de Belgique, Volume 4 (Polack-Duvivier, 1852)
  2. ^ a b c d "Biekorf. Jaargang 58 · DBNL".
  3. ^ a b Nes, Emerentia van Heuven-van (2015). Nassau en Oranje in gebrandschilderd glas 1503-2005: Emerentia van Heuven-van Nes , m.m.v. S. Groenveld en D.B.M. Hermans. ISBN 9789087045357.
  4. ^ Olivier de Trazegnies, Un personnage secret: Gillion, 2e marquis de Trazegnies d'Ittre (1772-1847), époux de Constance-Amélie, comtesse de Nassau et de Corroy, in: Le Parchemin, 2012.
  5. ^ Memo from Belgium, Nummers 132-143/Pagina 114
  6. ^ "Over Zwevegem | Zwevegem". www.zwevegem.be. Archived from the original on 2016-08-20.
  7. ^ "Historique". Corroy-le-Château.