William I of the Netherlands

:For other men at some time in history called "William I of Orange-Nassau", see William of Orange

Biography

King William I's parents were the last stadtholder William V of Orange and his wife Wilhelmina. Until 1813, William was known as Prince William VI of Orange. In 1791, William married (Frederica Louisa) Wilhelmina, born in Potsdam. She was the daughter of King Frederick William II of Prussia. After Wilhelmina died in 1837, William was remarried to Countess Henriette d'Oultremont de Wegimont, in 1841 in Berlin. Two years later, William died there.

Related Topics:
Stadtholder - William V of Orange - 1813 - 1791 - Potsdam - Frederick William II of Prussia - 1837 - Henriette d'Oultremont de Wegimont - 1841

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William was hereditary stadtholder when the Republic of the Seven United Provinces was invaded by the French Revolutionary armies. He fled with his father to England. Unlike his father, William was a strong personality and he tried to regain the Republic.

Related Topics:
Republic of the Seven United Provinces - French - England

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In 1799, William landed in the current North Holland. After some battles he was forced to leave the country again. Napoleon Bonaparte gave him some small German principalities as indemnities for the lost territories. These principalities were confiscated when Napoleon invaded Germany (1806).

Related Topics:
1799 - North Holland - Napoleon - Germany - 1806

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After Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig (October, 1813), French troops retreated to France. A provisional government was formed under the lead of some former Patriots who recalled William, in contrast to their 1785 rebellion.

Related Topics:
October - 1813 - 1785

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On November 30, 1813 William landed at Scheveningen beach, only a few metres from the place where he had left the country with his father eighteen years previously, and on December 6 the provisional government offered him the title of King. William refused and declared that he only wanted the throne if he was sovereign prince — a title somewhere between King and stadtholder — and that the rights of the people were guaranteed by "a wise constitution". The constitution offered William extensive (almost absolute) powers. Ministers were only responsible to him and to nobody else. He was inaugurated as sovereign prince in the New Church in Amsterdam. In 1814 he gained sovereignty over the whole of the Low Countries.

Related Topics:
November 30 - 1813 - Scheveningen - December 6 - King - Amsterdam - 1814

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On March 16, 1815 William proclaimed himself King of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, feeling threatened by Napoleon who had escaped from Elba. His son, the future king William II, fought as Dutch commander at the Battle of Waterloo. After Napoleon had been sent into exile, William adopted a new constitution which included much of the old constitution, such as extensive royal powers.

Related Topics:
March 16 - 1815 - United Kingdom of the Netherlands - Elba - William II - Battle of Waterloo - Power

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