Emilia von Nassau, Countess of Ossory
Encyclopedia
Emilia van Nassau-Beverweerd, Countess of Ossory (bapt. 4 March 1635, The Hague
- buried 12 December 1688, London
) was a Dutch-Anglo courtier.
Emilia was born in Holland, the daughter of Lodewijk van Nassau, Lord of Beverweerd, the Governor of 's-Hertogenbosch, and his wife Isabella, Countess of Hornes
.
Her elder sister Elisabeth van Nassau-Beverweerd (1631 - 1717) became the wife of the prominent Stuart politician, Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington
.
Her brother was the famous Dutch Field Marshal Hendrik Van Nassau-Ouwerkerk.
Emilia was married in Den Bosch, the Netherlands on Nov. 14th, 1659 to Thomas Butler
, viscount Thurles (1633 - 1680), the eldest son and heir of the Irish peer James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
and accompanied him to England, where she was naturalized by Act of Parliament(1660). Lord Thurles became earl of Ossory several years later when his father achieved the dukedom (1662).
The countess was presented to Catharine of Braganza, the wife of Charles II of England
upon her arrival in London and was appointed as lady-in-waiting to the queen at Hampton Court Palace
. She attended the queen at Greenwich Palace when she met her mother-in-law, Queen Henrietta Maria, for the first time (Aug, 1662). During the outbreak of the plague (1665) the countess accompanied the queen and her household to the safety of Hampton Court, later removing to Oxford. She accompanied the king and queen to Dover to farewell the Duchesse d'Orleans on her final visit (June, 1670). During the plots directed against the Queen and other prominent Catholic figures, the countess and others of the queen's ladies came under the suspicion of being secret papists (1678).
Lady Ossory served Queen Catharine for over twenty years, retiring from service after the death of Charles II (1685). A famous beauty, her portrait was painted by Wissing. She was buried in Westminster Abbey
in London (Dec 12, 1688).
Her children included
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
- buried 12 December 1688, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) was a Dutch-Anglo courtier.
Emilia was born in Holland, the daughter of Lodewijk van Nassau, Lord of Beverweerd, the Governor of 's-Hertogenbosch, and his wife Isabella, Countess of Hornes
Principality of Hornes
The Principality of Hornes was created on the October 16, 1677, and was awarded to Count Eugene Maximillian of Hornes. He was elavated to the rank of Prince, as Prince Eugene Maximilien of Hornes, second prince of the Empire. He was the son of Count Ambrosius of Hornes. This Royal House was...
.
Her elder sister Elisabeth van Nassau-Beverweerd (1631 - 1717) became the wife of the prominent Stuart politician, Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington
Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington
Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington KG, PC was an English statesman.- Background and early life :He was the son of Sir John Bennet of Dawley, Middlesex, and of Dorothy Crofts. He was the younger brother of John Bennet, 1st Baron Ossulston; his sister was Elizabeth Bennet who married Robert Kerr,...
.
Her brother was the famous Dutch Field Marshal Hendrik Van Nassau-Ouwerkerk.
Emilia was married in Den Bosch, the Netherlands on Nov. 14th, 1659 to Thomas Butler
Thomas Butler, 6th Earl of Ossory
Vice-Admiral Thomas Butler, 6th Earl of Ossory, KG, PC, PC was the eldest son of the James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde and Lady Elizabeth Preston, and an Irish politician born at Kilkenny Castle.-Life and career:...
, viscount Thurles (1633 - 1680), the eldest son and heir of the Irish peer James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde PC was an Irish statesman and soldier. He was the second of the Kilcash branch of the family to inherit the earldom. He was the friend of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, who appointeed him commander of the Cavalier forces in Ireland. From 1641 to 1647, he...
and accompanied him to England, where she was naturalized by Act of Parliament(1660). Lord Thurles became earl of Ossory several years later when his father achieved the dukedom (1662).
The countess was presented to Catharine of Braganza, the wife of Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
upon her arrival in London and was appointed as lady-in-waiting to the queen at Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London; it has not been inhabited by the British royal family since the 18th century. The palace is located south west of Charing Cross and upstream of Central London on the River Thames...
. She attended the queen at Greenwich Palace when she met her mother-in-law, Queen Henrietta Maria, for the first time (Aug, 1662). During the outbreak of the plague (1665) the countess accompanied the queen and her household to the safety of Hampton Court, later removing to Oxford. She accompanied the king and queen to Dover to farewell the Duchesse d'Orleans on her final visit (June, 1670). During the plots directed against the Queen and other prominent Catholic figures, the countess and others of the queen's ladies came under the suspicion of being secret papists (1678).
Lady Ossory served Queen Catharine for over twenty years, retiring from service after the death of Charles II (1685). A famous beauty, her portrait was painted by Wissing. She was buried in Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
in London (Dec 12, 1688).
Her children included
- James Butler, 2nd Duke of OrmondeJames Butler, 2nd Duke of OrmondeJames Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde KG KT was an Irish statesman and soldier. He was the third of the Kilcash branch of the family to inherit the earldom of Ormonde...
(1665 - 1745) who succeeded his grandfather, - Charles ButlerCharles Butler, 1st Earl of ArranLieutenant-General Charles Butler, 1st Earl of Arran , de jure 3rd Duke of Ormonde was an Irish peer. His uncle Richard was the 1st Earl of Arran of the first creation. The titles were re-created for Charles in 1693. He was younger son of the 6th Earl of Ossory and Emilia von Nassau...
, third Duke of Ormonde (1671 - 1758), who succeeded his brother, - Lady Elizabeth Butler (1660 - 1717), who married William Richard George Stanley, 9th Earl of Derby.
- Lady Henrietta Butler (died 11 october1724), who married Henry de Nassau d'Auverquerque, 1st Earl of Grantham