William II, Prince of Orange (27 May 1626-6 November 1650) was Prince of Orange and Stadtholder of the United Provinces from 14 March 1647 to 6 November 1650, succeeding Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange and preceding William III, Prince of Orange (his son).
Biography[]
William of Orange was the son of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange and Amalia of Solms-Braunfels. In 1641, the young William was wed to Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange, the daughter of King Charles I of England. In 1647, William became stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel, and he opposed the 1648 peace with Spain because it would leave Flanders under the control of the Spanish Netherlands, and also because it would lead to the Dutch abandoning France during its own war with Spain. In 1650, William faced a rebellion from Andries Bicker, Cornelis de Graeff, and Jacob de Witt, who sought to save money by reducing the size of the army, a move that would also reduce William's powers. William sent William Frederick, Prince of Nassau-Dietz to reclaim Amsterdam with 10,000 troops, and Amsterdam submitted to him. William died of smallpox later that year, and his son would later become William III of England and Stadtholder.