Stadthouder William II
Willem II was born in 1626 he was the only son of Frederick-Hendrick and Amalia of Solms. In 1641 he married Mary Stuart, the eldest daughter of King Charles I of England, and succeeded his father.
His ambitions briought him regularly in conflict with the Amsterdam trade houses. Willem II was no supporter of the peace of Munster, even though the independence of Holland, for which had been fought so many years, had become fact by it. Directly after signing "the peace of Munster" (his father died the year before), he start secret negotiations with France, in order to expand his territory, centralisation of the government and make aan aim for the English throne, on which his Brother in Law, Charles II, was seated. The Staten Generaal did however not support this plan of action. William broke the opposition by arresting the leaders of the opposition in 1650.
In the same year, 1650 William died, only 24 years old, of smallpox. The Staten-Generaal decided not to appoint an successor since the "Oranges" had a to great a hunger for power, warmongering and were to pro-English. This was the start of the first regency-less-period. In the disastrous year of 1672, a strong military leader was however needed to avoid a threatening downfall. A request was made to the son of William II and Mary Steward; William III, born after his fathers death.