William II, Prince of Orange facts for kids
Quick facts for kids William II |
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William II, Prince of Orange (1651)
by Gerard van Honthorst |
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| Prince of Orange | |
| Reign | 14 March 1647 – 6 November 1650 |
| Predecessor | Frederick Henry |
| Successor | William III |
| Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders and Overijssel | |
| Reign | 14 March 1647 – 6 November 1650 |
| Predecessor | Frederick Henry |
| Successor | William III |
| Stadtholder of Groningen | |
| Reign | 14 March 1647 – 6 November 1650 |
| Predecessor | Frederick Henry |
| Successor | William Frederick |
| Born | 27 May 1626 The Hague, Dutch Republic |
| Died | 6 November 1650 (aged 24) The Hague, Dutch Republic |
| Burial | 8 March 1651 Nieuwe Kerk, Delft |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | William III |
| House | Orange-Nassau |
| Father | Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange |
| Mother | Amalia of Solms-Braunfels |
| Religion | Calvinism |
William II (born May 27, 1626 – died November 6, 1650) was an important leader in the Dutch Republic. This was the name for the Netherlands back then. He was the Prince of Orange and also a "Stadtholder." A Stadtholder was like a chief executive or governor.
William II served as Stadtholder for several provinces. These included Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, Overijssel, and Groningen. He held these roles from March 14, 1647, until he died three years later. His only son, William III, later became King of England, Ireland, and Scotland.
Contents
Early Life and Family
William II was born into a powerful family. His father was Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange. His mother was Amalia of Solms-Braunfels. Frederick Henry was the youngest son of William the Silent. William the Silent was a very famous Stadtholder.
William II's father, Frederick Henry, was Stadtholder from 1625 to 1647. The Stadtholders worked with the States-General. This was an assembly of leaders from the seven provinces. The province of Holland, which was the largest and richest, usually had the most power.
Marriage to Mary, Princess Royal
On May 2, 1641, William married Mary, Princess Royal. She was the oldest daughter of King Charles I of England. Their wedding took place in London. William was not yet 15 years old. Mary was only nine at the time of their marriage.
William II's Time as Leader
In 1647, William's father, Frederick Henry, passed away. William II then took over his father's titles. He also became Stadtholder of five provinces. These were Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel.
The Eighty Years' War
At this time, the Netherlands was fighting the Eighty Years' War. This was a long war against Spain. The Dutch wanted to be independent from Spanish rule. Under William's father, the Netherlands had mostly won the war. Since 1646, they had been talking with Spain to end it.
The leaders agreed to the Peace of Münster in 1648. This treaty recognized the independence of the northern Netherlands. However, William did not want to accept it. He was unhappy because the southern Netherlands stayed under Spanish control. Also, making a separate peace went against their alliance with France. But six of the provinces voted to accept the treaty.
William's Secret Plans
William secretly started his own talks with France. He wanted to expand his territory. He also hoped to create a more centralized government. He also worked to help his brother-in-law, Charles II, become King of England again. Charles II was living in exile at the time.
Conflict with Holland
In 1650, William II had a big disagreement. It was with the province of Holland and the powerful Regents of Amsterdam. These Regents were important city leaders. They included Andries Bicker and his cousin Cornelis de Graeff. After the Peace of Münster, the Regents wanted to make the army smaller. This would save money. It would also reduce William's power.
William decided to act. He had eight members of the States of Holland arrested. One of them was Jacob de Witt. They were imprisoned in Loevestein Castle. William also sent his cousin, Willem Frederik of Nassau-Dietz, with 10,000 soldiers. Their goal was to take Amsterdam by force. Bad weather stopped this plan. But Amsterdam still gave in to William's demands.
William's Death and Legacy
William served as Stadtholder for only three years. He died from smallpox in 1650. Smallpox was a very serious disease back then. His only son, William, was born just one week after his death. This period became known as the First Stadtholderless Period. His son later became Stadtholder in 1672. In 1689, he also became King of England after the Glorious Revolution.
Arms
William II used these symbols during his time as Prince of Orange and Stadtholder:
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The coat of arms used by Frederick Henry, his son William II, and his grandson William III before becoming King of England
Depictions
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A double portrait of William and Mary Henrietta Stuart. It was made to celebrate their engagement by Anthony van Dyck.
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William II of Orange and Mary Stuart, Princess Royal.
Images for kids
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William II, Prince of Orange (1651) by Gerard van Honthorst
See also
In Spanish: Guillermo II de Orange-Nassau para niños
