Count John Ernest of Nassau-Siegen (8 November 1618Jul. – 23 November 1639), , official titles: Graf zu Nassau, Katzenelnbogen, Vianden und Diez, Herr zu Beilstein, was a count from the House of Nassau-Siegen, a cadet branch of the Ottonian Line of the House of Nassau. He served as a naval officer in the Dutch West India Company.
Biography John Ernest was born at Aβmann & Menk (1996).The other sources that mention a place of birth, state Siegen as place of birth. on 8 November 1618Jul.Huberty, et al. (1981), p. 235. as the seventh and youngest son of Count John VII 'the Middle' of Nassau-Siegen and his second wife, Duchess Margaret of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg.All sources that mention both parents, name these parents. He was baptised in Siegen on 10 January 1619Jul.Huberty, et al. (1981), p. 250. and was named after his eldest halfbrother John Ernest, who died the previous year.Lück & Wunderlich (1956), p. 34.
The will and testament of Count John VII 'the Middle' of 1621 bequeathed John Maurice and his younger brothers from their father's second marriage the district of Freudenberg, some villages in the Haingericht and a third part of the administration of the city of Siegen.Huberty, et al. (1981), p. 251.Menk (1979), p. 42. After his older half-brother John 'the Younger' had accepted the homage of the city of Siegen for the entire county of Nassau-Siegen on 12 January 1624Lück (1981), p. 126. and had voluntarily ceded the sovereignty over the Hilchenbach district with and some villages belonging to the and Netphen districts to his younger brother William on 13/23 January 1624,Huberty, et al. (1981), p. 247.Huberty, et al. (1981), pp. 249–250. John Ernest and his brothers, with the exception of the oldest two brothers John Maurice and George Frederick, accepted only modest appanages.Huberty, et al. (1981), pp. 251–252.Spielmann (1909), p. 217.
John Ernest enlisted in the Dutch States Army under Prince Frederick Henry of Orange.Blok (1911), p. 1222. He accompanied his eldest brother John Maurice to Dutch BrazilLück (1981), p. 100.Dek (1970), p. 91.Dek (1968), p. 251. and served as a naval officer on the 'Alkmaar'. He died of dysentery in São Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos on 23 November 1639All sources that mention a full date of death, state this date. aboard the 'Alkmaar', and was buried in the Calvinist church in Mauritsstad on 1 December.
The first stronghold built by the Dutch in Mauritsstad was named Fortress Ernestus after him.
Ancestors Ancestors of John Ernest of Nassau-SiegenHuberty, et al. (1994).Huberty, et al. (1981), p. 219.Schutte (1979), pp. 40–44, 224.Dek (1970).Dek (1968).Dek (1962).von Ehrenkrook, et al. (1928).Vorsterman van Oyen (1882).Behr (1854).Textor von Haiger (1617).Europäische Stammtafeln.Great-great-grandparentsJohn V of Nassau-Siegen(1455–1516)⚭ 1482Elisabeth of Hesse-Marburg(1466–1523)Bodo III 'the Blissful' of Stolberg-Wernigerode(1467–1538)⚭ 1500Anna of Eppstein-Königstein(1481–1538)John IV of Leuchtenberg(1470–1531)⚭ 1502Margaret of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg(1482–1518)Frederick V 'the Elder' of Brandenburg-Ansbach(1460–1536)⚭ 1479Sophia of Poland(1464–1512)Frederick I of Denmark(1471–1533)⚭ 1502Anne of Brandenburg(1487–1514)Magnus I of Saxe-Lauenburg(?–1543)⚭ 1509Catherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel(?–1563)Philip I of Brunswick-Grubenhagen(ca. 1476–1551)⚭ 1517Catherine of Mansfeld(1501–1535)George I of Pomerania(1493–1531)⚭ 1513Amalie of the Palatinate(1490–1524)Great-grandparentsWilliam I 'the Rich' of Nassau-Siegen(1487–1559)⚭ 1531Juliane of Stolberg-Wernigerode(1506–1580)George III of Leuchtenberg(1502–1555)⚭ 1528Barbara of Brandenburg-Ansbach(1495–1552)Christian III of Denmark(1503–1559)⚭ 1525Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg(1511–1571)Ernest V of Brunswick-Grubenhagen(1518–1567)⚭ 1547Margaret of Pomerania(1518–1569)GrandparentsJohn VI 'the Elder' of Nassau-Siegen(1536–1606)⚭ 1559Elisabeth of Leuchtenberg(1537–1579)John 'the Younger' of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg(1545–1622)⚭ 1568Elisabeth of Brunswick-Grubenhagen(1550–1586)ParentsJohn VII 'the Middle' of Nassau-Siegen(1561–1623)⚭ 1603Margaret of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg(1583–1658)
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