Misplaced Pages

#34965

41-472: The bridge was completed in 1981, designed by C. Veerling and named after King Willem III of the Netherlands . It replaced an older bridge that had been opened in 1879 but was severely outdated by the time the decision was made to build a new one. Because of the intensity of the traffic using the old bridge, it was decided to build the new one 150 metres upstream to avoid upsetting the daily flow of traffic across

82-622: A French opera singer, whom he ennobled as countess d'Ambroise – without government consent. Under pressure from society and the government, he abandoned these marriage plans. William remained eager to remarry. In 1878, he first proposed to his niece, Princess Elisabeth Sybille of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach . He then considered marriage with Princess Pauline of Waldeck and Pyrmont , a small German principality , and Princess Thyra of Denmark , who had her own private scandalous history. He finally decided to marry Pauline's younger sister Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont . Some politicians were quite angry, as she

123-600: A new, reactionary constitution for Luxembourg , which he ruled personally, separate from the Netherlands crown. In 1867, France offered to buy Luxembourg, leading to the Luxembourg Crisis , which almost precipitated war between Prussia and France. However, the subsequent Second Treaty of London confirmed Luxembourg as a fully independent country. During his reign, the king became more and more unpopular with his bourgeois-liberal subjects, his whims provoking their resistance and mockery, but remained quite popular with

164-693: Is known as the Orange Lanyard . Only those who served in a military unit at the particular time of action are entitled to wear the Orange Lanyard. The Orange Lanyard is worn as a cord around the right shoulder and can be worn simultaneously with the French or Belgian Fourragère of the Croix de Guerre . The Orange Lanyard is considered a permanent decoration and is worn for the duration of a military member's career. The military units or formations that were awarded

205-509: Is the oldest and highest honour of the Kingdom of the Netherlands . It is named after St. William of Gellone (755–814), the first Prince of Orange . Its motto is Voor Moed, Beleid en Trouw (For Bravery, Leadership and Loyalty). The chivalric order was established on 30 April 1815 by King William I and was presented for feats of excellent bravery on the battlefield and as a meritorious decoration to senior military officers. Comparable with

246-720: The Duke of Wellington , Fürst Blücher von Wahlstatt , Graf von Bülow von Dennewitz and Graf von Gneisenau . During the 19th century the Order was awarded to military serving in the campaign against the Belgian Revolution and military serving in the Dutch East Indies , mostly in the Aceh War . Until 1940, a total of 5,874 persons had been awarded the Military Order of William. In 1940,

287-506: The Korean War , three servicemen – two posthumously – were admitted to the Order. Since 1940, 199 names have been added to the register of the Military Order of William. The latest conflict that has been cause for the honour to be awarded was the war in Afghanistan . On 29 May 2009 a ceremony was held at which the knights met, at Queen Beatrix 's bestowal of the knighthood (fourth class) of

328-598: The Military Order of William ) and expected to join the military. In 1827, at the age of ten, William was made an honorary colonel in the Royal Netherlands Army by his grandfather. In the 1830s, he served as lieutenant in the Grenadiers Regiment and studied at Leiden University for a while, though without attempting to attain any degree. In 1834, during a visit to his maternal uncle Tsar Nicholas I , he

369-603: The Palace of the Nation in Brussels, which was part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands at the time. He was the eldest son of the future king William II of the Netherlands and Anna Pavlovna of Russia . He had three brothers, one of whom died in infancy, and one sister. William was particularly close to his brother Alexander , who was only 18 months his junior and for the most part

410-500: The 20th century. In the 19th century, the Knight Grand Cross was often conferred on foreign monarchs as a mere mark of respect. The 4th class could also be awarded as a unit presentation to military commands which had displayed feats of gallantry during wartime. The badge of the Order is a white-enamelled Maltese Cross , in silver for the 4th class and in gilt for higher classes; a green enamelled Burgundy Cross appears between

451-526: The Dutch throne. Meanwhile, being the last agnatic dynastic descendant of Otto I, Count of Nassau , the throne of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg passed to his patrilineal seventeenth cousin once removed (and matrilineal third cousin), Adolphe . As of 2024 , he is the last Dutch monarch to die whilst on the throne as all his successors have abdicated in favor of their children. William was born on 19 February 1817 in

SECTION 10

#1732848662035

492-464: The French Légion d’Honneur but far less often awarded, it is open to everyone regardless of rank or nobility—not only to Dutch military, but also to foreigners. To date, membership in the Order is extremely rarely awarded, and only for exceptional bravery in battle. In the spring of 1940 it was decided that civilians would receive the Order for heroic acts in the resistance . After the liberation of

533-539: The King has bestowed upon me. So help me God almighty." To be awarded the Military William Order a military unit must distinguish itself in battle to such a degree as would warrant the personal presentation of the Military William Order. The unit's Regimental Colour are decorated with the badge of the 4th class itself, which hangs from the finial of the pike. The version of the Military William Order for unit members

574-588: The Korps Commandotroepen, at the Binnenhof, in The Hague. The knights met on 31 August 2018 at King Willem-Alexander 's bestowal of the knighthood (fourth class) of the Order on Roy de Ruiter , (reserve-) Major, Royal Netherlands Air Force . Maj. Kenneth Mayhew , 101 at the time, was unable to attend the ceremony on 31 August 2018, which he explained in an interview broadcast on Dutch national television during

615-490: The Military William Order or continue their traditions are: Most military units or formations of the Netherlands and foreign armed forces were decorated as a consequence of their actions during the Second World War. In 2016 the Korps Commandotroepen were awarded the Military William Order for their actions in Afghanistan. As of 2024 , there are only three living knights of the Military Order of William, all Dutch . Below

656-500: The Netherlands William III ( Dutch : Willem Alexander Paul Frederik Lodewijk ; English: William Alexander Paul Frederick Louis ; 19 February 1817 – 23 November 1890) was King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 1849 until his death in 1890. He was also the Duke of Limburg from 1849 until the abolition of the duchy in 1866. William was the son of King William II and Anna Pavlovna of Russia . On

697-496: The Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies , several men and one woman from the resistance were awarded it. Most knighthoods of the Military Order of William were awarded in 1815 and shortly afterwards to military of the Allies that fought Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo , in total 1,005 knighthoods were awarded at this time. The Knight Grand Cross was awarded to Prince William of Orange,

738-454: The Netherlands. The reverse central disc bears a crowned monogram "W" (for King William I ) surrounded by a laurel wreath. The badge hangs from a royal crown. The star of the Knight Grand Cross is a silver, 8-pointed star with straight rays; the obverse of the badge of the Order, minus the crown, appears at its centre. The breast cross of the Commander is completely identical to the obverse of

779-466: The Order on Marco Kroon , platoon commander with the Korps Commandotroepen , at the Binnenhof, in The Hague. Kroon was honoured for conspicuous bravery, leadership, and devotion to duty during his service in Afghanistan from March to August 2006. The knights met on 4 December 2014 at King Willem-Alexander 's bestowal of the knighthood (fourth class) of the Order on Gijs Tuinman , commander with

820-554: The Order was awarded to soldiers who had served with extreme valour in the defence of the Netherlands from the invasion by Nazi-Germany . In 1944 and 1945, with the liberation of the Netherlands from German occupation, the Order was again awarded, this time to Dutch citizens as well as members of the Allied forces for deeds of gallantry. Of the 3,500 servicemen who served in the Netherlands United Nations Detachment in

861-611: The abdication of his grandfather William I in 1840, he became the Prince of Orange . On the death of his father in 1849, he succeeded as king of the Netherlands . William married his cousin Sophie of Württemberg in 1839 and they had three sons, William , Maurice , and Alexander , all of whom predeceased him. After Sophie's death in 1877 he married Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont in 1879 and they had one daughter Wilhelmina , who succeeded William to

SECTION 20

#1732848662035

902-516: The ailing king became increasingly demented . The Council of State and then Queen Emma became regents . William III died at Het Loo Palace in 1890. Because Wilhelmina had not yet reached adulthood, Emma became regent for her daughter. She would remain regent until Wilhelmina's eighteenth birthday in 1898. Of William III's four legitimate children, three reached adulthood, two sons from his marriage to Queen Sophie and one daughter from his marriage to Queen Emma: Standing at 6'5" (196 cm) he

943-566: The arms of the Maltese Cross. The obverse bears a golden firesteel at the centre, and the motto Voor Moed – Beleid – Trouw (For Bravery – Leadership – Loyalty) on the arms of the Maltese Cross. Both the Burgundy Cross and the firesteel were symbols of the House of Valois-Burgundy during their lordship of the Netherlands and probably are meant to recall its crucial unifying role in the history of

984-539: The army. William was simpler, more conservative, and loved the military. He prohibited intellectual exercise at home, for which action Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom , who corresponded with Princess Sophie, called him an uneducated farmer. His extramarital enthusiasms, however, led the New York Times to call him "the greatest debauchee of the age". Another cause of marital tension (and later political tension)

1025-427: The badge of the Order. The ribbon of the Order is orange ( House of Orange-Nassau ) with blue (Nassau-blue) stripes near the border. The oath to be taken by the accolade to the Military Order of William states: "I swear that I shall conduct myself as a faithful and valiant Knight, to stand ever ready to defend King and Country with my Life, and with all my Powers to always strive to be worthy of this Distinction, which

1066-651: The ceremony. By 1945, the following classes of the Military William Order were in existence. The rank of Knight Grand Cross could also be awarded as an exceptional presentation to heads of state which had displayed feats of loyalty to the Netherlands during wartime. Only the US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt , the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie , and the British King George VI were conferred such an honour in

1107-453: The common man. The king was a man of immense stature and with a boisterous voice. He could be gentle and kind, then suddenly he could become intimidating and even violent. He kicked and hit his servants about. He was inclined to terrorize and humiliate his courtiers. The king was cruel to animals as well. His ministers were afraid of him. Most people around him agreed that he was, to some degree, insane. The king could be erratic, he ordered

1148-468: The dismissal and even the arrest and execution of those that he found in lack of respect, including a Mayor of The Hague. Orders like these were disregarded. The king who thought of himself as a specialist on all matters military frequently tried to take command of manoeuvres, creating chaos wherever he went. In 1877, Queen Sophie died and years of war in the palace came to an end. In the same year, King William announced his intention to marry Émilie Ambre ,

1189-489: The matter for some time. William repeatedly contemplated abdicating as soon as his eldest son William, Prince of Orange , 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, whom William loathed. When the Roman Catholic hierarchy of bishops

1230-466: The military. Alexander, who had a lively, amiable, tactful personality, got on well with his hot headed, capricious brother. His death at age 29 was a great loss to William, who counted him a true friend. He never became close to his youngest brother Henry , who was painfully shy, easily embarrassed and anxious to avoid incurring William's wrath. William and his brothers were raised by military men (their governors were distinguished officers decorated with

1271-453: The monarchy's survival in changing times. Sophie, who was a liberal, also shared this view. William himself saw them as useless limitations of royal power, and would have preferred to govern as an enlightened despot in the mold of his grandfather, William I . He considered relinquishing his right to the throne to his older son. His mother convinced him to cancel this action. The Dutch constitution provided no way to relinquish one's claim to

Willemsbrug - Misplaced Pages Continue

1312-406: The river. After the completion of the new bridge, the old one was demolished. The Willemsbrug is a cable-stayed bridge with a total span of about 318 meters. It is painted in a red color which puts it in sharp contrast with the light blue painted Erasmus Bridge. This article about a bridge in the Netherlands is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Willem III of

1353-569: The throne. On 17 March 1849, his father died and William succeeded to the throne of the Netherlands . He was at that moment a guest of the Duchess of Cleveland in Raby Castle . Representatives of the Dutch government traveled to London to meet their new king. William was reluctant to return, but he was convinced to do so. Upon arrival the new queen welcomed her spouse with the question "did you accept?". The new king nodded, but he remained uncertain about

1394-456: The throne. Upon his father's investiture as king in 1840 he was made Inspector-General of Infantry and promoted to Lieutenant-General. The position was purely honorary and William relinquished it only 5 years later. His father gave him no role in politics and did little to prepare him for his future role. William loathed the 1848 constitutional changes initiated by his father ( William II ) and Johan Rudolf Thorbecke . His father saw them as key to

1435-528: Was 41 years the king's junior. Emma showed herself, however, as a cordial woman. William asked permission from parliament , this was easily granted. The couple were quickly married in Bad Arolsen on 7 January 1879. 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. The king had stopped interfering with most aspects of government. In 1880, Wilhelmina

1476-497: Was an exceptionally large and strong man. William III was known to be a philanderer and had several dozen illegitimate children from various mistresses. gave up the title "Prince of the Netherlands, but still held the title "Prince of Orange-Nassau" title granted by Royal Decree to descendants of Princess Irene Military Order of William The Military William Order , or often named Military Order of William ( Dutch : Militaire Willems-Orde , abbreviation : MWO),

1517-422: Was born. She became heir presumptive in 1884 after the death of the last remaining son from William's first marriage. Many potential male heirs had died between 1878 and 1884. King William became seriously ill in 1887. He was suffering from a kidney-ailment. However, in 1888, he personally presented a gold medal of honor to the lifeboat hero Dorus Rijkers , for saving the lives of 20 people. In 1888 and 1889,

1558-597: Was his capriciousness; he could rage against someone one day, and be extremely polite the next. The situation was made worse by Sophie, who made no secret of the fact she had never wanted to marry William in the first place and considered herself intellectually superior to him. She could be very dramatic, often complaining about her suffering and her wish to die and expressing negative opinions about pretty much everyone who crossed her path in The Netherlands, especially her inlaws. William struggled with his position as heir to

1599-617: Was made honorary commander of the Grenadiers Regiment of Kiev nr. 5 in the Imperial Russian Army . He married his first cousin, Sophie , daughter of King William I of Württemberg and Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia , in Stuttgart on 18 June 1839. This marriage was unhappy and was characterized by struggles about their children. Sophie was a liberal intellectual, hating everything leaning toward dictatorship, such as

1640-472: Was raised alongside him. As adults the two princes shared a passion for outdoor pursuits like shooting, riding and falconry as well as horse racing . Both were active members of the Royal Loo Hawking Club, which drew a large crowd of hunting enthusiasts to Het Loo Palace during the 1840s and early 1850s. William and Alexander also shared a deep frustration at not being given any meaningful tasks in

1681-475: Was restored in 1853, he found growing conservative support and a reason to dismiss Thorbecke. In the first two decades of his reign, he dismissed several cabinets and disbanded the States-General several times, installing royal cabinets which ruled as long as there was support in the elected second chamber of parliament . In what became known as the " Luxembourg Coup of 1856 ", William unilaterally instituted

Willemsbrug - Misplaced Pages Continue

#34965