Anna of Saxony

Anna of Saxony
Portrait after Antonis Mor, c. 1560–1574
Princess consort of Orange
Tenure25 August 1561 – 22 March 1571
Born23 December 1544
Dresden, Duchy of Saxony
Died18 December 1577(1577-12-18) (aged 32)
Dresden, Electorate of Saxony
Spouse
(m. 1561; div. 1571)
Issue
more...
Anna, Countess of Nassau-Dillenburg
Maurice, Prince of Orange
Emilia, Princess of Portugal
Christine von Diez (illegitimate)
HouseWettin
FatherMaurice, Elector of Saxony
MotherAgnes of Hesse

Anna of Saxony (23 December 1544 – 18 December 1577) was the daughter of Maurice, Elector of Saxony, and Agnes of Hesse. Her wealth drew many suitors; she ultimately accepted the proposal of widowed William the Silent, and they were married on 25 August 1561. They had to flee the Netherlands in 1567 in the face of the Habsburg army dispatched to suppress the Dutch Revolt.

In 1570, Anna began an affair with her lawyer Jan Rubens which resulted in a child. She was put under house arrest, and William had their marriage dissolved. Anna died five days before her 33rd birthday, mentally and physically ill.