Moritz Prince of Nassau

born: 21.11.1820 in Biebrich

died: 23.03.1850 in Vienna

Moritz, the younger brother of Duke Adolph zu Nassau, spent his childhood in Biebrich and on the Platte and received private lessons from 1826, following the curriculum of the Landesgymnasium Weilburg. His first piano lessons were given by court music teacher Johann Peter Heuschkel. Duke Wilhelm zu Nassau planned a military career for his younger son at an early age, and in 1835 Moritz was given the rank of lieutenant in the 1st Nassau Regiment. His studies in Vienna from 1837-39, which he completed together with Hereditary Prince Adolph, included law, physics, chemistry, higher geometry, European state history, English, French and music. As early as 1837, Moritz was appointed a sub-lieutenant in the Austrian Uhlan regiment "Archduke Carl".

His niece Elisabeth zu Wied, who later became Queen of Romania, reported that Moritz could paint and play and compose and had learned a lot of surgery; he was "my mother's idol, who ... played four-handed with him for hours when he came home". Moritz composed numerous piano pieces, especially marches, which were published by B. Schott in Mainz.

On Duke Adolph's accession to the throne in 1839, he became the presumptive heir to the Nassau throne. In Austrian military service, Moritz fought in the Hungarian War of Insurrection and took part in several battles and engagements. In August 1845, he was appointed major, his last position being colonel in a hussar regiment.

In 1849 he fell ill with a heart condition. Duke Adolph visited him in Vienna in January and February 1850. Shortly afterwards, Moritz succumbed to a typhoid fever and was buried in the princely crypt in Weilburg. Very popular in wide circles of the Nassau people, the young prince's early death caused general mourning and sympathy. Moritzstrasse, which was laid out at the beginning of the 1860s, keeps his memory alive.