# Sophie Amalie of Nassau-Siegen

Princess Sophie Amalie of Nassau-Siegen (10 January 1650 – 15/25 November 1688), German: Sophia Amalia Prinzessin von Nassau-Siegen, official titles: Prinzessin von Nassau, Gräfin zu Katzenelnbogen, Vianden, Diez, Limburg und Bronkhorst, Frau zu Beilstein, Stirum, Wisch, Borculo, Lichtenvoorde und Wildenborch, Erbbannerfrau des Herzogtums Geldern und der Grafschaft Zutphen, was a countess from the House of Nassau-Siegen, a cadet branch of the Ottonian Line of the House of Nassau. In 1664, she was elevated to the rank and title of princess. By marriage she became Duchess Consort of Courland.

## Biography

Sophie Amalie was born at Wisch Castle [nl] in Terborg on 10 January 1650$^{Jul.}$ as the second daughter and third child of Count Henry of Nassau-Siegen and his wife Countess Mary Magdalene of Limburg-Stirum. Sophie Amalie was named after her godmother, the Danish-Norwegian Queen Sophie Amalie. In October and November 1652 she first lost her eldest sister Ernestine and then her father Henry. After the death of the father, Sophie Amalie's brothers William Maurice and Frederick Henry were adopted by their uncle Fürst John Maurice of Nassau-Siegen. Together with Sophie Amalie, both brothers were elevated into the Reichsfürstenstand on 6 May 1664.
Sophie Amalie married in The Hague on 5 October 1675 to Hereditary Prince Frederick Casimir of Courland (6 July 1650 – 22 January 1698). In 1682, after the death of her father-in-law, Sophie Amalie became Duchess Consort of Courland.
Sophia Amalia died in childbirth in Mitau on 15/25 November 1688 and was buried in the Reformed Church in Mitau on 16/26 December.

## Issue

From the marriage of Sophie Amalie and Frederick Casimir the following children were born:
* Frederick Kettler (3 April 1682 – 11 February 1683), Hereditary Prince of Courland.
* Marie Dorothea Kettler (2 August 1684 – 17 January 1743), married to Margrave Albert Frederick of Brandenburg-Schwedt.
* Eleonore Charlotte Kettler (11 June 1686 – 28 July 1748), married to Duke Ernest Ferdinand of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern.
* Amalie Louise Kettler (Mitau, 23 July 1687 – Untere Schloss [de], Siegen, 18 January 1750), married at the Old Castle [de] in Bayreuth on 13 April 1708 to Fürst Frederick William Adolf of Nassau-Siegen (Nassauischer Hof [de], Siegen, 20 February 1680 – Nassauischer Hof, Siegen, 13 February 1722).
* Christina Sophia Kettler (15 November 1688 – 22 April 1694).
* Duke Frederick Casimir of Courland. Anonymous portrait, 17th century. Gripsholm Castle.
* Margravine Marie Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt with her son. Portrait by Antoine Pesne, ca. 1719. Preußen-Museum Minden.
* Duchess Eleonore Charlotte of Brunswick-Lüneburg-Bevern. Anonymous portrait, 18th century.
* Fürstin Amalie Louise of Nassau-Siegen. Detail of a anonymous portrait, first quarter 18th century. Siegerlandmuseum, Siegen.

## Ancestors

Ancestors of Sophie Amalie of Nassau-Siegen :
| Great-great-grandparents | William I 'the Rich' of Nassau-Siegen (1487–1559) ⚭ 1531 Juliane of Stolberg-Wernigerode (1506–1580) | George III of Leuchtenberg (1502–1555) ⚭ 1528 Barbara of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1495–1552) | Christian III of Denmark (1503–1559) ⚭ 1525 Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg (1511–1571) | Ernest V of Brunswick-Grubenhagen (1518–1567) ⚭ 1547 Margaret of Pomerania (1518–1569) | Herman George of Limburg-Stirum (1540–1574) ⚭ 1557 Mary of Hoya (1534–1612) | Otto IV of Holstein-Schauenburg-Pinneberg (ca. 1517–1576) ⚭ 1558 Elisabeth Ursula of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1539–1586) | Eberwin III of Bentheim-Steinfurt (1536–1562) ⚭ 1553 Anna of Tecklenburg-Schwerin (1532–1582) | Gumprecht II of Neuenahr-Alpen (ca. 1503–1555) ⚭ 1542 Amöna of Daun-Falkenstein (ca. 1520–ca. 1582) |
| Great-grandparents | John VI 'the Elder' of Nassau-Siegen (1536–1606) ⚭ 1559 Elisabeth of Leuchtenberg (1537–1579) | John VI 'the Elder' of Nassau-Siegen (1536–1606) ⚭ 1559 Elisabeth of Leuchtenberg (1537–1579) | John 'the Younger' of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (1545–1622) ⚭ 1568 Elisabeth of Brunswick-Grubenhagen (1550–1586) | John 'the Younger' of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (1545–1622) ⚭ 1568 Elisabeth of Brunswick-Grubenhagen (1550–1586) | Jobst of Limburg-Stirum (1560–1621) ⚭ 1591 Mary of Holstein-Schauenburg-Pinneberg (1559–1616) | Jobst of Limburg-Stirum (1560–1621) ⚭ 1591 Mary of Holstein-Schauenburg-Pinneberg (1559–1616) | Arnold IV of Bentheim-Tecklenburg (1554–1606) ⚭ 1573 Magdalena of Neuenahr-Alpen (1553–1627) | Arnold IV of Bentheim-Tecklenburg (1554–1606) ⚭ 1573 Magdalena of Neuenahr-Alpen (1553–1627) |
| Grandparents | John VII 'the Middle' of Nassau-Siegen (1561–1623) ⚭ 1603 Margaret of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (1583–1658) | John VII 'the Middle' of Nassau-Siegen (1561–1623) ⚭ 1603 Margaret of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (1583–1658) | John VII 'the Middle' of Nassau-Siegen (1561–1623) ⚭ 1603 Margaret of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (1583–1658) | John VII 'the Middle' of Nassau-Siegen (1561–1623) ⚭ 1603 Margaret of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (1583–1658) | George Ernest of Limburg-Stirum (1593–1661) ⚭ 1603 Magdalene of Bentheim-Tecklenburg (1591–1649) | George Ernest of Limburg-Stirum (1593–1661) ⚭ 1603 Magdalene of Bentheim-Tecklenburg (1591–1649) | George Ernest of Limburg-Stirum (1593–1661) ⚭ 1603 Magdalene of Bentheim-Tecklenburg (1591–1649) | George Ernest of Limburg-Stirum (1593–1661) ⚭ 1603 Magdalene of Bentheim-Tecklenburg (1591–1649) |
| Parents | Henry of Nassau-Siegen (1611–1652) ⚭ 1646 Mary Magdalene of Limburg-Stirum (1632–1707) | Henry of Nassau-Siegen (1611–1652) ⚭ 1646 Mary Magdalene of Limburg-Stirum (1632–1707) | Henry of Nassau-Siegen (1611–1652) ⚭ 1646 Mary Magdalene of Limburg-Stirum (1632–1707) | Henry of Nassau-Siegen (1611–1652) ⚭ 1646 Mary Magdalene of Limburg-Stirum (1632–1707) | Henry of Nassau-Siegen (1611–1652) ⚭ 1646 Mary Magdalene of Limburg-Stirum (1632–1707) | Henry of Nassau-Siegen (1611–1652) ⚭ 1646 Mary Magdalene of Limburg-Stirum (1632–1707) | Henry of Nassau-Siegen (1611–1652) ⚭ 1646 Mary Magdalene of Limburg-Stirum (1632–1707) | Henry of Nassau-Siegen (1611–1652) ⚭ 1646 Mary Magdalene of Limburg-Stirum (1632–1707) |