William I (William the Silent).

Prince William I of Orange, Count of Nassau (April 24, 1533 – July 10, 1584), also widely known as William the Silent (Dutch: Willem de Zwijger), was born in the House of Nassau, and became Prince of Orange in 1544. He was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years' War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. Portrait of William of Orange by A.Th. ... Portrait of William of Orange by A.Th. ... The House of Orange-Nassau (in Dutch: Huis van Oranje-Nassau), a branch of the German House of Nassau, has played a central role in the political life of the Netherlands - and at times in Europe - since William I of Orange (also known as William the Silent and Father of... For other uses, see Nassau (disambiguation). ... April 24 is the 114th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (115th in leap years). ... Events January 25 - King Henry VIII of England marries Anne Boleyn, his second Queen consort. ... July 10 is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1584 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... The royal House of Nassau is one of the most prominent dynasties in Europe. ... Prince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the principality of Orange in southern France. ... Combatants Dutch rebels Spanish Empire The Eighty Years War, or Dutch Revolt (1568[1]–1648), was the revolt of the Seventeen Provinces in the Netherlands against the Spanish (Habsburg) Empire. ... Map of Dutch Republic by Joannes Janssonius United Netherlands redirects here. ...

A wealthy nobleman, William originally served at the court of the governor Margaret of Parma. Unhappy with the lack of political power for the local nobility and the Spanish persecution of Dutch Protestants, William joined the Dutch uprising and turned against his former masters. The most influential and politically capable of the rebels, he led the Dutch to several military successes in the fight against the Spanish. Declared an outlaw by the Spanish king in 1580, he was assassinated by Balthasar Gérard (also written as 'Gerardts') in Delft at a time when William's popularity was waning. Nobility is a traditional hereditary status (see hereditary titles) that exists today in many countries (mainly present or former monarchies). ... Margaret of Parma (28 December 1522 - 18 January 1586), duchess of Parma and regent of the Netherlands from 1559 to 1567, was the illegitimate daughter of Charles V. Her mother, Johanna Maria von der Gheest, a servant of Charles de Lalaing, Seigneur de Montigny, was a Fleming. ... Political power (imperium in Latin) is a type of power held by a person or group in a society. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      Protestantism encompasses the forms... For other senses of this word, see outlaw (disambiguation). ... This is an incomplete list of persons that were assassinated for political and other reasons, and who have individual entries. ... Balthasar Gérard (in Dutch Gerards or Gerardts) (1557-1584) was the assassin of the Dutch independence leader, William the Silent, also known as William I of Orange. ... Coordinates: Country Netherlands Province South Holland Area (2006)  - Municipality 24. ...

There are several explanations for the origin of this nickname "William the Silent". The most common one is that he rarely spoke out clearly on controversial matters at the court or in public, or (by some accounts) even completely avoided speaking about such topics. ^[1] In the Netherlands, he is also known as the Vader des vaderlands, "Father of the fatherland", and the Dutch national anthem, The William (het Wilhelmus), was written in his honour. // A nickname is a name of a person or thing other than its proper name. ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that is evoking and eulogizing the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nations government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... Het Wilhelmus (The William [viz. ...

On April 13, 2005, an online searchable archive of his complete (known) correspondence was made publicly accessible by Het Instituut voor Nederlandse Geschiedenis (ING), the Institute for Dutch History. April 13 is the 103rd day of the year (104th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Early life

William was born in the castle of Dillenburg in Nassau, present-day Germany. He was the eldest son of William, Count of Nassau and Juliana of Stolberg-Werningerode, and was raised a Lutheran. He had four younger brothers and seven younger sisters: John, Hermanna, Louis, Mary, Anna, Elisabeth, Katharine, Juliane, Magdalene, Adolf and Henry. Dillenburg (population ca 25,000) is a city and a castle in the German district of Lahn-Dill, in the federal state of Hessen. ... For other uses, see Nassau (disambiguation). ... William of Nassau (Dutch: Willem de Rijke) (10 April 1487 – 6 October 1559), was a count of Nassau-Dillenburg from the House of Nassau. ... Juliana of Stolberg (Juliane von Stolberg-Wernigerode) (Stolberg, 15 februari 1506 - Dillenburg, June 1580) was the daughter of Botho VIII of Stolberg-Wernigerode and Anna of Eppstein-Königstein. ... The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ... Count Johan of Nassau (November 22, 1535 – October 8, 1606) was the brother of William I of Orange. ... Louis of Nassau (January 10, 1538 - April 14, 1574) was a brother of William I of Orange. ... Among various individuals with the name Adolf of Nassau are: Adolf of Nassau-Weilburg, King of the Romans (1291–98) and Count of Nassau (1277–98) Adolf of Nassau, brother of Louis of Nassau and William I of Orange, killed in the Battle of Heiligerlee on May 23, 1568. ... Count Henry III of Nassau-Breda (1483-1538) was a count of the house of Nassau. ...

When his cousin, René of Châlon, Prince of Orange, died childless in 1544, the eleven-year-old William inherited all Châlon's property, including the title Prince of Orange and vast estates in the Netherlands (present-day Netherlands and Belgium). Because of his young age, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V served as the regent of the principality until William was fit to rule. However, Charles V demanded that William receive a Roman Catholic education. William was sent to Brussels to study under the supervision of Mary of Habsburg (aka Mary of Hungary), the sister of Charles V and governor of the Habsburg Netherlands (Seventeen Provinces). In Brussels, he was taught foreign languages and received military and diplomatic education.^{[citation needed]} René of Châlon (February 5, 1519 – July 15, 1544), also known as Renatus of Châlon, was a Prince of the House of Orange and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht and Gelre. ... Charles V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was ruler of the Burgundian Netherlands (1506-1555), King of Spain (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily (1516-1554), Archduke of Austria (1519-1521), King of the Romans (or German King), (1519-1556 but did not formally abdicate until 1558) and... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Roman Catholic Church... Nickname: Map showing the location of Brussels in Belgium Coordinates: Country Belgium Region Brussels-Capital Region Founded 979 Founded (Region) June 18, 1989 Government  - Mayor (Municipality) Freddy Thielemans Area  - Region 162 km²  (62. ... Mary of Habsburg Mary of Habsburg, also named Mary, Maria, or Marie of Hungary, of Austria, of Castile, or of Burgundy (18 September 1505 – 18 October 1558) was the Queen consort of Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia, and later governor of the Netherlands for her nephew, Emperor Charles V... The Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands ruled the Seventeen Provinces, after 1581 only the Southern Netherlands as a representative of the Duke of Burgundy (until 1555), the King of Spain (1555-1706) or the Archduke of Austria (1716-1794), all from the house of Habsburg. ... Flag of the Seventeen Provinces The Seventeen Provinces were a personal union of states in the Low Countries in the 15th century and 16th century, roughly covering the current Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, a good part of the North of France (Artois, Nord) and a small part of the West of...

On 6 July 1551, he married Anna van Egmond en Buren, the wealthy heir to the lands of her father, and William earned the titles Lord of Egmond and Count of Buren. They had three children. July 6 is the 187th day of the year (188th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 178 days remaining. ... Year 1551 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ...

Later that same year, William was appointed captain in the cavalry. Favoured by Charles V, he made quick promotions, and became commander of one of the Emperor's armies at age 22. He was made a member of the Raad van State, the highest political advisory council in the Netherlands¹ in 1555; the same year Charles abdicated in favour of his son, Philip II of Spain. It was on the shoulder of William that the gout-afflicted Emperor leaned during his abdication ceremony. Captain is a nautical term, an organizational title, and a rank in various uniformed organizations. ... French Republican Guard - May 8, 2005 celebrations Cavalry (from French cavalerie) were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat. ... The Council of State is the name of an organ of government in many states, and especially in republics. ... William I (William the Silent) William I, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau (April 24, 1533 – July 10, 1584) was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. ... Philip II (Spanish: Felipe II de Habsburgo; Portuguese: Filipe I) (May 21, 1527 – September 13, 1598) was the first official King of Spain from 1556 until 1598, King of Naples and Sicily from 1554 until 1598, King consort of England (as husband of Mary I) from 1554 to 1558, Lord...

His wife Anna died on March 24, 1558. Later, William of Orange had a brief relationship with one Eva Elincx^{[citation needed]}, leading to the birth of their illegitimate son, Justinus van Nassau: William of Orange officially recognised him and took responsibility of his education - Justinus would become an admiral in his later years. is the 83rd day of the year (84th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events January 7 - French troops led by Francis, Duke of Guise take Calais, the last continental possession of England July 13 - Battle of Gravelines: In France, Spanish forces led by Count Lamoral of Egmont defeat the French forces of Marshal Paul des Thermes at Gravelines. ... Illegitimacy was a term in common usage for the condition of being born of parents who are not validly married to one another; the legal term is bastardy. ...

In 1559, Philip appointed William as the stadtholder (governor) of the provinces Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht and Burgundy, thereby greatly increasing his political power. January 15 - Elizabeth I of England is crowned in Westminster Abbey. ... A stadtholder (Dutch: stadhouder meaning place holder, a Germanic parallel to Latin locum tenens or French lieutenant), means an official who is appointed by the legal ruling Monarch to represent him in a country, and may have a mandate to govern it in his name, in the latter case roughly... Holland is a region in the central-western part of the Netherlands with a population of 6. ... Capital Middelburg Queens Commissioner drs. ... Utrecht is the smallest province of the Netherlands, and is located in the center of the country. ... région of Bourgogne, see Bourgogne. ...

From politician to rebel

The Battle of Heiligerlee, fought on May 23, 1568, is usually given as the beginning of the Eighty Years' War.

Although he never directly opposed the Spanish king, William soon became one of the most prominent members of the opposition in the Raad van State, together with Philip de Montmorency, Count of Hoorn and Lamoral, Count of Egmont. They were mainly seeking more political power for the Dutch nobility, and complained that too many Spaniards were involved in governing the Netherlands. Download high resolution version (855x641, 246 KB)Battle of Heiligerlee as depicted by Frans Hogenberg (1536-1590) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Download high resolution version (855x641, 246 KB)Battle of Heiligerlee as depicted by Frans Hogenberg (1536-1590) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Combatants Dutch rebels Spanish Friesland Commanders Louis of Nassau Adolf of Nassau † Johan de Ligne Strength 3,900 infantry 200 cavalry 3,200 infantry 20 cavalry Casualties 50 dead or wounded 1,500 – 2,000 dead, wounded, or captured The Battle of Heiligerlee in Groningen on 23 May 1568 was... May 23 is the 143rd day of the year (144th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events March 23 - Peace of Longjumeau ends the Second War of Religion in France. ... Combatants Dutch rebels Spanish Empire The Eighty Years War, or Dutch Revolt (1568[1]–1648), was the revolt of the Seventeen Provinces in the Netherlands against the Spanish (Habsburg) Empire. ... Count of Hoorn Philip de Montmorency (1524-June 5, 1568) was also known as Count of Horne. ... Count of Egmont Lamoral, Count of Egmont (November 18, 1522 - June 5, 1568) was a general and statesman in Flanders just before the start of the Eighty Years War. ...

William was also dissatisfied with the increasing persecution of Protestants in the Netherlands. Brought up as both a Lutheran and later a Catholic, William was very religious but still was a proponent of freedom of religion for all people. The inquisition policy in the Netherlands, carried out by Cardinal Granvelle, prime minister to the new governor Margaret of Parma (1522-1583) (natural half-sister to Philip II), increased opposition to the Spanish rule among the – then mostly Catholic – population of the Netherlands. Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... Inquisition (capitalized I) is broadly used, to refer to things related to judgment of heresy by the Roman Catholic Church. ... Granvelle, portrait by Antonio Moro (1549) Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle (August 20, 1517 _ September 21, 1586) was one of the most influential of the church leaders during the time which immediately followed the appearance of Protestantism in Europe. ... The Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands ruled the Seventeen Provinces, after 1581 only the Southern Netherlands as a representative of the Duke of Burgundy (until 1555), the King of Spain (1555-1706) or the Archduke of Austria (1716-1794), all from the house of Habsburg. ... Margaret of Parma (28 December 1522 - 18 January 1586), duchess of Parma and regent of the Netherlands from 1559 to 1567, was the illegitimate daughter of Charles V. Her mother, Johanna Maria von der Gheest, a servant of Charles de Lalaing, Seigneur de Montigny, was a Fleming. ... Events January 9 - Adrian Dedens becomes Pope Adrian VI. February 26 - Execution by hanging of Cuauhtémoc, Aztec ruler of Tenochtitlan under orders of conquistador Hernán Cortés. ... 1583 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ...

On 25 August 1561, William of Orange married for the second time. His new wife, Anna of Saxony, is described by contemporaries as "ugly and ill-tempered", and it is generally assumed that William married her to gain more influence in Saxony, Hesse and the Palatine^{[citation needed]}. The couple had five children. August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ... // Events The Edict of Orleans suspends the persecution of the Huguenots. ... Anna of Saxony (December 23, 1544-December 18, 1577) was the only child and heiress of Maurice, Elector of Saxony, and Agnes of Hesse. ... The Free State of Saxony (German: Freistaat Sachsen; Sorbian: Swobodny Stat Sakska) is the easternmost federal state of Germany. ... Hesse (German: Hessen) is a state of Germany with an area of 21,110 km² and just over six million inhabitants. ... A palatinate is a territory administered by a count palatine, originally the direct representative of the sovereign, but later the hereditary ruler of the territory subject to the crowns overlordship. ...

In early 1565, a large group of lesser noblemen, including William's younger brother Louis, formed the Confederacy of Noblemen. On 5 April, they offered a petition to Margaret of Austria, requesting an end to the persecution of Protestants. From August to October 1566, a wave of iconoclasm (known as the Beeldenstorm) spread through the Low Countries. Calvinists, angry with their being persecuted by the Roman Catholic Church and opposed to the Catholic images of saints (which in their eyes conflicted with the Second Commandment), destroyed statues in hundreds of churches and monasteries throughout the Netherlands. Louis of Nassau (January 10, 1538 - April 14, 1574) was a brother of William I of Orange. ... April 5 is the 95th day of the year (96th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Statues in the Cathedral of Saint Martin, Utrecht, attacked in Reformation iconoclasm in the 16th century. ... Calvinism is a theological system and an approach to the Christian life that emphasizes Gods sovereignty in all things. ... This 1768 parchment (612x502 mm) by Jekuthiel Sofer emulated the 1675 Decalogue at Amsterdam Esnoga synagogue. ... It has been suggested that Ecclesia (Church) be merged into this article or section. ... Monastery of St. ...

Statue of William in The Hague.

Following the Beeldenstorm, unrest in the Netherlands grew, and Margaret agreed to grant the wishes of the Confederacy, provided the noblemen would help to restore order. She also allowed more important noblemen, including William of Orange, to assist the Confederacy. In late 1566, and early 1567, it became clear that the she would not be allowed to fulfill her promises, and when several minor rebellions failed, many Calvinists (the major Protestant denomination) and Lutherans fled the country. Following the announcement that Philip II, unhappy with the situation in the Netherlands, would dispatch his loyal general Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba (also known as "The Iron Duke") to restore order, William retreated to his native Nassau. He had been (financially) involved with several of the rebels. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 800 pixel, file size: 81 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)William of Orange statue in The Hague I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 800 pixel, file size: 81 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)William of Orange statue in The Hague I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under... Calvinism is a theological system and an approach to the Christian life that emphasizes Gods sovereignty in all things. ... The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ... Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba. ...

After his arrival in August 1567, Alba established the Council of Troubles (known to the people as the Council of Blood) to judge those involved with the rebellion and the iconoclasm. William was one of the 10,000 to be summoned before the Council, but he failed to appear. He was subsequently declared an outlaw, and his properties were confiscated.

As one of the most prominent and popular politicians of the Netherlands, William of Orange emerged as the leader of an armed resistance. He financed the Watergeuzen, refugee Protestants who formed bands of corsairs and raided the coastal cities of the Netherlands (often killing Spanish and Dutch alike). He also raised an army, consisting mostly of German mercenaries to fight Alba on land. Led by his brother Louis, the army invaded the northern Netherlands in 1568. On 23 May, the army won the Battle of Heiligerlee in the northern province of Groningen against a Spanish army led by the stadtholder of the northern provinces, Jean de Ligne, Duke of Aremberg. Aremberg was killed in the battle, as was William's brother Adolf. Alba countered by killing a number of convicted noblemen (including the Counts of Egmont and Hoorn on 6 June), and then by leading an expedition to Groningen. There, he annihilated Louis's forces on German territory in the Battle of Jemmingen on 21 July, although Louis managed to escape. These two battles are now considered to be the start of the Eighty Years' War. The Watergeuzen (or simply Geuzen) were a fleet of privateers during the Eighty Years War, the Low Countries (or Netherlands) rebellion against the Spanish occupation, which began during the reign of Philip II of Spain (in the 1550s). ... A privateer was a private ship (or its captain) authorized by a countrys government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping. ... A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict and is motivated to take part in the hostilities essentially by the desire for private gain and, in fact, is promised, by or on behalf of a Party to the conflict, material compensation substantially in excess of that... May 23 is the 143rd day of the year (144th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Dutch rebels Spanish Friesland Commanders Louis of Nassau Adolf of Nassau † Johan de Ligne Strength 3,900 infantry 200 cavalry 3,200 infantry 20 cavalry Casualties 50 dead or wounded 1,500 – 2,000 dead, wounded, or captured The Battle of Heiligerlee in Groningen on 23 May 1568 was... The flag of Groningen Groningen is the northeast province of the Netherlands with a typical dialect (Gronings) with regional nuances. ... Jean de Ligne, Duke of Aremberg (1528 – 1568) was stadtholder of the Dutch provinces of Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe and Overijssel from 1549 until his death. ... June 6 is the 157th day of the year (158th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Dutch rebels Spain Commanders Louis of Nassau Duke of Alva Strength 10,000 infantry 2,000 cavalry 16 guns 12,000 infantry 3,000 cavalry Casualties 7,000 dead or wounded 300 dead or wounded After the Battle of Heiligerlee Louis of Nassau failed to capture the city Groningen. ... July 21 is the 202nd day of the year (203rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Dutch rebels Spanish Empire The Eighty Years War, or Dutch Revolt (1568[1]–1648), was the revolt of the Seventeen Provinces in the Netherlands against the Spanish (Habsburg) Empire. ...

War

The so-called Prinsenvlag (Prince's flag), based on the colours in the coat of arms of William of Orange was used by the Dutch rebels, and forms the basis of the current flag of the Netherlands.

William responded by leading a large army into Brabant, but Alba carefully avoided a confrontation, expecting the army to fall apart quickly. He proved to be right, as William lacked the money to support the army. William made several more plans to invade in the next few years, but little came of it, lacking support and money. He remained popular with the public, partially through an extensive propaganda campaign through pamphlets. One of his most important claims, with which he attempted to justify his actions, was that he was not fighting the rightful owner of the land, the Spanish king, but only the inadequate rule of the foreign governors in the Netherlands, and the presence of foreign soldiers. Image File history File links Prinsenvlag. ... Image File history File links Prinsenvlag. ... A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ... Flag ratio: 2:3 The national flag of the Netherlands, with its three equal horizontal bands coloured red (top), white and blue is the oldest tricolour still in use today. ... Brabant is a former duchy in the Low Countries, and a former province of Belgium. ... Soviet Propaganda Poster during the Great Patriotic War. ...

On April 1, 1572 a band of Watergeuzen captured the city of Brielle, which had been left unattended by the Spanish garrison. Contrary to their normal "hit and run" tactics, they occupied the town and claimed it for the prince. This event was followed by other cities in opening their gates for the Watergeuzen, and soon most cities in Holland and Zeeland were in the hands of the rebels, notable exceptions being Amsterdam and Middelburg. The rebel cities then called a meeting of the Staten Generaal (which they were technically unqualified to do), and reinstated William as the stadtholder of Holland and Zeeland. April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 16 - Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk is tried for treason for his part in the Ridolfi plot to restore Catholicism in England. ... Brielle, also called Den Briel, (population: 15,948 in 2004) is a town in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. ... Holland is a region in the central-western part of the Netherlands with a population of 6. ... Capital Middelburg Queens Commissioner drs. ... Nickname: Motto: Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig (Valiant, Determined, Compassionate) Location of Amsterdam Coordinates: Country Netherlands Province North Holland Government  - Mayor Job Cohen (PvdA)  - Aldermen Lodewijk Asscher Hennah Buyne Carolien Gehrels Tjeerd Herrema Maarten van Poelgeest Marijke Vos  - Secretary Erik Gerritsen Area [1][2]  - City 219 km²  (84. ... This is about the city in the Netherlands. ... The Estates-General (Staten-Generaal) is the parliament of the Netherlands. ...

Concurrently, rebel armies captured cities throughout the entire country, from Deventer to Mons. William himself then advanced with his own army and marched into several cities in the south, including Roermond and Leuven. William had counted on intervention from the French Protestants (Huguenots) as well, but this plan was thwarted after the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre on 24 August, which signalled the start of a wave of violence against the Huguenots. After a successful Spanish attack on his army, William had to flee and he retreated to Enkhuizen, in Holland. The Spanish then organised countermeasures, and sacked several rebel cities, sometimes massacring their inhabitants, such as in Mechelen or Zutphen. They had more trouble with the cities in Holland, where they took Haarlem after seven months and a loss of 8,000 soldiers, and they had to give up their siege of Alkmaar. Deventer is a municipality and city in the Salland region of the Dutch province of Overijssel. ... Geography Country Belgium Region Walloon Region Community French Community Province Hainaut Arrondissement Mons Coordinates Area 146. ... Roermond is a municipality and a city in the southeastern Netherlands. ... Leuven   (French Louvain, German Löwen) is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in Flanders, Belgium, European Union. ... In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name of Huguenots came to apply to members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France. ... 19th century painting by François Dubois The St. ... August 24 is the 236th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (237th in leap years), with 129 days remaining. ... Enkuizen Enkhuizen ( West Frisian: Inghúze) is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. ... Mechelen: Grote Markt square, with St. ... Zutphen (old alternate spelling: Zutfen) is a municipality and a town in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands on the right bank of the IJssel at the influx of the Berkel, and a junction station 29 km by rail N.N.E. of Arnhem. ... In the Eighty Years War the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands was put under a bloody siege by a Spanish army that wanted to reclaim the revolted city for Philip II, the Spanish king. ... A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by force or attrition, often accompanied by an assault. ... Accijnstoren Cheese market Canal and bridge Weighing house Alkmaar (West Frisian: Alkmare) is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord Holland. ...

In 1574, William's armies won several minor battles, including several naval encounters. The Spanish, now lead by Don Luis de Zúñiga y Requesens who succeeded Alba in 1573, also had their successes, and their decisive victory in the Battle of Mookerheyde in the south east, on the Meuse embankment, on 14 April cost the lives of two of William's brothers, Louis and Henry. Requesens's armies also besieged the city of Leiden. They broke up their siege when nearby dykes were cut by the Dutch. William was very content with the victory, and established the University of Leiden, the first university in the Northern Provinces. Luis de Zúñiga y Requesens (Barcelona, 1528 — Brussels, March 5, 1576), Spanish governor of the Netherlands, had the misfortune to succeed the Duke of Alba and to govern amid hopeless difficulties under the direction of Philip II. During his rule, the Spanish troops mutinied and Spain went bankrupt. ... Combatants Dutch rebels Spain Commanders Louis of Nassau † Henry of Nassau † Sancho dAvilla Strength 5,500 infantry 2,600 cavalry 5,000 infantry 800 cavalry Casualties 3,000 dead or wounded 150 dead or wounded {{{notes}}} The Battle of Mookerheyde was a battle of the Eighty Years War fought... Meuse is a département in northeast France, named after the Meuse River. ... April 14 is the 104th day of the year (105th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 261 days remaining. ... Leyden redirects here. ... Leiden University in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. ...

William married for the third time on 24 April 1575. He had his previous marriage legally disbanded in 1571, on claims of insanity of his wife Anna. Charlotte de Bourbon-Monpensier, a former French nun, was also popular with the public. Together, they had six daughters. April 24 is the 114th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (115th in leap years). ... Year 1575 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ... For other uses, see Nun (disambiguation). ...

After failed peace negotiations in Breda in 1575, the war lingered on. The situation improved for the rebels when Don Requesens died unexpectedly in March 1576, and a large group of Spanish soldiers, not having received their salary in months, mutinied in November of that year and unleashed the Spanish Fury on the city of Antwerp, a tremendous propaganda coup for the Dutch Revolt. While the new governor, Don John of Austria, was under way, William of Orange managed to have most of the provinces and cities sign the Pacification of Ghent, in which they declared to fight for the expulsion of Spanish troops together. However, he failed to achieve unity in matters of religion. Catholic cities and provinces would not allow freedom for Calvinists, and vice versa. Breda is a municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. ... The sack of Antwerp during the Eighty Years War is known as the Spanish Fury. ... Combatants Dutch rebels Spanish Empire The Dutch Revolt, or Eighty Years War (1568[1]–1648), was the revolt of the Seventeen Provinces in the Netherlands against the Spanish (Habsburg) Empire. ... The tomb of Don Juan de Austria in San Lorenzo de El Escorial Don John of Austria (February 24, 1547 - October 1, 1578), also known as Juan de Austria and Don Juan de Austria, was an illegitimate son of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. ... The Pacification of Ghent, signed on November 8 of 1576, was an alliance of the provinces of the Netherlands for the purpose of driving the Spanish from the country. ...

When Don John signed the Perpetual Edict in February 1577, promising to comply with the conditions of the Pacification of Ghent, it seemed that the war had been decided in favour of the rebels. However, after Don John took the city of Namur in 1577, the uprising spread throughout the entire Netherlands. Don John attempted to negotiate peace, but the prince intentionally let the negotiations fail. On 24 September 1577, he made his triumphal entry in the capital Brussels. The Edict of 1577 (also known as the Perpetual Edict) was signed in February of 1577 by the new Spanish governor-general, Don John of Austria. ... Namur (Nameûr in Walloon, Namen in Dutch) is a city and municipality, capital of the province of Namur and of the region of Wallonia in southern Belgium. ... September 24 is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events March 17 - formation of the Cathay Company to send Martin Frobisher back to the New World for more gold May 28 - Publication of the Bergen Book, better known as the Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, one of the Lutheran confessional writings. ...

At the same time, Calvinist rebels grew more radical, and attempted to forbid Catholicism in their areas of control. William was opposed to this both for personal and political reasons. He desired freedom of religion, and he also needed the support of the less radical Protestants and Catholics to reach his political goals. On 6 January 1579, several southern provinces, unhappy with William's radical following, sealed the Treaty of Arras, in which they agreed to accept their governor, Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma (who had succeeded Don John). January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 359 days (360 in leap years) remaining. ... Events January 6 - The Union of Atrecht united the southern Netherlands under the Duke of Parma, governor in the name of king Philip II of Spain. ... Map of the Spanish Netherlands, the Union of Utrecht and the Union of Arras (1579) The Union of Atrecht (French: Arras) was an accord signed on January 6, 1579 in Atrecht (Arras), under which the southern states of the Spanish Netherlands, mostly today in Wallonia and the Nord region in... Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza (1545 - 1592) was the son of Duke Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma and Margaret, the illegitimate daughter of the Habsburg Emperor Charles V. Thus Alessandro was the nephew of Philip II of Spain and of Don John of Austria. ...

Five northern provinces, later followed by most cities in Brabant and Flanders, then signed the Union of Utrecht on 23 January, confirming their unity. William was initially opposed to the Union, as he still hoped to unite all provinces. Nevertheless, he formally gave his support on 3 May. The Union of Utrecht would later become a de facto constitution, and would remain the only formal connection between the Dutch provinces until 1795. Flanders (Dutch: ) is a large historical region overlapping Belgium, France and the Netherlands. ... The Union of Utrecht (Dutch: Unie van Utrecht) is a treaty signed on January 23, 1579 in Utrecht, the Netherlands, unifying the northern provinces of the Netherlands, until then under control of Spain. ... January 23 is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... May 3 is the 123rd day of the year (124th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Declaration of independence

The Duke of Anjou, who had been attracted by William as the new sovereign of the Netherlands, was hugely unpopular with the public.

In spite of the renewed union, the Duke of Parma was successful in reconquering most of the southern part of the Netherlands. Because he had agreed to remove the Spanish troops from the provinces under the Treaty of Arras, and because Philip II needed them in Spain's war with Portugal, the Duke of Parma was unable to advance any further until the end of 1581. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (776x1006, 63 KB) Description: Title: de: Porträt des Duc dAlençon, Oval Technique: de: Wasserfarbe auf Pergament auf Pappe Dimensions: Country of origin: de: Großbritanien Current location (city): de: London Current location (gallery): de: Victoria and Albert Museum... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (776x1006, 63 KB) Description: Title: de: Porträt des Duc dAlençon, Oval Technique: de: Wasserfarbe auf Pergament auf Pappe Dimensions: Country of origin: de: Großbritanien Current location (city): de: London Current location (gallery): de: Victoria and Albert Museum... Hercule François, Duke of Anjou and Alençon, (March 18, 1555 – June 19, 1584) was the youngest son of Henry II of France and Catherine de Medici. ...

In the mean time, William and his supporters were looking for foreign support. The prince had already sought for French assistance on several occasions, and this time he managed to gain the support of François, Duke of Anjou, brother of king Henry III of France. On September 29, 1580, the Staten Generaal (with the exception of Zeeland and Holland) signed the Treaty of Plessis-les-Tours with the Duke of Anjou. The Duke would gain the title "Protector of the Liberty of the Netherlands" and become the new sovereign. This, however, required that the Staten Generaal and William would let go of their formal support of the King of Spain, which they had maintained officially up to that moment. Hercule François, Duke of Anjou and Alençon, (March 18, 1555 – June 19, 1584) was the youngest son of Henry II of France and Catherine de Medici. ... Henry III (French: Henri III; September 19, 1551 – August 2, 1589), born Alexandre-Édouard, was a member of the Valois Dynasty, King of France from May 30, 1574 until his death. ... September 29 is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events March 1 - Michel de Montaigne signs the preface to his most significant work, Essays. ... The Treaty of Plessis-les-Tours was signed on September 29, 1580 between the Dutch Staten Generaal (with the exception of Zeeland and Holland) and François, Duke of Anjou (supported by William the Silent). ...

On July 22, 1581, the Staten Generaal declared their decision to no longer recognise Philip II as their king, in the Oath of Abjuration. This formal declaration of independence enabled the Duke of Anjou to come to the aid of the resisters. He did not arrive until February 10, 1582, when he was officially welcomed by William in Flushing. July 22 is the 203rd day of the year (204th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events January 16 - English Parliament outlaws Roman Catholicism April 4 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. July 26 - The Northern Netherlands proclaim their independence from Spain in the Oath of Abjuration. ... The Oath of Abjuration or Plakkaat van Verlatinghe of July 26, 1581, was the formal declaration of independence of the northern Low Countries from the Spanish king, Philip II. This point meant a climax in the Dutch Revolt, a point of no return, in which the Low Countries asserted they... A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. ... February 10 is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events January 15 - Russia cedes Livonia and Estonia to Poland February 24 - Pope Gregory XIII implements the Gregorian Calendar. ... Flushing (Dutch Vlissingen) is a municipality and a city in the southwestern Netherlands on the former island of Walcheren. ...

On March 18, the Spaniard Juan de Jáuregui attempted to assassinate William in Antwerp. Although William suffered severe injuries, he survived thanks to the care of his wife Charlotte and his sister Mary. While William slowly recovered, the intensive care by Charlotte took its toll, and she died on May 5. is the 77th day of the year (78th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Juan de Jáuregui (1562 - March 18, 1582) was killed trying to assassinate Prince William I of Orange. ... For other uses, see Antwerp (disambiguation). ... May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (126th in leap years). ...

The Duke of Anjou was not very popular with the population. In their view, the French were enemies, and the Duke of Anjou was not very concerned with the people's religious issues. The Duke was even accused of planning Jáuregui's failed attempt to kill the prince. The provinces of Zeeland and Holland refused to recognise him as their sovereign, and William was widely criticised for what were called his "French politics". When the Anjou's French troops arrived in late 1582, William's plan seemed to pay off, as even the Duke of Parma feared that the Dutch would now gain the upper hand.

However, the Duke of Anjou himself was displeased with his limited power, and decided to take the city of Antwerp by force on January 18, 1583. The citizens, who were warned in time, defended their city in what is known as the "French Fury". The position of Anjou after this attack became impossible to hold, and he eventually left the country in June. His leave also discredited William, who nevertheless maintained his support for Anjou. He stood virtually alone on this issue, and became politically isolated. Holland and Zeeland nevertheless maintained him as their stadtholder, and attempted to declare him count of Holland and Zeeland, thus making him the official sovereign. For other uses, see Antwerp (disambiguation). ... January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1583 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ... The French Fury was a failed attempt by François, Duke of Anjou to conquer the city of Antwerp by surprise on January 17, 1583. ...

In the middle of all this, William had married for the fourth and final time on April 12, 1583 to Louise de Coligny, a French Huguenot and daughter of Gaspard de Coligny. She would be the mother of Frederick Henry (1584 – 1647), William's fourth legitimate son. is the 102nd day of the year (103rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1583 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ... Louise de Coligny (1555-1620) was the daughter of Gaspard de Coligny and Charlotte de Laval. ... In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Huguenot was applied to a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of France, historically known as the French Calvinists. ... Gaspard de Coligny (February 16, 1519 – August 24, 1572), Seigneur (Lord) de Châtillon, Admiral of France and Protestant leader, came of a noble family of Burgundy. ... Frederick Henry (January 29, 1584–March 14, 1647), Prince of Orange, the youngest child of William the Silent, was born at Delft about six months before his fathers assassination. ...

Assassination

William the Silent was killed at his home by Balthasar Gérard on July 10, 1584.

A 1984 Dutch postage stamp commemorating the quadricentennial of William's death.

The Catholic Frenchman Balthasar Gérard (born 1557) was a supporter of Philip II, and in his opinion, William of Orange had betrayed the Spanish king and the Catholic religion. After Philip II declared William an outlaw and promised a reward of 25,000 crowns for his assassination, which Gérard found out in 1581, he decided to travel to the Netherlands to kill William. He served in the army of the governor of Luxembourg, Peter Ernst I von Mansveld-Vorderort for two years, hoping to get close to William when the armies met. This never happened, and Gérard left the army in 1584. Download high resolution version (772x608, 68 KB)The murder on William the Silent by Balthazar Gerards. ... Download high resolution version (772x608, 68 KB)The murder on William the Silent by Balthazar Gerards. ... July 10 is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1584 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Dutch stamp depicting William of Orange. ... Dutch stamp depicting William of Orange. ... A selection of Hong Kong postage stamps A postage stamp is evidence of pre-paying a fee for postal services. ... An anniversary is a day that commemorates an event that occurred on the same day of the year some time in the past. ... Balthasar Gérard (in Dutch Gerards or Gerardts) (1557-1584) was the assassin of the Dutch independence leader, William the Silent, also known as William I of Orange. ... Peter Ernst I. von Mansfeld Peter Ernst I von Mansveld-Vorderort (Saxony, July 20, 1517 – Luxemburg, May 22, 1604) was an army commander and Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands from 1592 to 1594. ...

He went to the Duke of Parma to present his plans, but the Duke was unimpressed. In May 1584, he presented himself to William as a French nobleman, and gave him the seal of the Count of Mansfelt. This seal would allow for forgeries of messages of Mansfelt. William sent Gérard back to France to pass the seal to his French allies.

Gérard returned in July, having bought pistols on his return voyage. On 10 July, he made an appointment with William of Orange in his home in Delft, nowadays known as the Prinsenhof. When he left the dining room and climbed down the stairs, Gérard shot him in the chest from close range, and fled. According to official records, his last words are said to have been: July 10 is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Coordinates: Country Netherlands Province South Holland Area (2006)  - Municipality 24. ...

"Mon Dieu, ayez pitié de mon âme; mon Dieu, ayez pitié de ce pauvre peuple."^[2]

which translates as "My God, have pity on my soul; my God, have pity on this poor people".

Although commonly accepted, his last words might have been modified for propaganda purposes. ^[3]

Members of the Nassau family were traditionally buried in Breda, but as that city was in Spanish hands when William died, he was buried in the New Church (Nieuwe Kerk) in Delft. His grave monument was originally very sober, but it was replaced in 1623 by a splendid new one, made by Hendrik de Keyser and his son Pieter. Since then, most of the members of the House of Orange, including all Dutch monarchs have been buried in the same church. William the third, King of England and Scotland and Stadholder in the Netherlands was buried in Westminster Abbey Breda is a municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. ... Coordinates: Country Netherlands Province South Holland Area (2006)  - Municipality 24. ... Hendrick de Keyser (born: 15th May 1565 - died: 15th May 1621) was a Dutch sculptor and architect born in Utrecht, Spanish Habsburg, which is now in the Netherlands. ... Prince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the principality of Orange in southern France. ... The Netherlands have been an independent monarchy since March 16, 1815, and have been governed by members of the House of Orange-Nassau since. ...

Gérard was caught before he could flee Delft, and imprisoned. He was tortured before his trial on 13 July, where he was sentenced to be brutally—even by the standards of that time—killed. The magistrates sentenced that the right hand of Gérard should be burned off with a red-hot iron, that his flesh should be torn from his bones with pincers in six different places, that he should be quartered and disemboweled alive, that his heart should be torn from his bosom and flung in his face, and that, finally, his head should be cut off.^{[citation needed]} July 13 is the 194th day of the year (195th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Legacy

A statue of William of Orange in The Hague. His finger originally pointed towards the Binnenhof, but the statue has since been moved. A similar statue stands in Voorhees Mall on the campus of Rutgers University.

At the suggestion of Johan van Oldenbarneveldt, William's eldest son from his first marriage, to Anna of Egmond, Philip William, succeeded him as Prince of Orange. Phillip William died in Brussels on February 20, 1618 and was succeeded by his half-brother Maurice, the eldest son from William's second marriage, to Anna of Saxony, who became Prince of Orange. A strong military leader, he won several victories over the Spanish. Van Oldenbarneveldt managed to sign a very favourable twelve-year armistice in 1609, although Maurice was unhappy with this. Maurice was a heavy drinker and died on April 23, 1625 from liver disease. Maurice had several sons with Margaretha van Mechelen, but he never married her. So, Frederick Henry, Maurice's half-brother (and William's youngest son from his fourth marriage, to Louise de Coligny) inherited the title of Prince of Orange. Frederick Henry, continued the battle against the Spanish. Frederick Henry died on March 14, 1647 and is buried with his father William "The Silent" in Nieuwe Kerk, Delft^[1] The Netherlands became formally independent after the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (400x602, 33 KB) from en: Statue of William of Orange. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (400x602, 33 KB) from en: Statue of William of Orange. ... Coordinates: Country Netherlands Province South Holland Area (2006)  - Municipality 98. ... The Binnenhof (Dutch, lit. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 832 KB) Summary Statue of Prince William the Silent at Rutgers University, as photographed in the spring of 2005 by User:Rickyrab. ... “Rutgers” redirects here. ... Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (September 14, 1547–May 13, 1619) was a Dutch statesman, who played an important role in the Dutch struggle for independence from Spain. ... Philip William, Prince of Orange Philip William, Prince of Orange (° December 19, 1554 - † February 20, 1618). ... Prince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the principality of Orange in southern France. ... February 20 is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events March 8 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion (he soon rejects the idea after some initial calculations were made but on May 15 confirms the discovery). ... Maurice of Nassau (in Dutch Maurits van Nassau) (14 November 1567–23 April 1625), Prince of Orange (1618–1625), son of William the Silent and Princess Anna of Saxony, was born at the castle of Dillenburg. ... Anna of Saxony (December 23, 1544-December 18, 1577) was the only child and heiress of Maurice, Elector of Saxony, and Agnes of Hesse. ... April 23 is the 113th day of the year (114th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events March 27 - Prince Charles Stuart becomes King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland. ... Frederick Henry (January 29, 1584–March 14, 1647), Prince of Orange, the youngest child of William the Silent, was born at Delft about six months before his fathers assassination. ... Frederick Henry (January 29, 1584–March 14, 1647), Prince of Orange, the youngest child of William the Silent, was born at Delft about six months before his fathers assassination. ... Frederick Henry (January 29, 1584–March 14, 1647), Prince of Orange, the youngest child of William the Silent, was born at Delft about six months before his fathers assassination. ... March 14 is the 73rd day of the year (74th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1647 (MDCXLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... Ratification of the Treaty of Münster The Peace of Westphalia refers to the pair of treaties (the Treaty of Münster and the Treaty of Osnabrück) signed in October and May 1648 which ended both the Thirty Years War and the Eighty Years War. ...

The son of Frederick Henry, William II of Orange succeeded his father as stadtholder, as did his son, William III of Orange. The latter also became King of England and King of Scotland. Although he was married to Mary II, Queen of Scotland and England for 17 years, he died childless in 1702. He appointed his cousin Johan Willem Friso (William's great-great-great-grandson) as his successor. Because Albertine Agnes, a daughter of Frederick Henry, married William Frederik of Nassau-Dietz, the present royal house of the Netherlands descends from William the Silent through the female line. See House of Orange for a more extensive overview. William II, Prince of Orange (May 27, 1626 - November 6, 1650), stadtholder of the United Provinces of the Netherlands (March 14, 1647 - November 6, 1650). ... William III King of England, Scotland and Ireland William III and II (14 November 1650–8 March 1702; also known as William Henry and William of Orange) was Prince of Orange from his birth, King of England and Ireland from 13 February 1689, and King of Scotland from 11... The Principality of Orange The title originally referred to the sovereign principality of Orange in southern France, which was a property of the House of Orange (from 1702 Orange-Nassau). ...

As the chief financer and political and military leader of the early years of the Dutch revolt, William is considered a national hero in the Netherlands, even though he was born in Germany, and usually spoke French. Many of the Dutch national symbols can be traced back to William of Orange:

• The flag of the Netherlands (red, white and blue) is derived from the flag of the prince, which was orange, white and blue.
• The coat of arms of the Netherlands is based on that of William of Orange. Its motto Je maintiendrai (French, "I will maintain") was also used by William of Orange, who based it on the motto of his cousin René of Châlon, who used Je maintiendrai Châlon.
• The national anthem of the Netherlands, the Wilhelmus, was originally a propaganda song for William. It was probably written by Philips van Marnix, lord of Sint-Aldegonde, a supporter of William of Orange.
• The national colour of the Netherlands is orange, and it is used, among other things, in clothing of Dutch athletes.
• The Prussian Order of the Black Eagle was in honor of the Dutch Dynasty of William the Silent.

In 2004 he ended second place in the election of De Grootste Nederlander (The Greatest Dutchman). Pim Fortuyn ended first place. However, this was a controversial result. The final being between the top 2 (of which Fortuyn listed highest) being broadcast on the last evening. The rules allowed people who voted for other favourites to change their vote on this evening. However, when many people did this, the mechanisms to prevent voting fraud dramatically delayed counting of the votes. As the vast majority of last evening votes, that were submitted timely but counted too late, were in favour of William it was discovered later that Fortuyn received only 130,000 votes and William of Orange 161,000.^{[citation needed]} The Dutch tv channel KRO, who organised the election, wanted to respect their stated procedure, that only votes counted at the end of the broadcast determined the winner (although their own faulty technology caused the problem in the first place). Flag ratio: 2:3 The national flag of the Netherlands, with its three equal horizontal bands coloured red (top), white and blue is the oldest tricolour still in use today. ... A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that is evoking and eulogizing the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nations government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... Het Wilhelmus (The William [viz. ... Portret by Jacques de Gheyn II Philips van Marnix, lord of St Aldegonde (1538 - December 15, 1598), was a Dutch writer and statesman, and the probable author of the text of the Dutch national anthem, the Wilhelmus. ... The orange, a fruit from which the modern name of the orange colour comes. ... The Order of the Black Eagle The Order of the Black Eagle (German: Schwarzer-Adler-Orden) was the highest order of chivalry in Prussia. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... De Grootste Nederlander (The Greatest Dutchman) was a public poll held in 2004 by the broadcasting company, KRO (Publieke Omroep). ... Wilhelmus Simon Petrus Fortuyn Wilhelmus Simon Petrus (Pim) Fortuyn (pronounced ; officially spelt Fortuijn), (February 19, 1948 – May 6, 2002), was a controversial, openly gay, charismatic[1] right-wing politician in the Netherlands who formed his own party Lijst Pim Fortuyn (List Pim Fortuyn or LPF). ...

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