Prince of Orange
Coat of arms of the Principality of Orange.
Prince of Orange is a title of nobility .
The title is used by members of the House of Orange-Nassau , as heirs to the crown of the Netherlands . It also used by members of the House of Hohenzollern . At the moment, the title is used by Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (Orange-Nassau), Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia (Hohenzollern) and Guy, Marquis de Mailly-Neslé, Prince d'Orange.
The history of the title
Four generations Princes of Orange - William I, Maurice and Frederick Henry, William II, William III (Willem van Honthorst, 1662)
The title was at first related to a self-ruling state called the Principality of Orange . It lies in the south of what we now call France. The land was the property of the house of Orange and from 1544 of the house of Orange-Nassau .
The last of the original princes, René of Nassau , left the principality to his cousin William the Silent after he died. William the Silent was not related to the original house of Orange, but was the legal heir.
In a war in 1673, Louis XIV of France took over the lands of the principality and added them to his own royal domain. This was part of the war against the stadtholder William III of Orange . Louis XIV then gave the principality to Louis of Mailly-Nesles, marquis of Nesles (1689–1764), a very remote relation of the original princes of Orange[source? ] . His descendant still claims the title today. In 1714, Louis XIV allowed Prince Louis Armand of Bourbon-Conti to use the land of the Principality to make money. Prince Louis Armand died in 1727 and the principality was merged in the Crown in 1731.
William III died without legitimate children. This meant that the principality was seen as inherited by his closest cognate relative on the basis of the testament of Frederic-Henry, Frederick I of Prussia [source? ] . He handed over the principality's lands but not the title to France in 1713. France supported his claim. In this way, the territory of the principality was no longer a separate state, but became a part of France. Through the Treaty of Utrecht . A new "Principality of Orange" was created by the King of Prussia as part of the duchy of Gelderland.[source? ] . The kings of Prussia and the German emperors styled themselves Princes of Orange till 1918.
John William Friso of Nassau was chosen as the heir to the princes of Orange in the Netherlands by the last will of William III. John William Friso was also related to William the Silent through the female line. Several of his descendants became stadtholders. They claim the principality of Orange on the basis of agnatic inheritance (inheritance of lands to the brother rather than the sons of the king) [source? ] . This way of inheriting is similar to the way William the Silent inherited from his cousin René . The claim to the title is also on basis of the testament of Philips William, Maurice and William III. Although they claimed the title "Prince of Orange", France never allowed them to obtain anything of the lands of the principality itself. It is from this tradition that later stadtholders of the Netherlands, and the present-day royal family of the Netherlands, also hold the title.
People with title Prince of Orange
As sovereign prince of Orange
Until 1340, it was customary for all sons of the prince of Orange to inherit the title.
Only the direct line of descent to Raimond V is shown here.
House of Baux
House of Baux-Orange
House of Châlon-Arlay (also House of Ivrea of Anscarid dynasty)
Picture
Name
Birth
Became Prince of Orange
Stopped to be Prince of Orange
Death
Other titles while Prince of Orange
Princess of Orange
Prince John I
-
10 February 1393
October 1417
2 September 1418
Lord of Arlay , Cuiseaux and Vitteaux
Princess Mary
Prince Louis I
1390
October 1417
3 December 1463
Lord of Arlay , Arguel , Orbe , and Echelens
1. Jeanne of Montbéliard 2. Eleanor d'Armagnac 3. Blanche of Gamaches
Prince William II
-
3 December 1463
27 September 1475
Lord of Arlay and Arguel
Catherine of Brittany
Prince John II
1443
27 September 1475
15 April 1502
Count of Tonnerre ; Lord of Arlay , Arguel and Montfaucon ; Admiral of Guyenne .
1. Jeanne de Bourbon 2. Philiberte of Luxembourg
Prince Philibert
18 March 1502
15 April 1502
3 August 1530
Viceroy of Naples ; Prince of Melfi ; Duke of Gravina ; Count of Tonnerre , Charny , Penthièvre ; Viscount of Besançon ; Lord of Arlay , Nozeroy , Rougemont , Orgelet and Montfaucon , Lieutenant-General in the Imperial army.
no wife
House of Nassau
Picture
Name
Birth
Became Prince of Orange
Stopped to be Prince of Orange
Death
Other titles while Prince of Orange
Princess of Orange
Prince René
5 February 1519
3 August 1530
15 July 1544
Stadtholder of Holland , Zeeland , Utrecht and Guelders ; Count of Nassau , and Vianden ; Viscount of Antwerp ; Baron of Breda , Diest , Herstal , Warneton , Beilstein , Arlay , and Nozeroy ; Lord of Dasburg , Geertruidenberg , Hooge en Lage Zwaluwe , Klundert , Montfort , Naaldwijk , Niervaart , Polanen , Steenbergen , Bütgenbach , Sankt Vith , and Besançon .
Anna of Lorraine
House of Orange-Nassau (first creation)
Picture
Name
Birth
Became Prince of Orange
Stopped to be Prince of Orange
Death
Other titles while Prince of Orange
Princess of Orange
Prince William I
24 April 1533
15 July 1544
10 July 1584
Stadtholder of Holland , Zeeland , Utrecht and Friesland ; Marquis of Veere and Vlissingen , Count of Nassau-Dillenburg , Katzenelnbogen , and Vianden ; Viscount of Antwerp ; Baron of Breda , Lands of Cuijk , City of Grave , Diest , Herstal , Warneton , Beilstein , Arlay , and Nozeroy ; Lord of Dasburg , Geertruidenberg , Hooge en Lage Zwaluwe , Klundert , Montfort , Naaldwijk , Niervaart , Polanen , Steenbergen , Willemstad , Bütgenbach , Sankt Vith , and Besançon .
1. Anna van Egmont 2. Anna of Saxony 3. Charlotte de Bourbon 4. Louise de Coligny
Prince Philip William
19 December 1554
10 July 1584
20 February 1618
Count of Nassau-Dillenburg , Buren , Leerdam , Katzenelnbogen , and Vianden ; Viscount of Antwerp ; Baron of Breda , Cranendonck , Lands of Cuijk , Eindhoven , City of Grave , IJsselstein , Diest , Herstal , Warneton , Beilstein , Arlay , and Nozeroy ; Lord of Dasburg , Geertruidenberg , Hooge en Lage Zwaluwe , Klundert , Montfort , Naaldwijk , Niervaart , Polanen , Steenbergen , Sint-Maartensdijk , Willemstad , Bütgenbach , Sankt Vith , and Besançon .
Éléonore de Bourbon
Prince Maurice
14 November 1567
20 February 1618
23 April 1625
Stadtholder of Holland , Zeeland , Utrecht , Guelders , Overijssel and Groningen ; Marquis of Veere and Vlissingen ; Count of Nassau-Dillenburg , Buren , Leerdam , Katzenelnbogen , and Vianden ; Viscount of Antwerp ; Baron of Aggeris, Breda , Cranendonck , Lands of Cuijk , Daesburg, Eindhoven , City of Grave , Lek , IJsselstein , Diest , Grimbergen , Herstal , Warneton , Beilstein , Bentheim-Lingen , Moers , Arlay , and Nozeroy ; Lord of Dasburg , Geertruidenberg , Hooge en Lage Zwaluwe , Klundert , Montfort , Naaldwijk , Niervaart , Polanen , Steenbergen , Sint-Maartensdijk , Willemstad , Bütgenbach , Sankt Vith , and Besançon .
no wife
Prince Frederick Henry
29 January 1584
23 April 1625
14 March 1647
Stadtholder of Holland , Zeeland , Utrecht , Guelders , and Overijssel ; Marquis of Veere and Vlissingen ; Count of Nassau-Dillenburg , Buren , Leerdam , Katzenelnbogen , and Vianden ; Viscount of Antwerp ; Baron of Aggeris, Breda , Cranendonck , Lands of Cuijk , Daesburg, Eindhoven , City of Grave , Lek , IJsselstein , Diest , Grimbergen , Herstal , Warneton , Beilstein , Bentheim-Lingen , Moers , Arlay , and Nozeroy ; Lord of Dasburg , Geertruidenberg , Hooge en Lage Zwaluwe , Klundert , Montfort , Naaldwijk , Niervaart , Polanen , Steenbergen , Sint-Maartensdijk , Willemstad , Bütgenbach , Sankt Vith , and Besançon .
Amalia of Solms-Braunfels
Prince William II
27 May 1626
14 March 1647
6 November 1650
Stadtholder of Holland , Zeeland , Utrecht , Guelders and Overijssel ; Marquis of Veere and Vlissingen ; Count of Nassau-Dillenburg , Buren , Leerdam , Katzenelnbogen , and Vianden ; Viscount of Antwerp ; Baron of Aggeris, Breda , Cranendonck , Lands of Cuijk , Daesburg, Eindhoven , City of Grave , Lek , IJsselstein , Diest , Grimbergen , Herstal , Warneton , Beilstein , Bentheim-Lingen , Moers , Arlay , and Nozeroy ; Lord of Dasburg , Geertruidenberg , Hooge en Lage Zwaluwe , Klundert , Montfort , Naaldwijk , Niervaart , Polanen , Steenbergen , Sint-Maartensdijk , Turnhout , Willemstad , Zevenbergen , Bütgenbach , Sankt Vith , and Besançon .
Mary, Princess Royal
William III
14 November 1650
6 November 1650
8 March 1702
King of England , Scotland , and Ireland , Stadtholder of Holland , Zeeland , Utrecht , Guelders , and Overijssel ; Marquis of Veere and Vlissingen ; Count of Nassau-Dillenburg , Buren , Leerdam , Katzenelnbogen , and Vianden ; Viscount of Antwerp ; Baron of Aggeris, Breda , Cranendonck , Lands of Cuijk , Daesburg, Eindhoven , City of Grave , Lek , IJsselstein , Diest , Grimbergen , Herstal , Warneton , Beilstein , Bentheim-Lingen , Moers , Arlay , and Nozeroy ; Lord of Baarn , Bredevoort , Dasburg , Geertruidenberg , Hooge en Lage Zwaluwe , Klundert , 't Loo , Montfort , Naaldwijk , Niervaart , Polanen , Steenbergen , Sint-Maartensdijk , Soest , Ter Eem , Turnhout , Willemstad , Zevenbergen , Bütgenbach , Sankt Vith , and Besançon .
Queen Mary II of England
As a personal title or as heir apparent
House of Orange-Nassau (second creation)
As personal title of nobility:
Picture
Name
Heir of
Birth
Became Prince of Orange
Stopped to be Prince of Orange
Death
Other titles while Prince of Orange
Princess of Orange
Prince John William Friso
William III
4 August 1687
8 March 1702
14 July 1711
Stadtholder of Friesland and Groningen ; Fürst of Nassau-Dietz → Fürst of Orange-Nassau ; Marquis of Veere and Vlissingen ; Count of Buren , Leerdam , Katzenelnbogen , Spiegelberg , and Vianden ; Viscount of Antwerp ; Baron of Aggeris, Breda , Cranendonck , Lands of Cuijk , Daesburg, Eindhoven , City of Grave , Lek , IJsselstein , Diest , Grimbergen , Herstal , Warneton , Beilstein , Arlay , and Nozeroy ; Hereditary Lord of Ameland ; Lord of Baarn , Bredevoort , Dasburg , Geertruidenberg , Hooge en Lage Zwaluwe , Klundert , Liesveld , 't Loo , Montfort , Naaldwijk , Niervaart , Polanen , Steenbergen , Sint-Maartensdijk , Soest , Ter Eem , Turnhout , Willemstad , Zevenbergen , Bütgenbach , Sankt Vith , and Besançon .
Landgravine Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel
Prince William IV
Prince John William Friso
1 September 1711
22 October 1751
General Stadtholder of the United Provinces ; Fürst of Orange-Nassau ; Marquis of Veere and Vlissingen ; Count of Buren , Culemborg , Leerdam , and Vianden ; Viscount of Antwerp ; Baron of Aggeris, Breda , Cranendonck , Lands of Cuijk , Daesburg, Eindhoven , City of Grave , Lek , IJsselstein , Diest , Grimbergen , Herstal , Warneton , Arlay , and Nozeroy ; Hereditary Lord of Ameland ; Lord of Baarn , Bredevoort , Dasburg , Geertruidenberg , Hooge en Lage Zwaluwe , Klundert , Liesveld , 't Loo , Montfort , Naaldwijk , Niervaart , Polanen , Steenbergen , Sint-Maartensdijk , Soest , Ter Eem , Turnhout , Willemstad , Zevenbergen , Bütgenbach , Sankt Vith , and Besançon .
Anne, Princess Royal
Prince William V
Prince William IV
8 March 1748
22 October 1751
9 April 1806
General Stadtholder of the United Provinces ; Fürst of Orange-Nassau ; Marquis of Veere and Vlissingen ; Count of Buren , Culemborg , Leerdam , and Vianden ; Viscount of Antwerp ; Baron of Aggeris, Breda , Cranendonck , Lands of Cuijk , Daesburg, Eindhoven , City of Grave , Lek , IJsselstein , Diest , Grimbergen , Herstal , Warneton , Arlay , and Nozeroy ; Hereditary Lord of Ameland ; Lord of Baarn , Bredevoort , Borculo , Dasburg , Geertruidenberg , Hooge en Lage Zwaluwe , Klundert , Lichtenvoorde , Liesveld , 't Loo , Montfort , Naaldwijk , Niervaart , Polanen , Steenbergen , Sint-Maartensdijk , Soest , Ter Eem , Turnhout , Willemstad , Zevenbergen , Bütgenbach , Sankt Vith , and Besançon .
Princess Wilhelmine of Prussia
Prince William VIlater William I
Prince William V
24 August 1772
9 April 1806
16 March 1815title dropped when invested as first King of the Netherlands
7 October 1840
Fürst of Orange-Nassau ; Marquis of Veere and Vlissingen ; Count of Buren , Culemborg , Leerdam , and Vianden ; Viscount of Antwerp ; Baron of Aggeris, Breda , Cranendonck , Lands of Cuijk , Daesburg, Eindhoven , City of Grave , Lek , IJsselstein , Diest , Grimbergen , Herstal , Warneton , Arlay , and Nozeroy ; Hereditary Lord of Ameland ; Lord of Baarn , Bredevoort , Borculo , Geertruidenberg , Hooge en Lage Zwaluwe , Klundert , Lichtenvoorde , Liesveld , 't Loo , Montfort , Naaldwijk , Niervaart , Polanen , Steenbergen , Sint-Maartensdijk , Soest , Ter Eem , Turnhout , Willemstad , Zevenbergen , Bütgenbach , Sankt Vith , and Besançon .
Wilhelmine of Prussia
As royal title for the heir apparent:
House of Hohenzollern
House of Mailly
Louis de Mailly, Marquis de Nesle et de Mailly , appointed by the French king, and his descendants, currently Guy, Marquis de Nesle and of Mailly, Prince d'Orange.
House of Bourbon
Related pages
References
More reading
Herbert H. Rowen , The princes of Orange: the stadholders in the Dutch Republic . Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press , 1988.
Reina van Ditzhuyzen, Het Huis van Oranje: prinsen, stadhouders, koningen en koninginnen . Haarlem : De Haan, [1979].
Other websites