To control his expenses, he was forced to pledge possessions frequently and as a result the development of a powerful activity inwardly as well as outwardly was hampered.

[2] In his last feud, against the brothers Gottfried and Wilderich III von Walderdorff, Otto was killed[2][8][13] in a battle, that, according to charters, must have taken place between 6 December 1350 and 25 January 1351.

[2] A clever and energetic woman, she endeavoured to gradually settle the numerous feuds inherited by her and her son with the local noble families, the powerful lords of Bicken [de], Walderdorff and Haiger, although she herself did not disdain to take up the gauntlet forced upon her on one occasion or another.

[17] This way, the feud with Gerlach and Friedrich von Bicken, whose allies were the lords of Wildenburg and Elkershausen, which was highly damaging for both sides, was settled.

[18] Also in 1352, Adelaide succeeded in buying back the former Nassau half of the city of Siegen from the Electorate of Cologne for "zwey dusent alte schyldgulden" ("two thousand old shield guilders").

[8][15] With the reconciliation, the Walderdorff brothers had to release the prisoners without ransom, take their goods and tithes in Nassau in fief from the counts and, in addition, provide them with four vassals.

Adelaide, however, did not lack courage and steadfastness to counter the insolence and violence of her enemies with vigour and to defend the rights of her son.

There is no doubt that she benefited greatly from the support of her allies, Landgrave Henry II 'the Iron' of Hesse and his son Otto 'the Younger'.

[18] The conflict with sword and lance was followed by a legal dispute, before a settlement was concluded in 1357[15][18] by Count Thierry III of Looz, the chairman of the court, in a decision written in 63 articles, which is a most remarkable explanation of the customs and rights of that age.

[15][18] Because of 3200 pounds Heller and 2000 shield guilders, which Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV owed the deceased Count Otto, he assigned 1½ old large tornesel from some water or land tolls.

[20] Adelaide and her son, as it seems, sought satisfaction for the aforementioned debt of Emperor Charles IV to the toll of the Electorate of Mainz at Oberlahnstein,[15][21] which was closest to them.

In any case, they had even older claims on the Electorate of Mainz, probably dating back to Roman King Louis IV's time.

In the autumn of 1362, Archbishop Gerlach [de],[note 5] invaded Nassau-Siegen with 500 horsemen, each of whom, according to the custom of the time, were accompanied by a few armed footmen.

The long known belligerent peasants of the Rheingau scorched, looted and devastated the county, but had to retreat across the Rhine when the floods came, to prevent being cut off.