Juliana of Stolberg

Juliana, Countess of Stolberg-Wernigerode (February 15 1506 - June 18 1580) was the mother of William the Silent, the leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish in the 16th century.

Juliana was born in Stolberg as the daughter of Botho VIII of Stolberg-Wernigerode and Anna of Eppstein-Königstein. She was raised a Roman Catholic but changed her religion twice, first to Lutheranism and later to Calvinism. She, along with her second husband, was a convinced protestant and raised their children in the protestant ways. After the death of her second husband in 1559 she remained living at Dillenburg castle, now belonging to her second son John, where she died in 1580.

Her entire life, she kept close to her children, especially William. When William began his rebellion against Philip II of Spain she supported her son morally and financially. Because of this financial support, William was able to campaign against Spain in the Netherlands.

Marriages and children

In 1523 Juliana married Philip II of Hanau-Munzenberg († 1529). From this marriage five children were born.

On September 20 1531 Juliana married William, Count of Nassau. From this marriage twelve children were born:

# William I of Orange (1533-1584)
# Hermanna (1534 - † young)
# John VI "The Elder" (1536-1606)
# Louis of Nassau (1538-1574)
# Maria (1539-1599) She married William IV, Count of Berg
# Adolf (1540-1568)
# Anna (1541-1616). She married Albrecht, Count of Nassau-Saarbrücken
# Elisabeth (1542-1603). She married Conrad, Count of Solms-Braunfels
# Katharine (1543-1624). She married Günther XLI, Count of Schwarzburg-Arnstadt
# Juliana (1546-1588). She married Albrecht VII, Count of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
# Magdalene (1547-1633).She married Wolfgang, Count of Hohenlohe-Weickersheim
# Henry (1550-1574)

Juliana von Stolberg had in total 123 children and grandchildren.