Dutch Monarch. He was the oldest son William V, Prince of Orange, and Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia. His father was the last Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, who went into exile to London in 1795 because of the Batavian Revolution. As compensation for the loss of all his father's possessions in the Low Countries, an agreement was concluded between France and Prussia, in which he was appointed ruler of the newly created Principality of Nassau-Orange-Funda 1803. However, this was short-lived and in 1806 he was deposed by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. With the death of his father in 1806, he became Prince of Orange and ruler of the Principality of Orange-Nassau, which he also lost the same year following the disolution of the Holy Roman Empire and subsequent creation of the Confederation of the Rhine at the behest of Napoleon. In 1813, when Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Leipzig, the Orange-Nassau territories were returned to him, and he was asked as well to become the Sovereign Prince of the United Netherlands. On March 16, 1815, he proclaimed himself King of the Netherlands and concluded a treaty with Prussian King Frederick William III in which he ceded the Principality of Orange-Nassau to Prussia in exchange for becoming the new Grand Duke of Luxembourg. In 1839, he furthermore became the Duke of Limburg as a result of the Treaty of London. After his abdication in 1840, he styled himself King William Frederick, Count of Nassau.
Dutch Monarch. He was the oldest son William V, Prince of Orange, and Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia. His father was the last Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, who went into exile to London in 1795 because of the Batavian Revolution. As compensation for the loss of all his father's possessions in the Low Countries, an agreement was concluded between France and Prussia, in which he was appointed ruler of the newly created Principality of Nassau-Orange-Funda 1803. However, this was short-lived and in 1806 he was deposed by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. With the death of his father in 1806, he became Prince of Orange and ruler of the Principality of Orange-Nassau, which he also lost the same year following the disolution of the Holy Roman Empire and subsequent creation of the Confederation of the Rhine at the behest of Napoleon. In 1813, when Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Leipzig, the Orange-Nassau territories were returned to him, and he was asked as well to become the Sovereign Prince of the United Netherlands. On March 16, 1815, he proclaimed himself King of the Netherlands and concluded a treaty with Prussian King Frederick William III in which he ceded the Principality of Orange-Nassau to Prussia in exchange for becoming the new Grand Duke of Luxembourg. In 1839, he furthermore became the Duke of Limburg as a result of the Treaty of London. After his abdication in 1840, he styled himself King William Frederick, Count of Nassau.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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