Stadtholder William IV
William Charles Hendrick Friso of Orange Nassau is born on the 1st of September 1711. He is a son of John William Friso of Orange-Nassau and Mary Louise of Hessen-Kassel. His father, John William Friso, has inherited the title 'Prince of Orange' and a considerable amount of money from his distant cousin, Stadtholder William III, who died without descendants. The Inheritance is disputed by Frederic of Prussia which made it difficult for his father to accept the inheritance freely. In 1711 Fredric of Prussia wants to visit The Hague to discuss the situation. However he drowns at the 14th of July when the ferry he uses for a crossing capsizes by a sudden squall. only two people drown at this accident King Frederic and one of his escorts.
In 1713 the Spanish succession war ends with the Union of Utrecht. This war cost the republic heaps of money due to losses in the shipping industry At this union Austria is handed the authority over the Southern-Netherlands, the French are forced to clear the Pirate-hold near Dunkirk. Emperor Charles VI has for years the role of buffer between France and the Netherlands, his death in 1740 causes another European war. This war is mainly fought in the colonies and the trade has to go through difficult times
In 1734 William IV marries Anna of England. A less than fortunate choice due to the differences between England and the Republic. The Staten-Generaal do not approve and when he, together with his wife, visits Amsterdam after their marriage there is no Mayor present to welcome them.
In 1746 the French gather an army against the Republic. They conquer Flanders and progress in the direction Brabant. William IV has to watch how Maastricht and Breda are invaded. In 1747 the Staten are in complete despair when huge amounts of refugees arrive from Flanders. The horrific stories these refugees tell cause commotion. The reverends in Zierikzee appoint, in order to reassure the people, new regents. This is the start odf a new beginning. On the 28th of April 1647 Willem IV is appointed as Stadtholder.
The French cannot be bothered with this fact and take over; Ieper, Namen, Sluis and Hulst without much resistance. Rumours on these losses infuriates the people and riots turn into a rising against the failing authority. In Groningen a rebellion starts when the birth of the new Prince of Orange, the later Stadtholder William V, is announced. The housing of the lord mayor is demolished, and farmers, who have been unhappy with the current rule for some time, move towards the city armed with pitchforks and clubs. In Friesland the anger is directed on the inspectors of taxes, in harlingen the Fishermen rise and accompanied by tambours they march to Leeuwarden. The Prince surprises Friend and foe by sending in three regiments to restore the order.
All over the country little riots break out. Out of fear for the people the Prince of Orange is now recognized nationwide as Stadtholder. This makes William IV the most powerful stadtholder, qua authorization, in the Dutch history. he misses however the leadership capabilities of his predecessors, which makes it difficult for him to control the powers within the Republic. He asks for assistance of Duke Louis Ernst of Brunswijk-Wolfenbuttel, who takes governorship of Den Bosch in exchange for 60.000 guilders. How negative this duke may be described in history, he is the one that keeps the Orange Heirloom alive when William dies on the 22 October 1751, only 40 years of age.
Eight years later, in 1759, Anne of Engeland dies as well . Her corpse is burried, with splendour and protocol, in the New Church of Delft. The eleven year old prince, William V of Orange, comes under guardianship of the Duke van Brunswijk-Wolfenbuttel, the governor of 's Hertogenbosch who gets 100.00 guiders a year for this.