Nassau

Nassau, formerly a German duchy, now Wiesbaden, a district of the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau (q.v.). The soil is fertile and produces some of the most esteemed Rhenish wines. The chief towns are Wiesbaden (q.v.), the capital of the district; Schwalbach, Schlangenbad, Fachingen, Selters, and Geilnau.—The family of Nassau, the elder branch of which reigned till 1866, dates from the 10th century. The younger branch inherited in 1544 the principality of Orange (q.v.), and as the princes of Orange took an important place in European history (see HOLLAND). The reigning Duke of Nassau sided against Prussia in 1866, and his duchy was incorporated with Prussia (see PRUSSIA, GERMANY); and on the extinction of the male line of the Orange branch by the death of William III. of Holland, in 1890, the Duke of Nassau became Grand-duke of Luxemburg.