William the Silent

:For other men named William of Orange, see William of Orange (disambiguation)

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 one sister: John, Louis, Adolf, Henry and Mary.

Related Topics:
Dillenburg - Nassau - Germany - William, Count of Nassau - Lutheran - John - Louis - Henry - Mary

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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. 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 Catholic education, and William was sent to Brussels to study under the supervision of Maria of Hungary, sister of Charles V and regent of the Netherlands. In Brussels, he was taught foreign languages and received military and diplomatic education.

Related Topics:
René of Châlon, Prince of Orange - Holy Roman Emperor Charles V - Catholic - Brussels - Maria of Hungary - Netherlands

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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:

Related Topics:
6 July - 1551 - Anna van Egmond

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Maria (1553 – 1554);
• Philip-William (1554 – 1618); and
• Maria (1556 – 1616).

Later that same year, William was appointed captain in the cavalry. Favored 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. Charles had been tolerant of the protestant movement, but his son was a fiercely uncompromising Catholic, and that difference in attitude was to have grave consequences for much of Europe.

Related Topics:
Captain - Cavalry - Raad van State - ¹ - Philip II of Spain

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His wife Anna died on 24 March 1558, after which William of Orange had a brief relationship with Eva Eliver but the two never married. An illegitimate son, Justines, was born. In 1559, Philip appointed William as the stadtholder (governor) of the provinces Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht and Burgundy, thereby greatly increasing his political power.

Related Topics:
24 March - 1558 - Illegitimate - Stadtholder - Holland - Zeeland - Utrecht - Burgundy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~