Person

Johan Maurits of Nassau-Siegen

1604–1679 · 17th century · Also known as John Maurice of Nassau

Johan Maurits of Nassau-Siegen was a Dutch count, later prince, who governed Dutch Brazil for the Dutch West India Company from 1637 to 1644. He built Mauritsstad beside Recife, restored sugar production, tolerated Catholics and Jews, and seized Portuguese slave-trading posts in Africa. He brought artists and scientists to record Brazil. In The Hague he built the Mauritshuis.

Johan Maurits of Nassau-Siegen
Image: Jan de Baen · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 2 state histories

Principality of Nassau-SiegenDutch Brazil

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Johan Maurits of Nassau-Siegen. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/johan-maurits-of-nassau-siegen
MLA
“Johan Maurits of Nassau-Siegen.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/johan-maurits-of-nassau-siegen. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Johan Maurits of Nassau-Siegen.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/johan-maurits-of-nassau-siegen.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Johan Maurits of Nassau-Siegen’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/johan-maurits-of-nassau-siegen (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻