page_title: Walram I, Count of Nassau
section_title: Early life
hierarchical_section_title: Walram I, Count of Nassau / Biography / Early life
context_page_description: Walram I of Nassau, German: Walram I. von Nassau, also known as Walram I of Laurenburg, was Count of Nassau and is the oldest Nassau whose ancestorship is absolutely certain. He managed to expand his territory considerably during his reign. He took part in the Third Crusade.
context_section_description: Walram was probably a son of Rupert II, Count of Laurenburg and an unknown woman. Possibly his mother was called Beatrix, it is uncertain whether that mention should not have been 'grandmother' (namely Beatrix of Limburg, daughter of Walram II the Pagan, Count of Limburg and Duke of Lower Lorraine and Jutta of Guelders (daughter of Gerard I, Count of Guelders).
  Walram is mentioned between 1176 and 1191 as Count of Laurenburg and then, from 1193, as Count of Nassau. He seems to have had his residence at the Castle of Laurenburg first, which is why he used the title Count of Laurenburg, even when the name Nassau was already in use for a while in his house. In 1198, his widow still used the seal of Walram of Laurenburg. Walram ruled with his cousin Rupert III, and later with his son Herman, whom he eventually succeeded.
caption: Coat of Arms of the Counts of Nassau