William III of the Netherlands

King William III (Willem Alexander Paul Frederik Lodewijk of Orange-Nassau) (February 17, 1817 – November 23, 1890) was King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg (1849–1890).

Reign

William repeatedly contemplated abdicating as soon as his son turned eighteen. This occurred in 1858, but as William was uncomfortable making a decision he remained King. His first act was the inauguration of the parliamentary cabinet of Thorbecke, the liberal designer of the 1848 constitution; William loathed this man.

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When the Catholic hierarchy of bishops was restored in 1853 he found a reason to dismiss his rival. In the first two decades of his reign he dismissed several cabinets and disbanded the States-General several times, installing royal cabinets which ruled briefly as there was no support in elected parliament.

Related Topics:
Catholic - Bishop - 1853 - States-General

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He tried to sell the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in 1867. The attempt nearly caused a war between Prussia and France, and helped make Luxembourg a fully-independent country.

Related Topics:
Luxembourg - 1867 - Prussia - France

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William was popular with the ordinary people, presenting himself as a cordial man.

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In 1877 Sophie died and years of war in the palace came to an end. In 1879 William decided to marry Princess Emma of Waldeck- Pyrmont, a small German principality. Some politicians were quite angry, as she was 41 years the king's junior. Emma showed herself, however, as a cordial woman; and when William asked permission from parliament, this was easily granted and the couple were quickly married. She was not his first choice. He had previously been rejected by her sister, Princess Pauline of Waldeck and Pyrmont, as well as Princess Thyra of Denmark, a sister of England's future Queen Alexandra.

Related Topics:
1877 - 1879 - Princess Emma - Waldeck- Pyrmont - Principality - Queen Alexandra

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Emma had a relieving influence on William's capricious personality and the marriage was extremely happy. The last decade was without any doubt the best of his reign. In 1880, Wilhelmina was born. She became heiress in 1884 after the death of the last remaining son from William's first marriage. Many potential heirs had died between 1878 and 1884, and the tomb in the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft was never opened so many times in history.

Related Topics:
1880 - Wilhelmina - 1884 - 1878 - Nieuwe Kerk - Delft

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William became seriously ill in 1887. He died in 1890, leaving his young daughter to become queen. Because the Luxembourg grand duchy could only be inherited through the male line at the time, under Salic law, it went to Adolphe, the former Duke of Nassau.

Related Topics:
1887 - 1890 - Salic law - Adolphe - Duke of Nassau

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