
Catharine had a close bond with her brother William the Silent. He had many sisters, but Catharine was married to his best friend, Gunther, and together they were an important source of support to him. They advised him in diplomatic affairs and found him allies. On the tragic day of William’s death, Catharine was walking right behind him when he was shot. According to eyewitnesses, she held his head in her lap and he died in her arms.
In 1560, Catharina married the love of her life, Günther of Schwarzenburg, a close friend and confidant of William the Silent and the entire Nassau family. Günther wrote William a frank declaration of his love: ‘You would not believe how long I have been here on my own without my wife. If this continues much longer, I will have her brought to Vianden or Luxembourg.’ From then on, ‘his Kathe’ would always accompany him when he travelled, unusual for the time.
Together, the couple devoted themselves to William’s interests in many ways; for example, they were part of a delegation that had to negotiate on the occupation of Breda in 1574. Catharina welcomed Louise de Coligny on her arrival in the Netherlands for her marriage to William; less than a month after the festivities, however, Günther died.
Catharina was in deep mourning and gladly accepted her brother’s invitation to move to Prinsenhof, in Delft, with him and his family, including her godchild Catharina Belgica. Another disaster took place there. Catharina was walking behind William when he was shot by Balthasar Gérard. In the autumn of 1584, she returned to Arnstadt, with Catharina Belgica, for whom she had been given guardianship. During the journey, she smuggled the body of Günther with her, concealed in furniture. She could not bear to leave him behind.
From a letter from Catharina to William, written on 10 March 1561 at Dillenburg Castle:
‘I cordially ask you, then, to hear from you how your Highness is, for I have not received word from you for a long time. And my kindly sincere Lord, I cannot pass you over, because you are my brother. Count Hans Günter was very poorly and had a fever. But it is getting better now, I hope by God that it improves.’
Read more about Catharina’s life
© Image: Auguste Tilly, Moord op Willem van Oranje door Balthasar Gerard in Delft [murder of William the Silent by Balthasar Gérard in Delft], 1884, wood engraving, Museum Prinsenhof Delft, gift of antiquarian Meyer Elte, The Hague