Charles Christian of Nassau-Weilburg

Charles Christian, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg (Weilburg, 16 January 1735 – Münster-Dreissen, near Kirchheim, 28 November 1788), till 1753 Count of Nassau-Weilburg, was the first ruler of the Principality of Nassau-Weilburg between 1753 and 1788.

He was the son of Charles August, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg and Princess Auguste Friederike of Nassau-Idstein. He succeeded his father in 1753 and united his territories in 1783 with Nassau-Saarbrücken, Nassau-Usingen and Nassau-Dietz.

He married on 5 March 1760 in The Hague Princess Carolina of Orange-Nassau (1743–1787), daughter of William IV, Prince of Orange and Anne, Princess Royal.

He became a general in the Dutch infantry, governor of Bergen op Zoom and governor of Maastricht (1773–1784). He negotiated in vain with the Patriots in 1787.

After the death of his wife, he concluded a morganatic marriage with Barbara Giessen von Kirchheim. He died in 1788 and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son Frederick William.

He and Carolina had 15 children, some of whom became ancestors of 19th century royalty:

• Georg Wilhelm, Hereditary Prince of Nassau-Weilburg (The Hague, 18 December 1760 – Huis Honselaarsdijk, 27 May 1762)
• Wilhelm Ludwig, Hereditary Prince of Nassau-Weilburg (The Hague, 12 December 1761 – Kirchheim, 16 April/26 April 1770)
• Augusta Carolina Maria of Nassau-Weilburg (The Hague, 5 February 1764 – Weilburg, 25 January 1802). A nun in Quedlinburg and Herford.
• Wilhelmine Luise of Nassau-Weilburg, then of Nassau (The Hague, 28 September 1765 – Greiz, 10 October 1837), married in Kirchheim on 9 January 1786 Heinrich XIII Fürst Reuss zu Greiz (Greiz, 16 February 1747 – Greiz, 29 January 1817), and had issue
• Frederick William, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg (25 October 1768, The Hague – 9 January 1816).
• Karoline Luise Friederike of Nassau-Weilburg, then of Nassau (Kirchheim, 14 February 1770 – Wiesbaden, 8 July 1828), married in Kirchheim on 4 September 1787 Karl Ludwig Fürst zu Wied (Dierdorf, 9 September 1763 – Dierdorf, 9 March 1824), without issue
• Karl Ludwig of Nassau-Weilburg (Kirchheim, 19 July 1772 – Kirchheim, 27 July 1772)
• Karl Wilhelm Friedrich of Nassau-Weilburg, then of Nassau (Kirchheim, 1 May 1775 – Weilburg, 11 May 1807), unmarried and without issue
• Amalie Charlotte Wilhelmine Louise of Nassau-Weilburg, then of Nassau (Kirchheim, 7 August 1776 – Schaumburg, 19 February 1841), married firstly in Weilburg on 29 October 1793 Victor II, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, and had issue, and married secondly in Schaumburg on 15 February 1813 Friedrich Freiherr von Stein-Liebenstein zu Barchfeld (14 February 1777 – 4 December 1849), and had issue
• Henriette of Nassau-Weilburg, then of Nassau (22 April 1780 – 2 January 1857). Married Duke Louis of Württemberg, second son of Friedrich II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg.
• Karl of Nassau-Weilburg (1784 – shortly thereafter)
• Four nameless stillborn children (1767, 1778, 1779, 1785)