Background
She was the wife of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, and the daughter of count John Albert I of Solms-Braunfels and countess Agnes of Sayn-Wittgenstein.
She was the wife of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, and the daughter of count John Albert I of Solms-Braunfels and countess Agnes of Sayn-Wittgenstein.
Childhood Amalia of Solms-Braunfels, born into the House of Solms, a ruling family with Imperial immediacy, spent her childhood at the parental castle at Braunfels. She became part of the train of Elizabeth, wife of Frederick V, Elector Palatine, the "Winter King" of Bohemia. After imperial forces defeated Frederick V, she fled with the pregnant queen to the west.
Shelter was denied to them because the emperor forbade lieutenant
Elizabeth went into labour during their flight and Amalia helped her with her delivery. The end of their journey was The Hague, where stadtholder Maurice of Nassau, cousin of the elector gave them asylum in 1621.
They often appeared at his court, where Maurice"s younger half-brother Frederick Henry became infatuated with Amalia in 1622. She refused to become his lover and held out for marriage.
Wife to the Stadtholder When Frederick Henry became stadtholder after the death of his half-brother Prince Maurice, his influence grew substantially, as did Amalia"son
Together Frederick Henry and Amalia succeeded in expanding court life in The Hague. They had several palaces built, including Huis ten Bosch. Amalia was a great collector of art and amassed many jewels, which were inherited by her four surviving daughters.
She had a large influence upon policy.
She acted as the political advisor of Frederick, and after he became sick in 1640, she openly participated in politics and received foreign diplomats. Her influence is regarded to have contributed to the Peace of Westphalia in 1648.
As a recognition, King Philip IV of Spain granted her the area around Turnhout in 1649. She kept this position until 1672.
She was described as intelligent, arrogant and ambitious, not beautiful but with a fresh and appealing appearance.