Home > William III of the Netherlands

1 Early life

William was born in Brussels as son of William II of the Netherlands and Queen Anna, sister of Tsar Alexander I of Russia. In his early years, he served in the military.

He married Sophie, daughter of King William I of Württemberg, in 1839. This marriage was unhappy and was characterized by struggle about their children. Sophie was a liberal intellectual, hating everything leaning toward dictatorship, such as the army. William was simpler, more conservative, and loved the military. He prohibited intellectual exercise at home, for which action Queen Victoria of Great Britain, who corresponded with Sophie, called him an uneducated farmer. Another cause of marital tension (and later political tension) was his capriciousness; he could rage against someone one day, and be extremely polite the next.

William loathed the constitutional changes ( 18481848 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). Events Sri Lanka The Revolution of 1848 (qv. a series of widespread but failed struggles for more liberal governments, from Brazil to Hungary. January 24 California gold rush: Jame) initiated by his father ( William II) and Johan Rudolf ThorbeckeJohan Rudolf Thorbecke ( January 14, 1798 June 4, 1872) was one of the most important Dutch politicians. In 1848, he virtually singlehandedly drafted the revision of the Dutch constitution, giving fewer powers to the king, and more to the parliament.. William II and Sophie saw them as key to the monarchy's survival in changing times. William himself saw them as useless limitations of royal power, and wished to govern like his grandfather, William IKing William I of the Netherlands was born as Willem Frederik on 25 August 1772 in The Hague, acceded in 1813 and died 1843 in Berlin, Germany. William I was also the grand duke of Luxembourg and count of Nassau. Biography King William I's parents were th.

He tried to relinquish his right to the throne to his younger brother. His mother convinced him to cancel this action. One year later ( 1849) William became King upon the death of his father.

2 Reign

William repeatedly contemplated abdicating as soon as his son turned eighteen. This occurred in 1858Events January 14 Felice Orsini and his accomplices fail to assassinate Napoleon III in Paris but their bombs kill 156 bystanders. Because of the involvement of French emigres living in Britain, there is a brief anti-British feeling in France but the empe, 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. William loathed this man.

When the CatholicGeneral meaning Catholic means universal or whole''. With respect to the Christian Church, the early Christians used the term to refer to the whole undivided church. It is in that sense that all Christians today claim ownership of the term, including Prot hierarchy of bishopA bishop is an ordained person who holds a specific position of authority in any of a number of Christian churches. Bishops in the New Testament The bishop's role is typically called the " episcopacy", because the word "bishop" is derived ultimately froms was restored in 1853 he found a reason to dismiss his rival. In the first two decades of his reign he dismissed several cabinets and disbanded the States-General several times, installing royal cabinets which ruled briefly as there was no support in elected parliament.

He tried to sell the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in 1867. The attempt nearly caused a war between Prussia and France, and helped make Luxembourg a fully independent country.

William was popular with the ordinary people, presenting himself as a cordial man.

In 1877 Sophie died and years of war in the palace came to an end. In 1879 William decided to marry Princess Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont , a small German principality. Some politicians were quite angry, as she was 41 years the king's junior. Emma showed herself, however, as a cordial woman; and when William asked permission from parliament, this was easily granted and the couple were quickly married.

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. In 1880 Wilhelmina was born. She became heiress in 1884 after the death of the last remaining son from William's first marriage. Many potential heirs had died between 1878 and 1884, and the tomb in the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft was never opened so many times in history.

William became seriously ill in 1887. He died in 1890, leaving his young daughter as Queen. Because the Luxembourg crown could only be worn by males at the time, it went to Adolf.