Ernst Christoph von Nassau, sometimes called Christoph Ernst, (1686 in Hartmannsdorf (Jaczków) near Glogau–19 November 1755 in Sagan) was a Prussian general lieutenant and knight of the Black Eagle Order. He is memorialized on the Equestrian statue of Frederick the Great. After fighting in the Prussian army during the War of Spanish Succession, he transferred to the Hessian army; subsequently, he served during peacetime in the army of the Duke of Saxony and in 1740, upon the ascension of Frederick in 1740, he rejoined the Prussian army and served in the War of Austrian Succession. Family Ernst Christoph von Nassau descended from a Silesian family in Hartmannsdorf near Glogau. The property was purchased in 1600 by his grandfather, Ernst von Nassau. Ernst Christoph's son, Christoph Erdmann (1722–1752), was already a cornet with him in Saxon service and died as his father's general adjutant and a Prussian captain. With him, the male line expired. After the death of his wife, Ernst Christoph lived with the widow of an officer of his regiment, Maria Elisabeth Biebisch, with whom he had three children: Anna Francisca Caroline, Georg Ernst Christoph (born 1747) and Friedrich Joseph Alexander (born 1748/49). The sons were legitimized by patent of 5 February 1787 (and raised to the nobility), by which time the daughter had already died. The patent came into effect only in 1804. Military service After his studies Nassau voluntarily went to the Prussian army. He fought with it in Flanders and Brabant during the War of the Spanish Succession. He then switched to Hessian service, but had to leave it because he fought a duel. Saxon service Nassau subsequently entered the Saxon army. The Elector of Saxony was also the King of Poland. Nassau became a major and appointed to command of the independent company in the regiment of Count Erdmann II, Count of Promnitz, one of August's supporters. Soon Nassau's talents were recognized and he became lieutenant colonel of the cavalry and general and governor-general of Dresden, where he was assigned to Count and Field Marshal August Christoph Graf von Wackerbarth (1662–1734). The Count soon made Nassau his general adjutant and promoted him to the colonel of the cavalry. In addition, Nassau was permitted to establish his own Cuirassier regiment and to recruit from all the cuirassier and dragoon regiments. In the formation of the regiment, only Holsteiner horses were used and all soldiers were equipped