William III of England (14 November 1650 – 8 March 1702) was the Stadtholder of the United Provinces (Dutch Republic) from 4 July 1672 to 8 March 1702, succeeding William II of Orange and preceding Willem IV of Orange, and King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 13 February 1689 to 8 March 1702, succeeding James II of England and preceding Anne of Great Britain.
William was initially only the hereditary Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, but in 1688–1689 he seized power in England during the "Glorious Revolution", preventing James II of England from establishing a Catholic monarchy allied with France and ensuring Protestantism remained dominant in England. His reign marked the beginning of a constitutional monarchy in Britain and established the precedent of parliamentary supremacy over the crown.
Biography[]
Willem as stadtholder
William of Orange was born into the House of Orange-Nassau, a leading Dutch noble family. Although he inherited the title of stadtholder (chief executive and military leader) of several Dutch provinces, until 1672 he was largely sidelined from power due to opposition from republican factions within the Dutch States.
In 1672, known in Dutch history as the Rampjaar or "Disaster Year," Louis XIV of France invaded the Netherlands, threatening to conquer the country. At age 22, William was appointed captain-general of the Dutch army. He successfully organised the defence of the Dutch Republic, forcing France to accept a compromise peace. His leadership during this crisis cemented his reputation as a defender of Protestantism and Dutch independence against the expansionist ambitions of Catholic France.
The Glorious Revolution and Accession to the English Throne[]
By the late 1680s, William feared that England under James II, a Catholic king, could become an ally of France and a threat to Protestant Europe. In 1688, a group of English nobles formally invited him to intervene and protect Protestant interests. William landed in England with an army of approximately 15,000 Dutch troops. James II was abandoned by many of his key supporters, including the future Duke of Marlborough, and fled to France. William and his wife, Mary II (James II's Protestant daughter), were subsequently crowned joint monarchs. The event, known as the Glorious Revolution, established parliamentary sovereignty and reinforced Protestant succession in Britain.
Military Campaigns[]
From 1689 onward, William engaged in a series of military campaigns against Louis XIV of France in both Ireland and the Low Countries. In Ireland, the French-backed forces of the deposed James II invaded, prompting William to cross the Irish Sea with a substantial army. He defeated the Jacobite forces at the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690, securing control over Ireland. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, William led campaigns as part of the Nine Years’ War (1688–1697). He suffered setbacks at Steenkirk (1692) and Neerwinden (1693) but successfully coordinated coalition forces against France. In 1695, he recaptured the strategic fortress of Namur, delivering a significant blow to French prestige. Throughout his career, William’s primary objective was maintaining the independence of the Dutch Republic and containing French expansion, goals in which he was ultimately successful.
Legacy[]
William III’s reign in England and the Netherlands reinforced Protestant security in Europe and reshaped the political landscape. In England, his accession marked the transition toward constitutional monarchy and parliamentary supremacy. In the Netherlands, he ensured the survival and independence of the Dutch Republic against French hegemony. His military and political leadership left a lasting impact on European balance of power in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
Gallery[]
| King of England | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: James II |
1689–1694 (co-reigned with Mary II) | Succeeded by: sole reign |
| King of England | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: co-reign |
1694–1702 (sole monarch) | Succeeded by: Anne |