Countess Sophie Amalie of Nassau-Siegen

Sophie Amalie of Nassau-Siegen (10 January 1650 – 25 December 1688), was a German princess member of the House of Nassau in the branch of Nassau-Siegen, and by marriage Duchess consort of Courland.

Sophie Amalie of Nassau-Siegen
Duchess of Courland
Born	10 January 1650 Castle Wisch, Terborg, Gelderland
Died	25 December 1688 Mitau, Duchy of Courland and Semigallia
Spouse	Frederick Casimir Kettler
Issue	Marie Dorothea, Margravine of Brandenburg-Schwedt Eleonore Charlotte, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg-Bevern Amalie Luise, Princess of Nassau-Siegen
Father	Henry II, Count of Nassau-Siegen
Mother	Countess Maria Magdalene of Limburg-Stirum

She was a third child but second daughter of Henry II, Count of Nassau-Siegen and his wife Maria Magdalene, born Countess of Limburg-Stirum.

Life

Born in the family seat Castle Wish in Terborg, the death of her older sister Ernestine in 1652 left Sophie Amalie as the only surviving daughter of her parents, in addition to two brothers, William Maurice (later Prince of Nassau-Siegen) and Frederick.

In The Hague on 25 October 1675, Sophie Amalie married Friedrich Casimir Kettler, Hereditary Prince of Courland.

In 1682, after the death of her father-in-law, Sophie Amalie became in Duchess consort of Courland. She died six years later.

Issue

She had five children:

• Frederick Kettler (3 April 1682 – 11 February 1683), Hereditary Prince of Courland.
• Marie Dorothea Kettler (2 August 1684 – 17 January 1743), married to Albert Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt.
• Eleonore Charlotte Kettler (11 June 1686 – 28 July 1748), married to Ernest Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg in Bevern.
• Amalie Louise Kettler (27 July 1687 – 18 January 1750), married to Frederick William I Adolf, Prince of Nassau-Siegen.
• Christina Sophia Kettler (15 November 1688 – 22 April 1694).

References