Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange

Frederick Henry
Prince of Orange
Reign23 April 1625 - 14 March 1647
PredecessorMaurice
SuccessorWilliam II
Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel
PredecessorMaurice, Prince of Orange
SuccessorWilliam II, Prince of Orange
Born(1584-01-29)29 January 1584
Delft, Dutch Republic
Died14 March 1647(1647-03-14) (aged 63)
The Hague, Dutch Republic
SpouseAmalia of Solms-Braunfels
IssueWilliam II, Prince of Orange
Louise Henriette, Duchess of Prussia
Henriette Amalia of Nassau
Alexandra of Nassau
Isabella Charlotte of Nassau
Albertine Agnes of Nassau
Henriette Catherine, Princess of Anhalt-Dessau
Henry Louis of Nassau
Maria, Countess Palatine of Simmern-Kaiserslautern
HouseOrange-Nassau
FatherWilliam the Silent
MotherLouise de Coligny
ReligionDutch Reformed
SignatureFrederick Henry's signature

Frederick Henry (Dutch: Frederik Hendrik; 29 January 1584 – 14 March 1647) was the sovereign prince of Orange and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, Overijssel in the Dutch Republic from 1625 until his death in 1647. In the last seven years of his life, he was also the stadtholder of Groningen (1640-1647).

As the leading soldier in the Dutch wars against Spain, his main achievement was the successful Siege of 's-Hertogenbosch in 1629. It was the main Spanish base and a well-fortified city protected by an experienced Spanish garrison and by formidable water defenses. His strategy was the successful neutralization of the threat of inundation of the area around 's-Hertogenbosch' and his capture of the Spanish storehouse at Wesel.[1] The successful sieges under his command earned him the epithet ‘city forcer’ (Dutch: stedendwinger).

  1. ^ Israel, The Dutch Republic (1995) p 507

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