John Louis, Count of Nassau-Ottweiler, was first Count of Nassau-Ottweiler.
Background
He was the second son of William Louis of Nassau-Saarbrücken and his wife Anna Amalia of Baden-Durlach. His father died in 1640. John Louis and his mother were able to return to Saarbrücken three years later.
After the death of his mother in 1651 he also became guardian of his younger brothers.
Education
Before his return, he had studied at the University of Saumur. Between 1644 and 1645 he completed his Grand Tour to Paris.
Career
At times, he was Major General, Regent of the other Nassau territories and chief of the House of Nassau. The Peace of Westphalia restored all the Nassau territories in 1648. John Louis took up the government of Nassau-Saarbrücken and Nassau-Usingen.
In 1653, he founded the Ironworks in Neunkirchen.
John Louis received the area around Ottweiler. He entered French military service in 1656 and was Colonel of the Royal-Alsace Regiment.
He was taken prisoner during the Franco-Spanish War. Even when he was still a minor, John Louis sought the return of Homburg, which had been taken by Lorraine.
He was assisted by Louis XIV and it came to negotiations before the Reichstag.
John Louis was granted sovereign rights over the Homburg district, but the fortress remained in the hands of Lorraine until the Empire had paid its war debts to Lorraine. When another war broke out between France and Lorraine, John Louis surrendered Homburg to the Electorate of Trier. During the Franco-Dutch war, John Louis"s territories were devastated.
Later, the Nassau territories were threatened by Louis XIV"s Reunion Policy.
John Louis refused to pay homage to the French king as count of Homburg and Ottweiler. John Louis then went to the Nassau territories East of the Rhine.
John Louis was in the service of the Upper Rhenish Circle and founded a new imperial army. He was apponted General Sergeant and in 1682, he was promoted to General Major.
He led his own infantry regiment against the French into the War of the Palatine Succession.
His remains were destroyed in the looting of the church during the French Revolution. This had the following children:
Christian Louis (1650-1650)
Frederick Louis (1651-1728)
married firstly on 28 July 1680 Countess Christiane of Ahlefeld (1659-1695)
married secondly on 27 September 1697 Countess Louise Sophie of Hanau-Lichtenberg (1662-1751)
Anna Catherine (1653-1731)
married in 1671 to John Philip II, Wildand Rhinegrave of Salm-Dhaun (1645-1693)
Wolrad (1656-1705)
Charles Siegfried (1659-1679)
Louis (1661-1699)
married on 9 April 1694 Countess Louise Amalie of Horne (1665-1728)
Louise (1662-1741)
Maurice (1664-1666).
Membership
Fruitbearing Society]
When in 1677 Gustav Adolph died, John Louis became the senior member of the House of Nassau.