Prince Frederick Henry
| Frederick Henry Prince of Orange |
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|---|---|
Portrait by Michiel Janszoon van Mierevel
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| Prince of Orange | |
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In office 1625–1647 |
|
| Preceded by | Maurice |
| Succeeded by | William II |
| Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel | |
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In office 1625–1647 |
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| Preceded by | Maurice, Prince of Orange |
| Succeeded by | William II, Prince of Orange |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
29 January 1584 Delft, Dutch Republic |
| Died | 14 March 1647 (aged 63) The Hague, Dutch Republic |
| Resting place |
Nieuwe Kerk, Delft, Netherlands 52°00′44″N 4°21′39″E / 52.0123°N 4.3609°E |
| Spouse(s) | Amalia of Solms-Braunfels |
Frederick Henry, or Frederik Hendrik in Dutch (29 January 1584 – 14 March 1647), was the sovereign Prince of Orange and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel from 1625 to 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.
Frederick Henry was born on 29 January 1584 in Delft, Holland, Dutch Republic. He was the youngest child of William the Silent and Louise de Coligny. His father William was stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, and Friesland. His mother Louise was daughter of the Huguenot leader Gaspard de Coligny, and was the fourth wife of his father. He was thus the half brother of his predecessor Maurice of Orange, deceased in 1625.
Frederick Henry was born six months before his father's assassination on 10 July 1584. The boy was trained to arms by his elder brother Maurice, one of the finest generals of his age. After Maurice threatened to legimitize his illegitimate children if he did not marry, Frederick Henry married Amalia of Solms-Braunfels in 1625. His illegitimate son by Margaretha Catharina Bruyns (1595–1625), Frederick Nassau de Zuylenstein was born in 1624 before his marriage. This son later became the governor of the young William III of England for seven years.
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Wikipedia