Philip William, Prince of Orange
Philip William of Orange- Nassau ( born December 19, 1554 Buren, † February 20, 1618 in Brussels) was Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau, Katzenelenbogen, Vianden, Buren, Leerdam, Baron of Breda and Vrijheer of Jaarsveld etc.
Life
Childhood and youth
Philip William was the eldest son of William I of Orange and his first wife Anna of Egmond ( 1533-1558 ). It was named after his father and after King Philip II, he and his sister Mary should remain the only child of this marriage. After the early death of his mother he inherited the county of Buren. His sister and he was placed in the custody of the Dutch regent Mary of Hungary.
In 1566 he began his studies at the University of Louvain, was here visited by the Spanish governor of Alba, which is why it was believed that their relationship would be amicable. His father fled a year later from the terror of the Duke of Alba in the Netherlands, after it was imprison the Counts of Egmond and Horn. Accompanied by his daughter Mary, he traveled, a family reunion vorschützend to the relatives to Dillenburg. Philipp Wilhelm remained in Leuven, because his father believed the young prince safe here.
Hostage in Spain
On the advice of Cardinal Granvelle Philip William was away on February 14, 1568 from the Netherlands and brought to Spain. His father's protests at Alba and Emperor Maximilian II were unsuccessful.
In the spring of 1568, he arrived in Spain and was allowed to continue here at the University of Alcalá de Henares his studies. Philipp Wilhelm soon spoke six languages fluently. Obviously, it was also permitted to hunt him to dance and have lovers. Although it was forbidden contact with his family, he had managed to write a few times secretly to his father. After this correspondence was revealed was brought by Philip William Arévalo under somewhat stricter, but still permissive conditions. The Spanish king, he was allowed to visit in the Escorial, Philip Wilhelm behaved loyal.
It was in 1584 after the assassination of his father 's successor as Prince of Orange. However, the successor as governor of the Netherlands went to his half-brother Maurice of Orange, while his sister Maria managed the maternal goods and sent him an annual sum of money.
1595 allowed you to accompany Philipp Wilhelm, Archduke Albrecht, the new Governor-General in the Netherlands. He was released on September 4, 1596 from his confinement in the castle of Arévalo.
Return to the Netherlands
On February 11, 1596, he reached the Archduke Brussels and entered again after 28 years in the Netherlands where he met the Spanish still subject, however. First, he supported Archduke Albrecht in his attack on Calais. Unbeknownst to her half-brother Moritz Prince met his sister for the first time in Kleve again.
1598 he met stepmother Louise de Coligny in Paris, which won influence on him and him away from Spain, led zoom closer to France and a French marriage proposed project. He married later in 1606 Eleonore de Bourbon ( 1587-1619 ), the daughter of Prince Henry de Condé, which led to resentment by Archduke Albrecht. The marriage was happy, but remained childless.
After Moritz Archduke Albrecht had defeated in the Battle of Nieuwpoort in 1600, Philipp Wilhelm remained in his service. The relationship between the half-brothers also suffered by the controversy over his paternal inheritance. Only in 1609 was King Henry IV of France they reconcile. In return, Philip William mediated successfully between Moritz and his sister Emilia. Henry IV guaranteed Philipp Wilhelm also full sovereignty for his principality Orange.
Philipp Wilhelm died in 1618 without heirs. His brother Maurice was the last will of William Philip accordingly, Prince of Orange.