William I (Willem Frederik; 24 August 1772 – 12 December 1843) was King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 1815 until his abdication in 1840.
67-1087: Willem [REDACTED] King Willem I of the Netherlands in 1819. Willem is the given and regnal name of the first three kings of the Netherlands. Pronunciation Dutch: [ˈʋɪləm] Afrikaans: [ˈvələm] Gender Male Language(s) Dutch Other gender Feminine Willemina , Willemijn Origin Language(s) Germanic Meaning Vehement protector Region of origin Belgium , Netherlands Other names Variant form(s) Guillaume , Wilhelm , Wilhelmus , William Nickname(s) Jelle , Pim , Willie, Willy , Wim Derived Wil ( will ) + helm ( helmet , protection) Related names Wilhelmina , Willems Popularity see popular names Willem ( Dutch pronunciation: [ˈʋɪləm] )
134-558: A separation of church and state existed in the kingdom. However, William himself was a strong supporter of the Reformed Church . This led to resentment among the people in the mostly Catholic south. William had also devised controversial language and school policies. Dutch was imposed as the official language in (the Dutch-speaking region of) Flanders ; this angered French-speaking aristocrats and industrial workers. Schools throughout
201-433: A Berke[n]rode Batavo . Vermeer must have had a copy at his disposal (or the earlier one published by Van Berckenrode). Around 1658 he showed it as a wall decoration in his painting Officer and Laughing Girl , which depicts a soldier in a large hat sitting with his back to viewer, talking with a smiling girl who holds a glass in her hand. Bright sunlight bathes the girl and the large map on the wall. Vermeer's gift for realism
268-477: A Prussian division which took part in the Battle of Jena–Auerstedt . The Prussians lost that battle and William was forced to surrender his troops rather ignominiously at Erfurt the day after the battle. He was made a prisoner of war, but was paroled soon. Napoleon punished him for his betrayal, however, by taking away his principality. As a parolee, William was not allowed to take part in the hostilities anymore. After
335-535: A high opinion of him. William was victorious at the Battles of Gosselies and Lambusart and proved to be an able commander, but the French armies ultimately proved too strong, and the general allied leadership too inept. Despite a well-executed attack by William on the French left, the allied army under Coburg was finally defeated at the Battle of Fleurus . The French first entered Dutch Brabant which they dominated after
402-535: A more flexible mind, went to visit Napoleon at St. Cloud in 1802. He apparently charmed the First Consul, and was charmed by him. Napoleon raised hopes for William that he might have an important role in a reformed Batavian Republic. Meanwhile, William's brother-in-law Frederick William III of Prussia , neutral at the time, promoted a Franco-Prussian convention of 23 May 1802, in addition to the Treaty of Amiens , that gave
469-527: A new University of Leuven , the University of Ghent and the University of Liège . The northern provinces, meanwhile, were the centre of trade. This, in combination with the colonies ( Dutch East Indies , Surinam , Curaçao and Dependencies , and the Dutch Gold Coast ) created great wealth for the kingdom. However, the money flowed into the hands of Dutch directors. Only a few Belgians managed to profit from
536-527: A perceived mismanagement of the war effort. High costs of the war came to burden the Dutch economy, fueling public resentment. In 1839, William was forced to end the war. The United Kingdom of the Netherlands was dissolved by the Treaty of London (1839) and the northern part continued as the Kingdom of the Netherlands . It was not renamed, however, as the "United"-prefix had never been part of its official name, but rather
603-473: A student of the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe , he qualified as an instrument and globe maker. During this time in 1596, his son Joan Blaeu was born and he would also become a well established cartographer. Later in 1600 Willem discovered the second ever variable star , now known as P Cygni . Once he returned to Holland , he made country maps and world globes, and as he possessed his own printing works, he
670-526: Is William) (b. 1955), American actor Willem Drees (1886–1988), Dutch politician Willem Drost (1633–1659), Dutch Golden Age painter and printmaker Willem Einthoven (1860–1927), Dutch doctor, physiologist, and inventor of the electrocardiogram Willem Elsschot (1882–1960), Flemish writer and poet (pseudonym of Alfons-Jozef De Ridder) Willem Endstra (1953–2004), Dutch real estate trader Willem Frederik Hermans (1921–1995), Dutch author Willem Holleeder (b. 1958), Dutch criminal involved in
737-715: Is a Dutch and West Frisian masculine given name . The name is Germanic , and can be seen as the Dutch equivalent of the name William in English , Guillaume in French , Guilherme in Portuguese , Guillermo in Spanish and Wilhelm in German . Nicknames that are derived from Willem are Jelle , Pim , Willie, Willy and Wim . Given name [ edit ] Willem I (1772–1843), King of
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#1732844498940804-491: Is often possible to identify the actual maps. Evidently, Vermeer was particularly attached to a Willem Blaeu – Balthasar Florisz van Berckenrode map of Holland and West Friesland , as he represented it as a wall decoration in three of his paintings. Though no longer extant, the map's existence is known from archival sources and the second edition published by Willem Blaeu in 1621, titled Nova et Accurata Totius Hollandiae Westfriesiaeq. Topographia, Descriptore Balthazaro Florentio
871-695: The Batavian Republic was proclaimed. Soon after the departure to Britain the hereditary prince went back to the continent, where his brother was assembling former members of the States Army in Osnabrück for a planned invasion into the Batavian Republic in the summer of 1795. However, the neutral Prussian government forbade this. In 1799, William landed in the current North Holland as part of an Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland . The hereditary prince
938-715: The Battle of Boxtel . When in the winter of 1794–95 the rivers in the Rhine delta froze over, the French breached the southern Hollandic Water Line and the situation became militarily untenable. In many places Dutch revolutionaries took over the local government. After the Batavian Revolution in Amsterdam on 18 January 1795 the stadtholder decided to flee to Britain, and his sons accompanied him. (On this last day in Holland his father relieved William honorably of his commands). The next day
1005-559: The Belgian Revolution in 1830. Unable to suppress the rebellion, William ultimately accepted Belgian independence in 1839 under the Treaty of London. William's later years were marked by dissatisfaction with constitutional changes and personal reasons, leading to his abdication in 1840 in favor of his son, King William II . He spent his final years in Berlin, where he died in 1843. William
1072-697: The Confederation of the Rhine . He spent the following years in exile in Prussia. In 1813, following Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig , the Orange-Nassau territories were restored to William; he also accepted the offer to become Sovereign Prince of the United Netherlands . William proclaimed himself king of the Netherlands in 1815. In the same year, he concluded a treaty with King Frederick William III in which he ceded
1139-681: The Duke of Nassau . The Great Powers had already agreed via the secret Eight Articles of London to unite the Low Countries into a single kingdom, it was believed that this would help keep France in check. With the de facto addition of the Austrian Netherlands and Luxembourg to his realm, William had fulfilled his family's three-century dream of uniting the Low Countries. Feeling threatened by Napoleon, who had escaped from Elba , William proclaimed
1206-697: The House of Nassau . But before this came about, in 1809 tensions between Austria and France became intense, resulting in the War of the Fifth Coalition . William did not hesitate to join the Austrian army as a Feldmarschalleutnant (major-general) in May 1809 As a member of the staff of the Austrian supreme commander, Archduke Charles he took part in the Battle of Wagram , where he
1273-591: The House of Orange a few abbatial domains in Germany, that were combined to the Principality of Nassau-Orange-Fulda by way of indemnification for its losses in the Batavian Republic. The stadtholder gave this principality immediately to his son. When war broke out between the French Empire and Prussia in 1806, William supported his Prussian relatives, though he was nominally a French vassal. He received command of
1340-656: The Peace of Tilsit William received a pension from France in compensation. In the same year, 1806, his father, the Prince of Orange died, and William not only inherited the title, but also his father's claims on the inheritance embodied in the Nassau lands. This would become important a few years later, when developments in Germany coincided to make William the Fürst (Prince) of a diverse assembly of Nassau lands that had belonged to other branches of
1407-667: The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee Willem Claeszoon Heda (1594–ca. 1680), Dutch Golden Age still-life artist Willem Cornelisz Schouten (ca. 1567–1625), a Dutch navigator of the Dutch East India Company Willem de Kooning (1904–1997), Dutch-American abstract expressionist painter Willem de Rooij (b. 1969), Dutch artist Willem de Sitter (1872–1934), Dutch mathematician, physicist and astronomer Willem de Vlamingh (1640–ca. 1698), Dutch sea captain and explorer of Australia Willem Dafoe (real name
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#17328444989401474-816: The Dutch East India Company and chief of factory in Deshima Willem Willink (1750–1841), Dutch merchant Willem Wilmink (1936–2003), Dutch poet and writer Willem Wissing (1656–1687), Dutch portrait artist Willem Witsen (1860–1923), Dutch painter and photographer Willem Zwalve (b. 1949), Dutch legal historian Middle name [ edit ] Evert Willem Beth (1908–1964), Dutch philosopher and logician Pieter Willem Botha (1916–2006), former prime minister and president of South Africa Schalk Willem Burger (1852–1918), South African military leader, lawyer, and statesman Herman Willem Daendels (1762–1818), 36th Governor General of
1541-912: The Dutch East Indies Bernard Willem Holtrop , Dutch cartoonist who uses Willem as his professional name Jan Willem Janssens (1762–1838), Dutch nobleman, soldier and statesman Frederik Willem de Klerk (1936–2021), State President of South Africa Pieter Willem Korthals (1807–1892), Dutch botanist Hendrik Willem Lenstra, Jr. (b. 1949), Dutch mathematician Hendrik Willem van Loon (1882–1944), Dutch-American historian and journalist Vincent Willem Van Gogh , Dutch post-impressionist painter Dale Willem Steyn , South African cricketer Surname [ edit ] Christophe Willem , contemporary French singer Jean-Pierre Willem , founder of Medecins Aux Pieds Nus translatable as Barefoot Doctors References [ edit ] ^ Willem - Meaning and origin of
1608-637: The Elder (ca. 1611–1693), Dutch painter Willem van de Velde the Younger (1633–1707), Dutch marine painter, son of above Willem van Hanegem (b. 1944), Dutch football player and coach Willem van Mieris (1662–1747), Dutch painter Willem van Otterloo (1907–1978), Dutch conductor, cellist and composer Willem Verhulst (ca. 1625), the second director of the Dutch West India Company Willem Verstegen (ca. 1612—1659), merchant of
1675-611: The French invasion during the Flanders campaign , and after the Batavian Revolution in 1795, his family went into exile. He briefly ruled the Principality of Nassau-Orange-Fulda before Napoleon's conquests forced him out of power. Following the defeat of Napoleon in 1813, William returned to the Netherlands, where he was invited to assume the role of Sovereign Prince of the United Netherlands. In 1815, William proclaimed himself king of
1742-563: The Great Powers impose him on the country. The Dutch population were pleased with the departure of the French, who had ruined the Dutch economy, and this time welcomed the prince. After having been invited by the Triumvirate of 1813 , on 30 November 1813 William disembarked from HMS Warrior and landed at Scheveningen beach, only a few yards from the place where he had left the country with his father 18 years before, and on 6 December
1809-1121: The Great's mistress Anna Mons and secretary to Catherine Willem Oltmans (1925–2004), Dutch journalist Willem van der Oord , Dutch hydraulic engineer Willem Pieterszoon Buytewech (1591—1624), Dutch painter, draughtsman, and etcher Willem Pijper (1894–1947), Dutch composer, music critic, and music teacher Willem Rebergen (born 1985), Dutch DJ and producer Willem Ritstier (born 1959), Dutch cartoonist Willem Roelofs (1822–1897), Dutch painter, water-colourist, etcher, lithographer and draughtsman Willem Sandberg (1897–1984), Dutch typographer and museum curator Willem Sassen (1918–2002), Dutch Nazi collaborator, Waffen-SS officer and journalist Willem Siebenhaar (1863–1936), Dutch-Australian social activist and writer Willem Surenhuis (ca. 1664–1729), Dutch Christian scholar Willem Usselincx (1567–1647), Flemish merchant, investor and diplomat Willem van Aelst (1627–1683), Dutch still-life artist Willem van Biljon (b. 1961), South African entrepreneur and technologist Willem van de Velde
1876-1265: The Netherlands Willem II (1792–1849), King of the Netherlands Willem III (1817–1890), King of the Netherlands Willem of the Netherlands (1840–1879), Dutch prince Willem-Alexander (b. 1967), King of the Netherlands Willem Aantjes (1923–2015), Dutch politician Willem Adelaar (b. 1948), Dutch linguist Willem Andriessen (1887–1964), Dutch pianist and composer Willem Arondeus (1894–1943), Dutch artist and author, WWII Resistance member Willem Barentsz (ca. 1550–1597), Dutch navigator and explorer Willem Victor Bartholomeus (1825–1892), Dutch organist and conductor Willem Bilderdijk (1756–1831), Dutch poet Willem Blaeu (1571–1638), Dutch cartographer, atlas maker, and publisher Willem Boy (1520–1592), Flemish painter, sculptor, and architect Willem Breuker (1944–2010), Dutch jazz bandleader, composer, arranger, and musician Willem Brouwer (b. 1963), Dutch football (soccer) player Willem Buiter (b. 1949), economist of
1943-464: The Netherlands a kingdom on 16 March 1815 at the urging of the powers gathered at the Congress of Vienna . His son, the future king William II , fought as a commander at the Battle of Waterloo . After Napoleon had been sent into exile, William adopted a new constitution which included many features of the old constitution, such as extensive royal powers. He was formally confirmed as hereditary ruler of what
2010-455: The Netherlands and concurrently became the grand duke of Luxembourg. His reign saw the adoption of a new constitution, which granted him extensive powers, and he was a strong proponent of economic development, founding several universities and promoting trade. However, his efforts to impose the Reformed faith and the Dutch language in the southern provinces, combined with economic grievances, sparked
2077-481: The Orange-Nassau to Prussia in exchange for becoming the new grand duke of Luxembourg. As king, he adopted a new constitution, presided over strong economic and industrial progress, promoted trade and founded the universities of Leuven , Ghent and Liège . The imposition of the Reformed faith and the Dutch language, as well as feelings of economic inequity, caused widespread resentment in the southern provinces and led to
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2144-655: The Phonos extension Pages with Dutch IPA Pages including recorded pronunciations Pages with Afrikaans IPA Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata All set index articles William I of the Netherlands Born as the son of William V, Prince of Orange , the last stadtholder of the Dutch Republic , and Wilhelmina of Prussia , William experienced significant political upheavals early in life. He fought against
2211-627: The Prince of Orange, and Prince Frederick to invade the new state. Although initially victorious in this Ten Days' Campaign , the Royal Netherlands Army was forced to retreat after the threat of French intervention . Some support for the Orange dynasty (chiefly among the Flemish ) persisted for years, but the Dutch never regained control over Belgium. William nevertheless continued the war for eight years. His economic successes became overshadowed by
2278-719: The States General, defunct since 1795, "whenever those would be reconstituted." This brigade trained on the Isle of Wight in 1800 and was eventually used by the British in Ireland. When peace was concluded between Great Britain and the French Republic under First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte the Orange exiles were at their nadir. The Dutch Brigade was dissolved on 12 July 1802. Many members of
2345-485: The age of 71. King William I's parents were the last stadtholder William V, Prince of Orange of the Dutch Republic , and his wife Wilhelmina of Prussia . Until 1806, William was formally known as William VI, Prince of Orange-Nassau , and between 1806 and 1813 also as Prince of Orange. In Berlin on 1 October 1791, William married his maternal first cousin (Frederica Louisa) Wilhelmina of Prussia , born in Potsdam . She
2412-583: The artificial kidney Willem Kes (1856–1934), Dutch conductor and violinist Willem Kalf (1619–1693), Dutch Golden Age painter, art dealer, and appraiser Willem Kieft (1597–1647), Dutch merchant and director-general of New Netherland Willem Kloos (1859–1938), Dutch poet and literary critic Willem Konjore (1945–2021), Namibian politician Willem Maris (1844–1910), Dutch landscape painter Willem Meijer (1923–2003), Dutch botanist and plant collector Willem Mengelberg (1871–1951), Dutch conductor Willem Mons (1688–1724), brother of Peter
2479-523: The brigade went home to the Batavian Republic, thanks to an amnesty. The surrendered ships of the Batavian Navy were not returned, due to an agreement between the stadtholder and the British government of 11 March 1800. Instead the stadtholder was allowed to sell them to the Royal Navy for an appreciable sum. The stadtholder, feeling betrayed by the British, left for Germany. The hereditary prince, having
2546-576: The death of his father in 1806 to distinguish him from William V. Like his younger brother Prince Frederick of Orange-Nassau he was tutored by the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler and the Dutch historian Herman Tollius . They were both tutored in the military arts by General Frederick Stamford . After the Patriot revolt had been suppressed in 1787, he in 1788–89 attended the military academy in Brunswick which
2613-642: The disappointment about the loss of Belgium, and his intention to marry Henrietta d'Oultremont (paradoxically both "Belgian" and Roman Catholic ) made him wish to abdicate . He fulfilled this intent on 7 October 1840 and his eldest son acceded to the throne as King William II . William I died in 1843 in Berlin at the age of 71. With his wife Wilhelmina , King William I had six children: Willem Blaeu Willem Janszoon Blaeu ( Dutch pronunciation: [ˈʋɪləm ˈjɑnsoːm ˈblʌu] ; 1571 – 21 October 1638), also abbreviated to Willem Jansz. Blaeu ,
2680-457: The dynasty. Dynastic considerations of marriage between the royal houses of Great Britain and the Netherlands, assured British approval. After Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig (October 1813), the French troops retreated to France from all over Europe. The Netherlands had been annexed to the French Empire by Napoleon in 1810. But now city after city was evacuated by the French occupation troops. In
2747-583: The economic growth. Feelings of economic inequity were another cause of the Belgian uprising. William was also determined to create a unified people, even though the north and the south had drifted far apart culturally and economically since the south was reconquered by Spain after the Act of Abjuration of 1581. The north was commercial, Protestant and entirely Dutch-speaking; the south was industrial, Roman Catholic and divided between Dutch and French-speakers. Officially,
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2814-491: The ensuing power vacuum a number of former Orangist politicians and former Patriots formed a provisional government in November 1813. Although a large number of the members of the provisional government had helped drive out William V 18 years earlier, it was taken for granted that his son would have to head any new government. They also agreed it would be better in the long term for the Dutch to restore him themselves, rather than have
2881-416: The family's works are still sold today. Original maps are rare collector items. Blaeu's maps were featured in the works of the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer of Delft (1632–1675), who holds a position of great honor among map historians. Several of his paintings illustrate maps hanging on walls or globes standing on tables or cabinets. Vermeer painted these cartographical documents with such detail that it
2948-574: The hereditary prince was forced to leave the country again after the Convention of Alkmaar . The mutineers of the Batavian fleet, with their ships, and a large number of deserters from the Batavian army accompanied the retreating British troops to Britain. There William formed the King's Dutch Brigade with these troops, a military unit in British service, that swore oaths of allegiance to the British king, but also to
3015-625: The intended article. [REDACTED] Surname list This page lists people with the surname Willem . If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name (s) to the link. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Willem&oldid=1253931767 " Categories : Given names Surnames Dutch masculine given names Masculine given names Frisian masculine given names Low German given names Surnames from given names Hidden categories: Pages using
3082-691: The kidnapping of Heineken president Freddy Heineken Willem Hondius or Willem Hondt (1598–ca. 1652), a Dutch engraver, cartographer and painter Willem Hubert van Blijenburgh (1881–1936), a Dutch Olympic fencer Willem Jacob Luyten (1899–1994), Dutch-American astronomer Willem Jacob 's Gravesande (1688–1742), Dutch philosopher and mathematician Willem Janssen (footballer, born 1880) , Dutch footballer Willem Janssen (footballer, born 1986) , Dutch footballer Willem Janszoon (ca. 1570–1630), Dutch navigator and colonial governor Willem Jewett (1963-2022), American lawyer and politician Willem Johan Kolff (1911–2009), Dutch-American inventor of
3149-438: The kingdom were required to instruct students in the Reformed faith and the Dutch language. Many in the south feared that the king sought to extinguish Catholicism and the French language. In August 1830 Daniel Auber 's opera La muette de Portici , about the repression of Neapolitans , was staged in Brussels. Performances of this opera seemed to crystallize a sense of nationalism and "Hollandophobia" in Brussels, and spread to
3216-481: The name Willem , babynames.co.uk ^ Rienk de Haan, Fryske Foarnammen , Leeuwarden, 2002 (Friese Pers Boekerij), ISBN 9 03 30 11 506 , p. 158. See also [ edit ] Willeke , a related Dutch feminine given name Willems , surname of Dutch origin [REDACTED] Name list This page or section lists people that share the same given name . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change that link to point directly to
3283-406: The newly created Principality of Nassau-Orange-Fulda in 1803. When Napoleon invaded Germany in 1806, William fought on the Prussian side and was deposed upon French victory. With the death of his father in 1806, he became Prince of Orange and ruler of the Principality of Orange-Nassau , which he also lost the same year after the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire and subsequent creation of
3350-405: The north and the south, although the population of the north (2 million) was significantly less than that of the south (3.5 million). The States General's primary function was to approve the king's laws and decrees. The constitution contained many present-day Dutch political institutions; however, their functions and composition have changed greatly over the years. The constitution was accepted in
3417-427: The north, but not in the south. The under-representation of the south was one of the causes of the Belgian Revolution. Referendum turnout was low, in the southern provinces, but William interpreted all abstentions to be yes votes. He prepared a lavish inauguration for himself in Brussels , where he gave the people copper coins (leading to his first nickname, the Copper King ). The spearhead of King William's policies
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#17328444989403484-463: The outbreak of the Belgian Revolution in 1830. William failed to crush the rebellion and in 1839 he accepted the independence of Belgium in accordance with the Treaty of London . William's disapproval of changes to the constitution, the loss of Belgium and his intention to marry Henrietta d'Oultremont , a Roman Catholic, led to his decision to abdicate in 1840. His eldest son acceded to the throne as King William II . William died in 1843 in Berlin at
3551-426: The provisional government offered him the title of king . William refused, instead proclaiming himself " Sovereign Prince of the Netherlands ". He also wanted the rights of the people to be guaranteed by "a wise constitution". The constitution offered William extensive, nearly absolute powers: ministers were only responsible to him, while a unicameral parliament (the States General ) exercised only limited power. He
3618-441: The rest of the south. Rioting ensued, chiefly aimed at the kingdom's unpopular justice minister, Cornelis Felix van Maanen , who lived in Brussels. An infuriated William responded by sending troops to repress the riots. However, the riots had spread to other southern cities. The riots quickly became popular uprisings. An independent state of Belgium emerged out of the 1830 Revolution. The next year, William sent his sons William ,
3685-404: The troops that took part in the Flanders Campaign of 1793–95. He took part in the Battles of Veurne and Menin (where his brother was wounded) in 1793, and commanded during the Siege of Landrecies (1794) , whose fortress surrendered to him. In May 1794 he had replaced general Kaunitz as commander of the combined Austro-Dutch forces on the instigation of Emperor Francis II who apparently had
3752-483: Was a Dutch cartographer , atlas maker, and publisher . Along with his son Johannes Blaeu , Willem is considered one of the notable figures of the Netherlandish or Dutch school of cartography during its golden age in the 16th and 17th centuries. Blaeu was born at Uitgeest or Alkmaar . As the son of a well-to-do herring salesman, he was destined to succeed his father in the trade, but his interests lay more in mathematics and astronomy . Between 1594 and 1596, as
3819-604: Was able to regularly produce country maps in an atlas format, some of which appeared in the Atlas Novus published in 1635. In 1633 he was appointed map-maker of the Dutch East India Company . He was also an editor and published works of Willebrord Snell , Descartes , Adriaan Metius , Roemer Visscher , Gerhard Johann Vossius , Barlaeus , Hugo Grotius , Vondel and the historian and poet Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft . He died in Amsterdam . He had two sons, Johannes and Cornelis Blaeu, who continued their father's mapmaking and publishing business after his death in 1638. Prints of
3886-409: Was considered an excellent military school, together with his brother. In 1790 he visited a number of foreign courts like the one in Nassau and the Prussian capital Berlin, where he first met his future wife. William subsequently studied briefly at the University of Leiden . In 1790 he was appointed a general of infantry in the Dutch States Army of which his father was Captain general , and he
3953-423: Was economic progress. As he founded many trade institutions, his second nickname was the King-Merchant . In 1822, he founded the Algemeene Nederlandsche Maatschappij ter Begunstiging van de Volksvlijt , which would become one of the most important institutions of Belgium after its independence. Industry flourished, especially in the South. In 1817, he also founded three universities in the southern provinces, such as
4020-468: Was inaugurated as sovereign prince in the New Church in Amsterdam on 30 March 1814. In August 1814, he was appointed Governor-General of the former Austrian Netherlands and the Prince-Bishopric of Liège (more or less modern-day Belgium) by the Allied Powers who occupied that country, ruling them on behalf of Prussia. He was also made Grand Duke of Luxembourg , having received that territory in return for trading his hereditary German lands to Prussia and
4087-439: Was instrumental in fomenting a mutiny on the Batavian naval squadron in the Vlieter , resulting in the surrender of the ships without a fight to the Royal Navy , which accepted the surrender in the name of the stadtholder. Not all the local Dutch population, however, was pleased with the arrival of the prince. One local Orangist was even executed. The hoped-for popular uprising failed to materialise. After several minor battles
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#17328444989404154-436: Was known as the United Kingdom of the Netherlands at the Congress of Vienna. The States General was divided into two chambers. The Eerste Kamer (First Chamber or Senate or House of Lords) was appointed by the king. The Tweede Kamer (Second Chamber or House of Representatives or House of Commons) was elected by the Provincial States, which were in turn chosen by census suffrage . The 110 seats were divided equally between
4221-412: Was made a member of the Council of State of the Netherlands . In November 1791 he took his new bride to The Hague . After the National Convention of the French Republic had declared war on the Dutch Republic in February 1793, William was appointed commander-in-chief of the veldleger (mobile army) of the States Army (his father remained the nominal head of the armed forces). As such he commanded
4288-489: Was retrospectively added by historians for descriptive purposes. Constitutional changes were initiated in 1840 because the terms which involved the United Kingdom of the Netherlands had to be removed. These constitutional changes also included the introduction of judicial ministerial responsibility . Although the policies remained uncontrolled by parliament, the prerogative was controllable now. The very conservative William could not live with these constitutional changes. This,
4355-442: Was the daughter of King Frederick William II of Prussia . After Wilhelmina died in 1837, William married Countess Henrietta d'Oultremont (28 February 1792, in Maastricht – 26 October 1864, in Schloss Rahe ), created countess of Nassau, on 17 February 1841, also in Berlin. As eldest son of the William V, Prince of Orange , William was informally referred to as Erfprins (Hereditary Prince) by contemporaries from his birth until
4422-416: Was the son of William V, Prince of Orange , the last stadtholder of the Dutch Republic , and Wilhelmina of Prussia . During the Flanders campaign , he commanded the Dutch troops and fought against the French invasion. The family went into exile in London in 1795 following the Batavian Revolution . As compensation for the loss of his father's possessions in the Low Countries, William was appointed ruler of
4489-427: Was wounded in the leg. Tsar Alexander I of Russia played a central role in the restoration of the Netherlands. Prince William VI (as he was now known), who had been living in exile in Prussia, met with Alexander I in March 1813. Alexander promised to support William and help restore an independent Netherlands with William as king. Russian troops in the Netherlands participated with their Prussian allies in restoring
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