Willem van Oranje
The brother who became leader of the Revolt and is regarded as a forefather of the House of Orange-Nassau.
From Nassau to Orange-Nassau
Related to the King
Maria is not a direct ancestor of King Willem-Alexander. She was the sister of Jan VI, ancestor of the Frisian Nassau branch from which the present Dutch royal family descends.
Genealogy
So what is Maria to the present King?
In everyday language, she is a very distant great-aunt. More precisely: she is a sister of Jan VI of Nassau, from whose descendants the line to King Willem-Alexander developed.
Maria stands beside the direct line. The King does not descend from Maria herself, but from her brother Jan.
Follow the line from Jan VI to Willem-Alexander.
Jan VIMaria’s brother
→
Ernst CasimirNassau-Dietz
→
Willem FrederikFriesland
→
Hendrik Casimir II
→
Johan Willem FrisoOrange
→
Willem IV
→
Willem V
→
King Willem I
→
King Willem II
→
King Willem III
→
Wilhelmina
→
Juliana
→
Beatrix
→
Willem-Alexander
Three children from one family
Maria’s brother, who became leader of the Revolt and later became known as the Father of the Fatherland.
Maria van Nassau
The sister who married the Count of Bergh and was caught between brother, husband and war.
Jan VI van Nassau
The brother whose descendants formed the Frisian Nassau branch and eventually the present royal line.
In one sentence
Discover her brother →Maria never wore the Dutch crown, but she stood as an aunt beside the family line that would wear it centuries later.