The Netherlands Genealogy: Difference between revisions

Willem I, Prince of Orange (April 24, 1533—July 10, 1584), also widely known as 'Willem de Zwijger' (William the Silent), or simply Willem van Oranje (William of Orange), as well as 'Vader des Vaderlands' (Father of the Fatherland), was born in the House of Nassau as a count of Nassau-Dillenburg. He became Prince of Orange in 1544 and is thereby the founder of the branch House of Orange-Nassau. He was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years' War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. He was assassinated by Balthasar Gérard (also written as 'Gerardts') in his own home, de [http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prinsenhof_(Delft) Prinsenhof] in Delft. <br>[[Image:Eighty Years' War.jpg|thumb|left]] The Dutch fought an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighty_Years%27_War Eighty Years] long war, from 1568—1648, to gain indepence and religious freedom and so became one of the countries where people of all religions and cultures could find refuge. <br>