Count William Wirich of Daun-Falkenstein (1 June 1613 – 26 August 1682) was a German nobleman. By descent, he was a Count of Falkenstein; by inheritance, he was Lord of Broich and Bürgel.
Born into an old German nobility, which ruled the County of Falkenstein, William Wirich was a third child and second son of Count John Adolph (1582âÂÂ1623) and Countess Anna Maria of Nassau-Siegen (1589âÂÂ1620), a daughter of Count John VII of Nassau-Siegen and Countess Magdalene of Waldeck-Wildungen (1558-1599).
On 28 October 1634, he married at Waldeck Castle to his cousin Elisabeth of Waldeck-Wildungen (1610-1647), the daughter of Christian, Count of Waldeck-Wildungen (1585.-1637) and Countess Elisabeth of Nassau-Siegen (1584-1661).
In 1636, he inherited the County of Falkenstein from his third cousin once removed, Count Francis Christopher of Daun-Falkenstein-Oberstein (1603-1636), who was killed during the Thirty Years' War.
Charles Alexander was his only son who survived into adulthood. However, he was shot by Count Moritz of Limburg-Stirum during a fight on 7 October 1659.
William Wirich remarried to Countess Agnes Catherine of Limburg-Styrum (1629-1686), the daughter of Count Bernhard Albrech of Limburg-Bronckhorst (1597-1637) and Countess Anna Maria of Berg (d. 1653).
However, this marriage remained childless, so when he died, the Daun-Falkenstein branch died out in the male line.
The impoverished count sold the county of Falkenstein to the Duke Charles IV of Lorraine in 1667. The Lordships of Broich and Bürgel were inherited by his third cousin once removed, Count Emich Christian of Leiningen-Dagsburg.
On 28 November 1634 at Waldeck Castle, he married his cousin Elizabeth (1610âÂÂ1647), the daughter of Count Christian of Waldeck-Wildungen. They had the following children:
In 1663, he remarried, to Agnes Catherine (1629âÂÂ1686), the daughter of Count Bernard Albert of Limburg-Styrum (1597âÂÂ1637) and Countess Maria Anna of Berg (1600âÂÂ1653). This marriage remained childless.