View source for William I of the Netherlands

{{Short description|King of the Netherlands from 1815 to 1840}}
{{distinguish|William the Silent{{!}}William the Silent (1533–1584)}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name           = William I
| image          = William I of the Netherlands.jpg
| caption        = ''[[Portrait of William I of the Netherlands|Portrait of William I]]'' by [[Joseph Paelinck]], 1819
| succession    = [[King of the Netherlands]]<br>[[Grand Duke of Luxembourg]]<br>(as '''William I''')
| reign         = {{nowrap|16 March 1815 – 7 October 1840}}
| coronation    = 21 September 1815
| cor-type      = [[Inauguration of the Dutch monarch|Inauguration]]
| predecessor   = Himself as Sovereign Prince
| successor     = [[William II of the Netherlands|William II]]
| succession1    = [[Sovereign Prince of the Netherlands]]
| reign-type1    = 
| reign1         = 20 November 1813 – 16 March 1815
| predecessor1   = 
| successor1     = Himself as King
| succession2    = [[Prince of Orange]]<br>(as '''William VI''')
| reign2         = 9 April – 12 July 1806,<br/>19 October 1813 – {{nowrap|31 May 1815}}
| predecessor2   = [[William V, Prince of Orange|William V]]
| successor2     = Incorpated into [[Duchy of Nassau|Nassau]]
| succession3    = [[Principality of Nassau-Orange-Fulda|Prince of Nassau-Orange-Fulda]]
| reign3         = 25 February 1803 – {{nowrap|27 October 1806}}
| predecessor3   = 
| successor3     = 
| succession4    = [[Duchy of Limburg (1839–67)|Duke of Limburg]]
| reign4         = 5 September 1839 – {{nowrap|7 October 1840}}
| predecessor4   = [[Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor|Francis I]]
| successor4     = William II
| spouses        = {{Plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Wilhelmine of Prussia, Queen of the Netherlands|Wilhelmina of Prussia]]|1791|1837|end=d}}
* {{marriage|[[Henrietta d'Oultremont]] ([[Morganatic marriage|morganatic]])|1841}}
}}
| issue          = {{plainlist|
*[[William II of the Netherlands|William II]]
*[[Prince Frederick of the Netherlands|Prince Frederick]]
*[[Princess Pauline of Orange-Nassau|Princess Pauline]]
*[[Princess Marianne of the Netherlands|Marianne, Princess Albert of Prussia]]}}
| house          = [[House of Orange-Nassau|Orange-Nassau]]
| father         = [[William V, Prince of Orange]]
| mother         = [[Wilhelmina of Prussia, Princess of Orange|Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia]]
| birth_date     = {{birth date|df=yes|1772|8|24}}
| birth_place    = [[Huis ten Bosch]], [[The Hague]], [[Dutch Republic]]
| death_date     = {{death date and age|df=yes|1843|12|12|1772|8|24}}
| death_place    = [[Berlin]], [[Kingdom of Prussia]]
| place of burial= [[Nieuwe Kerk (Delft)|Nieuwe Kerk]], [[Delft]]
| religion       = [[Dutch Reformed Church]]
| signature      = Signature of William I of the Netherlands.svg
| module       = {{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| battles={{tree list}} (incomplete)
* [[Low Countries theatre of the War of the First Coalition|War of the First Coalition]]
** [[Battle of Veurne (1793)|Battle of Veurne]]
** [[Battle of Lincelles]]
** [[Battle of Menin (1793)|Battle of Menin]]
** [[Siege of Maubeuge (1793)|Siege of Maubeuge]]
** [[Siege of Landrecies (1794)|Siege of Landrecies]]
** [[Battle of Gosselies]]
** [[Battle of Lambusart]]
** [[Battle of Fleurus (1794)|Battle of Fleurus]]
* [[War of the Fourth Coalition]]
** [[Battle of Jena–Auerstedt]]
* [[War of the Fifth Coalition]]
** [[Battle of Wagram]]
{{tree list/end}}
}}
}}

'''William I'''{{efn|William was titled as '''William I''' ({{langx|nl|Willem I}}, {{langx|fr|Guillaume I}}) in the [[Netherlands]] and [[Luxembourg]], while in the [[Principality of Orange]], he ruled as '''William VI''' (Dutch: ''Willem VI'').}} (Willem Frederik; 24 August 1772 – 12 December 1843) was [[King of the Netherlands]] and [[List of monarchs of Luxembourg|Grand Duke of Luxembourg]] from 1815 until his abdication in 1840. 

Born as the son of [[William V, Prince of Orange]], the last stadtholder of the [[Dutch Republic]], and [[Wilhelmina of Prussia, Princess of Orange|Wilhelmina of Prussia]], William experienced significant political upheavals early in life. He fought against the French invasion during the [[Low Countries theatre of the War of the First Coalition|Flanders campaign]], and after the Batavian Revolution in 1795, his family went into exile. He briefly ruled the Principality of Nassau-Orange-Fulda before Napoleon's French troops' occupation forced him out of power. Following the defeat of Napoleon in 1814, William was invited back to the Netherlands, where he proclaimed himself Sovereign Prince of the United Netherlands. 

In 1815, William raised the Netherlands to a kingdom and concurrently became the grand duke of Luxembourg. His reign saw the adoption of a new constitution, which granted him extensive powers. He was a strong proponent of economic development, founding several universities and promoting trade. However, his efforts to impose the Reformed faith and the Dutch language in the mostly Catholic and partly French-speaking southern provinces, combined with economic grievances, sparked the [[Belgian Revolution]] in 1830. Unable to suppress the rebellion, William ultimately accepted Belgian independence in 1839 under the [[Treaty of London (1839)|Treaty of London]].

William's later years were marked by dissatisfaction with constitutional changes and personal reasons, leading to his abdication in 1840 in favor of his son, King [[William II of the Netherlands|William II]]. He spent his final years in Berlin, where he died in 1843.

==Life==

William was the son of [[William V, Prince of Orange]], the last [[stadtholder]] of the [[Dutch Republic]], and [[Wilhelmina of Prussia, Princess of Orange|Wilhelmina of Prussia]]. During the [[Low Countries theatre of the War of the First Coalition|Flanders campaign]], he commanded the Dutch troops and fought against the French invasion. The family went into exile in London in 1795 following the [[Batavian Revolution]]. As compensation for the loss of his father's possessions in the Low Countries, William was appointed ruler of the newly created [[Principality of Nassau-Orange-Fulda]] in 1803. When [[Napoleon]] invaded Germany in 1806, William fought on the [[Prussia]]n side and was deposed upon French victory. With the death of his father in 1806, he became [[Prince of Orange]] and ruler of the [[Principality of Orange-Nassau]], which he also lost the same year after the [[dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire]] and subsequent creation of the [[Confederation of the Rhine]]. He spent the following years in exile in Prussia. In 1813, following Napoleon's defeat at [[Battle of Leipzig|Leipzig]], the Orange-Nassau territories were restored to William; he also accepted the offer to become [[Sovereign Principality of the United Netherlands|Sovereign Prince of the United Netherlands]].

William proclaimed himself king of the Netherlands in 1815. In the same year, he concluded a treaty with King [[Frederick William III]] in which he ceded the Orange-Nassau to Prussia in exchange for becoming the new grand duke of Luxembourg. As king, he adopted a new constitution, presided over strong economic and industrial progress, promoted trade and founded the universities of [[Catholic University of Leuven (1834–1968)|Leuven]], [[Ghent University|Ghent]] and [[University of Liège|Liège]]. The imposition of the [[Dutch Reformed Church|Reformed faith]] and the Dutch language, as well as feelings of economic inequity, caused widespread resentment in the southern provinces and led to the outbreak of the [[Belgian Revolution]] in 1830. William failed to crush the rebellion and in 1839 he accepted the independence of Belgium in accordance with the [[Treaty of London (1839)|Treaty of London]].

William's disapproval of changes to the constitution, the loss of Belgium and his intention to marry [[Henrietta d'Oultremont]], a Roman Catholic, led to his decision to abdicate in 1840. His eldest son acceded to the throne as King [[William II of the Netherlands|William II]]. William died in 1843 in Berlin at the age of 71.

==Prince of Orange==
[[File:Willem Frederik (1772-1843), prins van Oranje-Nassau (later koning Willem I), als kind Rijksmuseum SK-A-1476.jpeg|thumb|upright|left|Portrait of William (1775)]]

King William I's parents were the last [[stadtholder]] [[William V, Prince of Orange]] of the [[Dutch Republic]], and his wife [[Wilhelmina of Prussia, Princess of Orange|Wilhelmina of Prussia]]. Until 1806, William was formally known as William VI, Prince of [[House of Nassau|Orange-Nassau]],{{efn|The family name changed from "Nassau-Dietz" to "Orange-Nassau" when [[John William Friso, Prince of Orange]] claimed the inheritance of Prince [[William III of England|William III of Orange]] in 1702.}} and between 1806 and 1813 also as Prince of Orange. In [[Berlin]] on 1 October 1791, William married his maternal first cousin [[Wilhelmine of Prussia, Queen of the Netherlands|(Frederica Louisa) Wilhelmina of Prussia]], born in [[Potsdam]]. She was the daughter of King [[Frederick William II of Prussia]]. After Wilhelmina died in 1837, William married Countess [[Henrietta d'Oultremont]] (28 February 1792, in [[Maastricht]] – 26 October 1864, in [[:File:Schloss-Rahe-Terrasse.png|Schloss Rahe]]), created countess of Nassau, on 17 February 1841, also in Berlin.

===Youth and early military career===
{{Main|Low Countries theatre of the War of the First Coalition{{!}}Flanders campaign}}
[[File:JongeWillemImetbroerFrederik.jpg|thumb|upright|Young William and his brother [[Prince Frederick of Orange-Nassau|Frederick]] in 1790]]
As eldest son of the [[William V, Prince of Orange]], William was informally referred to as ''Erfprins''{{efn|German: ''[[Erbprinz]]''}} (Hereditary Prince) by contemporaries from his birth until the death of his father in 1806 to distinguish him from William V.

Like his younger brother [[Prince Frederick of Orange-Nassau]] he was tutored by the Swiss mathematician [[Leonhard Euler]] and the Dutch historian [[Herman Tollius]]. They were both tutored in the military arts by General [[Frederick Stamford]]. After the [[Patriottentijd|Patriot revolt]] had been suppressed in 1787, he in 1788–89 attended the military academy in [[Braunschweig|Brunswick]] which was considered an excellent military school, together with his brother. In 1790 he visited a number of foreign courts like the one in [[Duchy of Nassau|Nassau]] and the [[Prussia]]n capital Berlin, where he first met his future wife.<ref name=Bas>{{cite book|last=Bas|first=François de|author-link=François de Bas|title=Prins Frederik Der Nederlanden en Zijn Tijd, vol. 1|year=1887|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=livrAAAAMAAJ&q=editions:KR2VRpMN5HgC|publisher=H. A. M. Roelants, 1887|access-date=31 March 2013}}</ref>{{rp|100}}

William subsequently studied briefly at the [[University of Leiden]]. In 1790 he was appointed a general of infantry in the [[Dutch States Army]] of which his father was [[Captain general]], and he was made a member of the [[Council of State of the Netherlands]]. In November 1791 he took his new bride to [[The Hague]].<ref name=Bas />{{rp|101}}

After the [[National Convention]] of the [[First French Republic|French Republic]] had declared war on the Dutch Republic in February 1793, William was appointed commander-in-chief of the ''veldleger'' (mobile army) of the States Army (his father remained the nominal head of the armed forces).<ref name=Bas />{{rp|157}} As such he commanded the troops that took part in the [[Low Countries theatre of the War of the First Coalition|Flanders Campaign]] of 1793–95. He took part in the Battles of [[Veurne]] and [[Battle of Menin (1793)|Menin]] (where his brother was wounded) in 1793, and commanded during the [[Siege of Landrecies (1794)]], whose fortress surrendered to him. In May 1794 he had replaced general [[Franz Wenzel, Graf von Kaunitz-Rietberg|Kaunitz]] as commander of the combined Austro-Dutch forces on the instigation of Emperor [[Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor|Francis II]] who apparently had a high opinion of him.<ref name=Bas />{{rp|270}} William was victorious at the Battles of [[Battle of Gosselies|Gosselies]] and [[Battle of Lambusart|Lambusart]] and proved to be an able commander, but the French armies ultimately proved too strong, and the general allied leadership too inept. Despite a well-executed attack by William on the French left, the allied army under [[Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld|Coburg]] was finally defeated at the [[Battle of Fleurus (1794)|Battle of Fleurus]]. The French first entered Dutch [[North Brabant|Brabant]] which they dominated after the [[Battle of Boxtel]]. When in the winter of 1794–95 the rivers in the [[Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta|Rhine delta]] froze over, the French breached the southern [[Hollandic Water Line]] and the situation became militarily untenable. In many places Dutch revolutionaries took over the local government. After the [[Batavian Revolution in Amsterdam]] on 18 January 1795 the stadtholder decided to flee to England, and his sons accompanied him. (On this last day in Holland his father relieved William honorably of his commands). The next day the [[Batavian Republic]] was proclaimed.<ref name=Bas />{{rp|341–365, 374–404, 412}}

===Exile===

Soon after the departure to England the hereditary prince went back to the continent, where his brother was assembling former members of the States Army in [[Osnabrück]] for a planned invasion into the Batavian Republic in the summer of 1795. However, the neutral Prussian government forbade this.<ref name=Schama>{{cite book|last=Schama|first=Simon|author-link=Simon Schama|title=Patriots and Liberators. Revolution in the Netherlands 1780–1813|year=1992|publisher=Vintage Books|location=New York|isbn=0-679-72949-6}}</ref>{{rp|231–235}}

In 1799, William landed in modern-day [[North Holland]] as part of the [[Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland]]. He was instrumental in fomenting a mutiny among the crews of a [[Batavian Navy]] squadron under Rear-Admiral [[Samuel Story]], resulting in the squadron [[Vlieter incident|surrendering without a fight]] to the [[Royal Navy]], which accepted the surrender in the name of the stadtholder. Not all the local Dutch population, however, was pleased with the arrival of the prince. One local [[Orangism (Dutch Republic)|Orangist]] was even executed.{{efn|The ''freule'' (baroness) [[Judith van Dorth|Judith Van Dorth tot Holthuizen]]; see Schama, p. 397}} The hoped-for popular uprising failed to materialise. After several minor battles the hereditary prince was forced to leave the country again after the [[Convention of Alkmaar]]. The mutineers of the Batavian fleet, with their ships, and a large number of deserters from the Batavian army accompanied the retreating British troops to Britain. There William formed the [[King's Dutch Brigade]] with these troops, a military unit in British service, that swore oaths of allegiance to the British king, but also to the States General, defunct since 1795, "whenever those would be reconstituted."{{efn|The States General were the sovereign power in the defunct Dutch Republic; the troops of the States Army had also sworn loyalty to the States General and not the stadtholder.}} This brigade trained on the [[Isle of Wight]] in 1800 and was stationed in Ireland for a time.<ref name=Bas2>{{cite book|last=Bas|first=François de|author-link=François de Bas|title=Prins Frederik der Nederlanden en zijn tijd, Volume 2|year=1891|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1SzrAAAAMAAJ&q=Prins+Frederik+der+Nederlanden+en+zijn+tijd%2C+Volume+2|publisher=H. A. M. Roelants, 1891|access-date=31 March 2013}}</ref>{{rp|241–265}}

When [[Treaty of Amiens|peace]] was concluded between [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Britain]] and the French Republic under [[First Consul]] [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] the Orange exiles were at their nadir. The Dutch Brigade was dissolved on 12 July 1802. Many members of the brigade went home to the Batavian Republic, thanks to an amnesty. The surrendered ships of the Batavian Navy were not returned, due to an agreement between the stadtholder and the British government of 11 March 1800.<ref name=Bas2 />{{rp|329–330}} Instead the stadtholder was allowed to sell them to the Royal Navy for an appreciable sum.<ref>{{cite book|last=James|first=W. M.|title=The Naval History of Great Britain: During the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Vol. 2 1797–1799|year=2002|edition=reprint|publisher=Stackpole books|pages=309–310}}</ref>

The stadtholder, feeling discontented with the British, left for Germany. The hereditary prince, having a more flexible mind, went to visit Napoleon at [[Château de Saint-Cloud|St. Cloud]] in 1802. He apparently charmed the First Consul, and was charmed by him. Napoleon raised hopes for William that he might have an important role in a reformed Batavian Republic. Meanwhile, William's brother-in-law [[Frederick William III of Prussia]], neutral at the time, promoted a Franco-Prussian convention of 23 May 1802, in addition to the [[Treaty of Amiens]], that gave the [[House of Orange]] a few [[abbatial]] domains in Germany, that were combined to the [[Principality of Nassau-Orange-Fulda]] by way of indemnification for its losses in the Batavian Republic. The stadtholder gave this principality immediately to his son.<ref name=Schama />{{rp|452}}

[[File:Willem Frederik (1772-1843), erfprins van Oranje-Nassau. Later koning Willem I. Genaamd 'Het mantelportret' Rijksmuseum SK-A-4113.jpeg|thumb|upright|William Frederick, Prince of Orange in {{circa}} 1805–1810]]

When [[War of the Fourth Coalition|war]] broke out between the [[First French Empire|French Empire]] and Prussia in 1806, William supported his Prussian relatives, though he was nominally a French vassal. He received command of a Prussian division which took part in the [[Battle of Jena–Auerstedt]]. The Prussians lost that battle and William was forced to surrender his troops rather ignominiously at [[Capitulation of Erfurt|Erfurt]] the day after the battle. He was made a prisoner of war, but was [[Parole#Prisoners of war|paroled]] soon. Napoleon punished him for his betrayal, however, by taking away his principality. As a parolee, William was not allowed to take part in the hostilities anymore. After the [[Treaties of Tilsit|Peace of Tilsit]] William received a pension from France in compensation.<ref name=Bas2 />{{rp|454–469, 471, 501}}

In the same year, 1806, his father, the Prince of Orange died, and William not only inherited the title, but also his father's claims on the inheritance embodied in the Nassau lands. This would become important a few years later, when developments in Germany coincided to make William the [[Fürst]] (Prince) of a diverse assembly of Nassau lands that had belonged to other branches of the [[House of Nassau]].

But before this came about, in 1809 tensions between [[Austrian Empire|Austria]] and France became intense, resulting in the [[War of the Fifth Coalition]]. William did not hesitate to join the [[Imperial Austrian Army (1806-1867)|Austrian army]] as a ''Feldmarschalleutnant'' (major-general) in May 1809<ref name=Bas2 />{{rp|516}} As a member of the staff of the Austrian supreme commander, Archduke [[Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen|Charles]] he took part in the [[Battle of Wagram]], where he was wounded in the leg.<ref name=Bas2 />{{rp|520–523}}

Tsar [[Alexander I of Russia]] played a central role in the restoration of the Netherlands. Prince William VI (as he was now known), who had been living in exile in Prussia, met with Alexander I in March 1813. Alexander promised to support William and help restore an independent Netherlands with William as king.  Russian troops in the Netherlands participated with their Prussian allies in restoring the dynasty. Dynastic considerations of marriage between the royal houses of Great Britain and the Netherlands, assured British approval.

===Return===
{{see also|Sovereign Principality of the United Netherlands}}
[[File:Kalender bij eeuwfeest aankomst van de prins van Oranje te Scheveningen, 1813-1913 1813 - 1913. Aankomst van den prins van Oranje te Scheveningen op 20 Novr. 1813 (titel op object), RP-R-1913-83.jpg|thumb|Landing of William in [[Scheveningen]] on 30 November 1813]]
[[File:Inhuldiging van den Souvereinen Vorst Willem I. in de Nieuwe Kerk van Amsterdam, (R. Vinkeles) Afb 010097007655.jpg|thumb|Inauguration of William as sovereign Prince of the Netherlands in [[Amsterdam]] on 30 March 1814]]

After Napoleon's defeat at [[Battle of Leipzig|Leipzig]] (October 1813), the French troops retreated to France from all over Europe. The Netherlands had been annexed to the French Empire by Napoleon in 1810. But now city after city was evacuated by the French occupation troops. In the ensuing power vacuum a number of former Orangist politicians and former Patriots formed a provisional government in November 1813. Although a large number of the members of the provisional government had helped drive out William V 18 years earlier, it was taken for granted that his son would have to head any new government. They also agreed it would be better in the long term for the Dutch to restore him themselves, rather than have the Great Powers impose him on the country. The Dutch population were pleased with the departure of the French, who had ruined the Dutch economy, and this time welcomed the prince.<ref name=Schama />{{rp|634–642}}

After having been invited by the [[Triumvirate of 1813]], on 30 November 1813 William disembarked from {{HMS|Warrior|1781|6}} and landed at [[Scheveningen]] beach, only a few yards from the place where he had left the country with his father 18 years before, and on 6 December the provisional government offered him the title of [[king]]. William refused, instead proclaiming himself "[[Sovereign Principality of the United Netherlands|Sovereign Prince of the Netherlands]]". He also wanted the rights of the people to be guaranteed by "a wise constitution".<ref name=Schama />{{rp|643}}

The constitution offered William extensive, nearly absolute powers: ministers were only responsible to him, while a unicameral parliament (the [[States General of the Netherlands|States General]]) exercised only limited power. He was inaugurated as sovereign prince in the [[Nieuwe Kerk (Amsterdam)|New Church]] in [[Amsterdam]] on 30 March 1814. In August 1814, he was appointed Governor-General of the former [[Austrian Netherlands]] and the [[Prince-Bishopric of Liège]] (more or less modern-day Belgium) by the Allied Powers who occupied that country, ruling them on behalf of Prussia. He was also made [[Grand Duke of Luxembourg]], having received that territory in return for trading his hereditary German lands to Prussia and the [[Frederick William, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg|Duke of Nassau]]. The Great Powers had already agreed via the secret [[Eight Articles of London]] to unite the [[Low Countries]] into a single kingdom, it was believed that this would help keep France in check. With the de facto addition of the Austrian Netherlands and Luxembourg to his realm, William had fulfilled his family's three-century dream of uniting the Low Countries.

==King of the Netherlands==
[[File:SA 1770-Koning Willem I ten voeten uit.jpg|thumb|upright|Portrait of William I (1816)]]

Feeling threatened by Napoleon, who had escaped from [[Elba]], William proclaimed the Netherlands a kingdom on 16 March 1815 at the urging of the powers gathered at the [[Congress of Vienna]]. His son, the future king [[William II of the Netherlands|William II]], fought as a commander at the [[Battle of Waterloo]]. After Napoleon had been sent into exile, William adopted a new constitution which included many features of its  predecessor, including the near-autocratic powers vested in the crown. He was formally confirmed as hereditary ruler of what was known as the [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands]] at the Congress of Vienna.

===Principal changes===
The [[States General of the Netherlands|States General]] was divided into two chambers. The ''Eerste Kamer'' (First Chamber or Senate or House of Lords) was appointed by the king. The ''Tweede Kamer'' (Second Chamber or House of Representatives or House of Commons) was elected by the Provincial States, which were in turn chosen by [[census suffrage]]. The 110 seats were divided equally between the north and the south, although the population of the north (2 million) was significantly less than that of the south (3.5 million). The States General's primary function was to approve the king's laws and decrees. The [[Constitution of the Netherlands|constitution]] contained many present-day Dutch political institutions; however, their functions and composition have changed greatly over the years.

The constitution was accepted in the north, but not in the south. The under-representation of the south was one of the causes of the Belgian Revolution. Referendum turnout was low, in the southern provinces, but William interpreted all abstentions to be ''yes'' votes. He prepared a lavish inauguration for himself in [[Brussels]], where he gave the people copper coins (leading to his first nickname, ''the Copper King'').
[[File:De plechtige installatie van de Universiteit van Gent door de prins van Oranje in de troonzaal van het stadhuis op 9 oktober 1817. Rijksmuseum SK-A-4088.jpeg|thumb|Establishment of the [[State University of Ghent]] in 1817]]
The spearhead of King William's policies was economic progress. As he founded many trade institutions, his second nickname was ''the King-Merchant''. In 1822, he founded the [[Société Générale de Belgique|Algemeene Nederlandsche Maatschappij ter Begunstiging van de Volksvlijt]], which would become one of the most important institutions of Belgium after its independence. Industry flourished, especially in the South. In 1817, he also founded three universities in the southern provinces, such as a new [[Catholic University of Leuven (1834–1968)|University of Leuven]], the [[University of Ghent]] and the [[University of Liège]]. The northern provinces, meanwhile, were the centre of trade. This, in combination with the colonies ([[Dutch East Indies]], [[Surinam (Dutch colony)|Surinam]], [[Curaçao and Dependencies]], and the [[Dutch Gold Coast]]) created great wealth for the kingdom. However, the money flowed into the hands of Dutch directors. Only a few Belgians managed to profit from the economic growth. Feelings of economic inequity were another cause of the Belgian uprising.

William was also determined to create a unified people, even though the north and the south had drifted far apart culturally and economically since the south was reconquered by Spain after the [[Act of Abjuration]] of 1581. The north was commercial, Protestant and entirely Dutch-speaking; the south was industrial, [[Roman Catholic]] and divided between Dutch and French-speakers. To that end, he concluded his family's longtime factional song, ''[[Wilhelmus]],'' was no longer suitable for the times. The song referenced the desire of the founder of his house, [[William the Silent]], to be rewarded with a "realm" for fighting against Spain. Having fulfilled his family's quest to unite that "realm," William wanted to show he represented the entire nation, not just a faction. He was also well aware that the ''Wilhelmus'' had Calvinist connotations, and would not have much appeal in the south. A new song, ''[[Wien Neêrlands Bloed]]'' (Those With Dutch Blood), won a contest for a new anthem, and remained in place through 1932.

Officially, a [[separation of church and state]] existed in the kingdom. However, William himself was a strong supporter of the [[Dutch Reformed Church|Reformed Church]]. This led to resentment among the people in the mostly Catholic south. William had also devised controversial language and school policies. Dutch was imposed as the official language in (the Dutch-speaking region of) [[Flanders]]; this angered French-speaking aristocrats and industrial workers. Schools throughout the kingdom were required to instruct students in the Reformed faith and the Dutch language. Many in the south feared that the king sought to extinguish Catholicism and the French language.

===Revolt of the Southern Provinces===
{{Main|Belgian Revolution}}
[[File:SA 7521-Portret van Willem I (1772-1843). Koning der Nederlanden.jpg|thumb|upright|Portrait of William I (1833)]]

In August 1830 [[Daniel Auber]]'s opera ''[[La muette de Portici]]'', about the [[Neapolitan Republic (1647–1648)|repression of Neapolitans]], was staged in Brussels. Performances of this opera seemed to crystallize a sense of nationalism and "Hollandophobia" in Brussels, and spread to the rest of the south. Rioting ensued, chiefly aimed at the kingdom's unpopular justice minister, [[Cornelis Felix van Maanen]], who lived in Brussels. An infuriated William responded by sending troops to repress the riots. However, the riots had spread to other southern cities. The riots quickly became popular uprisings. An independent state of [[Belgium]] emerged out of the 1830 Revolution.

The next year, William sent his sons [[William II of the Netherlands|William]], the Prince of Orange,{{efn|This had become a courtesy title for the Dutch crown prince under the new kingdom.}} and Prince [[Prince Frederick of the Netherlands|Frederick]] to invade the new state. Although initially victorious in this [[Ten Days' Campaign]], the [[Royal Netherlands Army]] was forced to retreat after the threat of French [[invasion|intervention]]. Some support for the [[Orangism (Belgium)|Orange]] dynasty (chiefly among the [[Flemish people|Flemish]]) persisted for years, but the Dutch never regained control over Belgium. William nevertheless continued the war for eight years. His economic successes became overshadowed by a perceived mismanagement of the war effort. High costs of the war came to burden the Dutch economy, fueling public resentment. In 1839, William was forced to end the war. The United Kingdom of the Netherlands was dissolved by the [[Treaty of London (1839)]] and the northern part continued as the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]]. It was not renamed, however, as the "United-" prefix had never been part of its official name, but rather was retrospectively added by historians for descriptive purposes.

===Constitutional changes and abdication in later life===
[[File:Willem I Apeldoorn.jpg|thumb|upright|Statue of Willem I of the Netherlands by Pieter Puype (1913) in [[Apeldoorn]]]]

Constitutional changes were initiated in 1840 because the terms which involved the United Kingdom of the Netherlands had to be removed.{{huh|date=July 2020}} These constitutional changes also included the introduction of judicial [[Individual ministerial responsibility|ministerial responsibility]]. Although the policies remained uncontrolled by parliament, the prerogative was controllable now. The very conservative William could not live with these constitutional changes. This, the disappointment about the loss of Belgium, and his intention to marry [[Henrietta d'Oultremont]] (paradoxically both "Belgian" and [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]]) made him wish to [[Abdication|abdicate]]. He fulfilled this intent on 7 October 1840 and his eldest son acceded to the throne as King [[William II of the Netherlands|William II]]. William I died in 1843 in [[Berlin]] at the age of 71.

==Children==
With his wife [[Wilhelmine of Prussia, Queen of the Netherlands|Wilhelmina]], King William I had six children:

*[[William II of the Netherlands|''Willem'' Frederik George Lodewijk]] (b. The Hague, 6 December 1792 – d. Tilburg, 17 March 1849) later King William II of the Netherlands from 1840. Married Grand Duchess [[Anna Pavlovna of Russia]].
*Stillborn son ([[Hampton Court Palace]], England, 18 August 1795).
*[[Prince Frederick of the Netherlands|Willem ''Frederik'' Karel]] (b. Berlin, 28 February 1797 – d. Wassenaar, 8 September 1881), married on 21 May 1825 his first cousin [[Princess Louise of Prussia (1808–1870)|Louise]], daughter of [[Frederick William III of Prussia]].
*[[Princess Pauline of Orange-Nassau|Wilhelmina Frederika Louise ''Pauline'' Charlotte]] (b. Berlin, 1 March 1800 – d. Freienwalde, 22 December 1806).
*Stillborn son (Berlin, 30 August 1806).
*[[Princess Marianne of the Netherlands|Wilhelmina Frederika Louise Charlotte ''Marianne'']] (b. Berlin, 9 May 1810 – d. Schloss Reinhartshausen bei Erbach, 29 May 1883), married on 14 September 1830 with [[Prince Albert of Prussia (1809–1872)|Prince Albert of Prussia]]. They divorced in 1849.

==Honours and Arms==

=== Honours ===
* {{flag|Netherlands}}:
** Founder and [[Grand Master (order)|Grand Master]] of the [[Military Order of William]], ''30 April 1815''
** Founder and [[Grand Master (order)|Grand Master]] of the [[Order of the Netherlands Lion]], ''29 September 1815''
* {{Flagicon image|Svensk flagg 1815.svg}} [[Sweden]]: Knight of the [[Order of the Seraphim]], ''14 April 1813''<ref>{{cite book|author=Per Nordenvall |title=Kungliga Serafimerorden: 1748–1998 |year=1998 |publisher=Kungl. Maj:ts Orden |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=91-630-6744-7}}</ref>
* {{flag|Spain|1785}}: 876th [[Knight]] of the [[Order of the Golden Fleece]], ''5 July 1814''<ref>{{citation|chapter-url=http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0002229471&search=&lang=en|chapter=Caballeros de la insigne orden del toisón de oro|title=Guía Oficial de España|date=1842|access-date=10 December 2019|page=73|language=es}}</ref>
* {{flag|United Kingdom}}:
** 648th Knight of the [[Order of the Garter]], ''10 August 1814''<ref>Shaw, Wm. A. (1906) ''The Knights of England'', '''I''', London, [https://archive.org/stream/cu31924092537418#page/n141/mode/2up p. 52]</ref>
** Honorary Knight of the [[Order of the Bath]], ''16 August 1814'';<ref>Shaw, [https://archive.org/stream/cu31924092537418#page/n269/mode/2up p. 178]</ref> Grand Cross (military), ''2 January 1815''<ref>Shaw, [https://archive.org/stream/cu31924092537418#page/n273/mode/2up p. 182]</ref>
* {{flagicon image|Flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (1803-1892).svg}} [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]]:  Knight of the [[Order of the Black Eagle]], ''8 February 1787''<ref>''Liste der Ritter des Königlich Preußischen Hohen Ordens vom Schwarzen Adler'' (1851), "Von Seiner Majestät dem Könige Friedrich Wilhelm II. ernannte Ritter" [https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/de/view/bsb10362193?page=22 p. 12]</ref>
* {{flagicon image|Flag of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and Algarves.svg}} [[United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves|Portugal]]: Grand Cross of the [[Sash of the Three Orders]], ''October 1825''<ref name="Agraciamentos">{{cite journal |last1=Bragança |first1=Jose Vicente de |date=2014 |title=Agraciamentos Portugueses Aos Príncipes da Casa Saxe-Coburgo-Gota |url=https://www.academia.edu/10576008 |language=pt |trans-title=Portuguese Honours awarded to Princes of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha |journal=Pro Phalaris |volume=9–10 |page=5 |access-date=28 November 2019 |archive-date=25 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125152639/https://www.academia.edu/10576008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|Austrian Empire}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary|Order of St. Stephen]], ''1837''<ref>[http://tornai.com/rendtagok.htm "A Szent István Rend tagjai"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222022855/http://tornai.com/rendtagok.htm|date=22 December 2010}}</ref>
* {{flag|Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of the White Falcon]], ''20 November 1839''<ref>''Staatshandbuch für das Großherzogtum Sachsen / Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach'' (1843), "Großherzogliche Hausorden" [https://zs.thulb.uni-jena.de/rsc/viewer/jportal_derivate_00183829/Staatshandbuch_Film_Nr_12_0017.tif p. 8] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706122254/https://zs.thulb.uni-jena.de/rsc/viewer/jportal_derivate_00183829/Staatshandbuch_Film_Nr_12_0017.tif |date=6 July 2020 }}</ref>

=== Coats of arms ===
{| border="0" align="center" width="100%"
|-
! width="33%" | [[File:Royal coat of arms of the Netherlands (1815-1907).svg|center|200px]]
! width="33%" | [[File:Royal Monogram of King Willem I of the Netherlands.svg|center|180px]]
! width="33%  | [[File:Gartered coat of arms William VI, Prince of Orange (later William I, King of the Netherlands).png|center|150px]]
|-
| style="text-align: center;" |Royal coat of arms of King William I
| style="text-align: center;" |Royal monogram
| style="text-align: center;" |Arms as William VI, Prince of Orange
|}

==Ancestry==
{{see also|Dutch monarchs family tree}}
{{ahnentafel
|collapsed=yes |align=center |ref=<ref>{{cite book|title=Genealogie ascendante jusqu'au quatrieme degre inclusivement de tous les Rois et Princes de maisons souveraines de l'Europe actuellement vivans| trans-title=Genealogy up to the fourth degree inclusive of all the Kings and Princes of sovereign houses of Europe currently living |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AINPAAAAcAAJ |year=1768|publisher=Frederic Guillaume Birnstiel|location=Bourdeaux|language=fr|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=AINPAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA17 17]<!--mother's side-->, [https://books.google.com/books?id=AINPAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA88 88]<!--father's side-->}}</ref>
| boxstyle_1 = background-color: #fcc;
| boxstyle_2 = background-color: #fb9;
| boxstyle_3 = background-color: #ffc;
| boxstyle_4 = background-color: #bfc;
| boxstyle_5 = background-color: #9fe;
| 1 = 1. '''William I of the Netherlands'''
| 2 = 2. [[William V, Prince of Orange]]
| 3 = 3. [[Wilhelmina of Prussia, Princess of Orange|Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia]]
| 4 = 4. [[William IV, Prince of Orange]]
| 5 = 5. [[Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange|Anne, Princess Royal]]
| 6 = 6. [[Prince Augustus William of Prussia]]
| 7 = 7. [[Duchess Luise of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel]]
| 8 = 8. [[John William Friso, Prince of Orange]]
| 9 = 9. [[Landgravine Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel|Princess Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel]]
| 10 = 10. [[George II of Great Britain]]
| 11 = 11. [[Caroline of Ansbach|Princess Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach]]
| 12 = 12. [[Frederick William I of Prussia]]
| 13 = 13. [[Sophia Dorothea of Hanover|Princess Sophia Dorothea of Hanover]]
| 14 = 14. [[Ferdinand Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel]]
| 15 = 15. [[Duchess Antoinette of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel]]
}}

==Notes==
{{noteslist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Caraway, David Todd (2003). ''Retreat from Liberalism: William I, Freedom of the Press, Political Asylum, and the Foreign Relations of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, 1814–1818''. PhD dissertation, U. of Delaware. 341 pp. Abstract: ''Dissertation Abstracts International'' 2003, Vol. 64 Issue 3, p. 1030.
* Kossmann, E. H. (1978). ''The Low Countries 1780–1940''. ch. 3–4.

==External links==
{{Commons category|William I of the Netherlands}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= William I., King of the Netherlands |volume= 28 | pages = 669–670 |short=1 }}
* [http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/encyclopedie/geschiedenis/koningen-en-koninginnen/willem-i-koning-%281772-1843%29/ Willem I, Koning (1772–1843)] {{in lang|nl}} at the Dutch Royal House website

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[House of Orange-Nassau]]|24 August|1772|12 December|1843|[[House of Nassau]]}}
{{s-roy|nl}}
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{{s-aft|after=[[William II of the Netherlands|William II]]}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Count of Nassau]]|years=1840–43}}
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{{s-break}}
{{s-vac|last=[[Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor|Francis I]]|as=[[Duke of Luxembourg]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Grand Duke of Luxembourg]]|years=1815–40}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Duchy of Limburg (1839–67)|Duke of Limburg]]|years=1839–40}}
{{s-end}}
{{Monarchs of the Netherlands}}
{{Monarchs of Luxembourg}}
{{Napoleonic Wars}}
{{Belgian Revolution of 1830}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:William 01 of the Netherlands}}
[[Category:William I of the Netherlands| ]]
[[Category:1772 births]]
[[Category:1843 deaths]]
[[Category:18th-century Dutch military personnel]]
[[Category:19th-century Dutch monarchs]]
[[Category:19th-century dukes of Limburg]]
[[Category:19th-century monarchs of Luxembourg]]
[[Category:Burials in the Royal Crypt at Nieuwe Kerk, Delft]]
[[Category:Dutch members of the Dutch Reformed Church]]
[[Category:Dutch military commanders of the Napoleonic Wars]]
[[Category:Dutch military personnel of the French Revolutionary Wars]]
[[Category:Extra Knights Companion of the Garter]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Aviz|3]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Christ (Portugal)|3]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Saint James of the Sword|3]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary]]
[[Category:Grand dukes of Luxembourg]]
[[Category:Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:House of Orange-Nassau]]
[[Category:Knights of the Golden Fleece of Spain]]
[[Category:Members of the Council of State (Netherlands)]]
[[Category:Monarchs who abdicated]]
[[Category:Nobility from The Hague]]
[[Category:People of the Belgian Revolution]]
[[Category:Princes of Orange-Nassau]]
[[Category:Princes of Orange]]
[[Category:Protestant monarchs]]