List_of_monarchs_of_the_Netherlands

List of monarchs of the Netherlands

List of monarchs of the Netherlands

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This is a list of monarchs of the Netherlands (Dutch: Koningen der Nederlanden). By practical extension, the list includes the stadtholders of the House of Orange Nassau since 1556. However, they were voted into office by, and were civil servants and generals of, the semi-independent provinces of the Dutch Republic and cannot be seen as monarchs. From William IV they were the direct male line ancestors of later monarchs when the monarchy was established in 1813 (first as a Sovereign Principality, but in 1815 as a Kingdom).

Coat of arms of the Netherlands

Dutch Republic (1581–1795)

Further information: List of stadtholders in the Netherlands
See also: List of Grand Pensionaries

The origin of the Dutch monarchy can be traced back to the appointment of William I, Prince of Orange as stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland and Utrecht in 1559 by Philip II of Spain. However, he was removed from office and became the leader of the Dutch Revolt. Consequently, the States-General appointed him as stadtholder of both rebelling provinces, Holland and Zeeland, in 1572. During the Dutch Revolt, most of the Dutch provinces declared their independence with the Act of Abjuration, signed on 26 July 1581 in The Hague in conformation with the decision made by the States-General. The representative function of the stadtholder became obsolete in the rebellious northern Netherlands – the feudal Lord himself having been abolished – but the office nevertheless continued in these provinces who now united themselves into the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. All stadtholders after William I were drawn from his descendants or the descendants of his brother, who were also the descendants of his granddaughter Albertina Agnes of Nassau-Orange.

In 1795 the Republic was overthrown by the French Republic and replaced with the Batavian Republic. In 1806 Napoleon abolished the new republic and made his brother King of Holland. However, in 1810 Napoleon invaded the Netherlands and annexed them to France. In 1813, Allied forces drove out the French. The Dutch called back William Frederick, the son of the last stadtholder, to head the new government. He was proclaimed "sovereign prince". In 1815, he raised the Netherlands to the status of a kingdom and proclaimed himself King William I. The kingdom was enlarged with the Southern Netherlands, now Belgium and Luxembourg, soon after.

Stadtholderate under the House of Orange-Nassau

Further information: List of stadtholders in the Netherlands
More information Name, Lifespan ...

When William III died childless, the patrilineal ancestry of Orange-Nassau became extinct. In contrast to other provinces of the Dutch Republic, Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe had mostly drawn its stadtholders from the House of Nassau, that starting with John VI, the brother of William of Orange, and comprises in addition a matrilineal ancestry with the house of Orange-Nassau.

Stadtholderate under the House of Nassau

Further information: List of stadtholders in the Netherlands
More information Name, Lifespan ...

Kingdom of Holland (1806–1810)

More information Name, Lifespan ...

Sovereign Principality of the United Netherlands (1813–1815)

More information Name, Lifespan ...

Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815–present)

More information Name, Lifespan ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland and Utrecht (1559–1584), Stadtholder of Friesland and Overijssel (1580–1584)
  2. [2]
    Maurits benoemd als stadhouder, 1585, Europeana
  3. [3]
    Stadtholder of Holland and Zeeland (1585–1625), Utrecht, Guelders and Overijssel (1590–1625), Groningen (1620–1625)
  4. [4]
    Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel (1620–1625), Groningen and Drenthe (1640–1647)
  5. [5]
    Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, Groningen, Drenthe and Overijssel
  6. [6]
    Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht and Overijssel (1672–1702), Guelders (1675–1702), Drenthe (1696–1702)
  7. [7]
    Hereditary Stadtholder of Friesland (1711–1747), Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht and Overijssel (April/May 1747 – November 1747), Stadtholder of Groningen (1718–1747), Guelders and Drenthe (1722–1747), was formally voted the first Hereditary Stadtholder of the United Provinces (1747–1751)
  8. [8]
    Stadtholder of Guelders (under Philip II), architect of the Union of Utrecht
  9. [9]
    Stadtholder of Friesland (1584–1620), Groningen (1594–1620) and Drenthe (1596–1620)
  10. [10]
    Stadtholder of Friesland (1620–1632), Groningen and Drenthe (1625–1632)
  11. [11]
    Stadtholder of Friesland (1632–1640), Groningen and Drenthe (1632–1640)
  12. [12]
    Stadtholder of Friesland (1640–1664), Groningen and Drenthe (1650–1664)
  13. [13]
    In 1675 the State of Friesland voted to make the Stadtholdership hereditary in the house of Nassau-Dietz
  14. [14]
    Hereditary Stadtholder of Friesland (1707–1711) and Groningen (1708–1711)
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