William the Silent: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:34, 22 August 2005

Revision as of 13:30, 24 August 2005

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

[[Image:WilliamOfOrange1580.jpg|thumb|right|'''William I''' (William the Silent)]]

[[Image:WilliamOfOrange1580.jpg|thumb|right|'''William I''' (William the Silent)]]'''William I, [[Prince]] of [[House of Orange-Nassau|Orange]]''', [[Count]] of [[Nassau (duchy)|Nassau]] ([[April 24]], [[1533]] – [[July 10]], [[1584]]) was the main leader of the [[Dutch]] revolt against the [[Spain|Spanish]] that set off the [[Eighty Years' War]] and resulted in the formal independence of the [[United Provinces]] in [[1648]].

A wealthy [[nobility|nobleman]], William originally served at the court of the Spanish [[regent]]. Unhappy with the lack of political power for the local nobility and the Spanish persecution of Dutch [[Protestantism|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.