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The House of Nassau was a German dynasty that originated in the historical region of Nassau, located in present-day Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate. The family provided hereditary rulers for centuries. Key figures include Adolf of Nassau, who was the German king from 1292 to 1298, and William the Silent, who led the Dutch revolt against Spain and founded the dynasty of hereditary stadholders in the Netherlands.12

The Nassau inheritance was divided into Walramian and Ottonian branches. The Walramian branch eventually became the Duchy of Nassau, which was later annexed by Prussia. The Ottonian branch acquired extensive Dutch territories, leading to the title princes of Orange-Nassau. Descendants of this line continue to reign in the Netherlands today, and the Walramian line remains the ruling house of Luxembourg.12

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  1. Nassau
  2. House of Orange

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