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'''William III''' (1650-1702) also known as '''William of Orange'''; was the king of [[England]], [[Ireland]], and [[Scotland]] from 1682-1702.  He ruled jointly with his wife, [[Mary II]], until her death in 1694. He was Prince of Orange and Stadholder of the Netherlands.<ref>He was William III as king of England; he was William II as king of Scotland; historians call him William III. "Prince of Orange" was just an inherited title--there was no country called "orange".</ref> As the leader of the [[Glorious Revolution]] of 1688 he replaced King [[James II]] of England, after the latter fled to France, and reigned jointly with his wife [[Mary II|Queen Mary]]. Through him the parliamentary and Protestant causes achieved a permanent triumph in Britain.

'''William III''' (1650-1702) also known as '''William of Orange'''; was the king of [[England]], [[Ireland]], and [[Scotland]] from 1682-1702.  He ruled jointly with his wife, [[Mary II]], until her death in 1694; thus the reign of '''William and Mary.''' He was Prince of Orange and Stadholder of the Netherlands.<ref>He was William III as king of England; he was William II as king of Scotland; historians call him William III. "Prince of Orange" was just an inherited title--there was no country called "orange".</ref> As the leader of the [[Glorious Revolution]] of 1688 he replaced King [[James II]] of England, after the latter fled to France, and reigned jointly with his wife [[Mary II|Queen Mary]]. Through him the parliamentary and Protestant causes achieved a permanent triumph in Britain.

   

   

==Life==

==Life==

In 1685 James II became king of England and alarmed many leaders by his pro-Catholic policies. William let it be known he was available if invited by a very broad spectrum of English political leadership. Unrest escalated with the birth of a son to James by his wife, Mary of Modena, a Catholic, on June 10, 1688. Within a few days, an invitation, signed by seven prominent personages, was taken over to William with an assurance of military support if he effected a landing in England. William issued a "Declaration of Reasons", which immediately won widespread acceptance by the English elite as a statement of his policy.<ref> However Claydon (1996) argues that James's supporters did try to refute it. Once king, the "Declaration" was used to limit William's ambitions. Tony Claydon "William III's Declaration of Reasons and the Glorious Revolution." ''Historical Journal'' 1996 39(1): 87-108. Issn: 0018-246x Fulltext: [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2639941 in Jstor]</ref>  With 50 men-of-war and 14,000 men William landed on November. 5, 1688, and marched on London. There was no opposition as James' army melted away and the political leadership welcomed William. James in late December fled the country, thereby abdicating the throne. James received protection in France from King [[Louis XIV]] and began plotting schemes for the invasion of England with French and "Jacobite" military help. ("Jacobites" were the English and Scottish supporters of James and his sons.)

In 1685 James II became king of England and alarmed many leaders by his pro-Catholic policies. William let it be known he was available if invited by a very broad spectrum of English political leadership. Unrest escalated with the birth of a son to James by his wife, Mary of Modena, a Catholic, on June 10, 1688. Within a few days, an invitation, signed by seven prominent personages, was taken over to William with an assurance of military support if he effected a landing in England. William issued a "Declaration of Reasons", which immediately won widespread acceptance by the English elite as a statement of his policy.<ref> However Claydon (1996) argues that James's supporters did try to refute it. Once king, the "Declaration" was used to limit William's ambitions. Tony Claydon "William III's Declaration of Reasons and the Glorious Revolution." ''Historical Journal'' 1996 39(1): 87-108. Issn: 0018-246x Fulltext: [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2639941 in Jstor]</ref>  With 50 men-of-war and 14,000 men William landed on November. 5, 1688, and marched on London. There was no opposition as James' army melted away and the political leadership welcomed William. James in late December fled the country, thereby abdicating the throne. James received protection in France from King [[Louis XIV]] and began plotting schemes for the invasion of England with French and "Jacobite" military help. ("Jacobites" were the English and Scottish supporters of James and his sons.)

William insisted he would rule England as king and not merely as his wife's consort; accordingly, in February, 1689, Parliament offered the crown to William and Mary, each to have full sovereign rights. A similar offer was made by the Parliament of Scotland. The first stage of the English Revolution, with its advance toward constitutional monarchy and responsible government was complete with their double coronation on April 11, 1689, and their acceptance of the "Bill of Rights" (1689). It sharply limited royal power and prescribed the line of succession, and gave Parliament control of finances and of the army.  Parliament was now supreme.

William insisted he would rule England as king and not merely as his wife's consort; accordingly, in February, 1689, Parliament offered the crown to William and Mary, each to have full sovereign rights. A similar offer was made by the Parliament of Scotland. The first stage of the English Revolution, with its advance toward constitutional monarchy and responsible government was complete with their double coronation on April 11, 1689, and their acceptance of the "Bill of Rights" (1689). It sharply limited royal power, prescribed the line of succession, and gave Parliament control of finances and of the army.  Parliament was now supreme.

==King of England==

==King of England==

==Evaluation==

==Evaluation==

The English disliked William because of his lack of graces, his obvious preference for Dutch advisors, and his blatant use of the throne to support his unpopular wars on the continent.  He was close to his wife Mary and she was well loved by the English, and proved an effective ruler when he was absent; but she died in 1694 and they had no children.<ref> He did have a long-time mistress, but rumors that two aides were his gay lovers are based solely on court gossip. See Claydon in ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (2004)</ref> His posthumous reputation has been affected by the highly laudatory treatment by the great English historian [[Thomas Babington Macaulay]], matched by disparagement at the hands of modern writers. But to William III, more than to any other, is due the religious and governmental character of the United Kingdom today. Because of his victory at the iconic [[Battle of the Boyne]] in 1690, some unionists and loyalists in Northern Ireland have appropriated William as a symbol of successful defence of Ireland as British territory.

The English disliked William because of his lack of graces, his obvious preference for Dutch advisors, and his blatant use of the throne to support his unpopular wars on the continent.  He was close to his wife Mary and she was well loved by the English, and proved an effective ruler when he was absent; but she died in 1694 and they had no children.<ref> He did have a long-time mistress, but rumors that two aides were his gay lovers are based solely on court gossip. See Claydon in ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (2004)</ref> His posthumous reputation has been affected by the highly laudatory treatment by the great English historian [[Thomas Babington Macaulay]], matched by disparagement at the hands of modern writers. But to William III, more than to any other, is due the religious and governmental character of Britain today. Because of his victory at the iconic [[Battle of the Boyne]] in 1690, some unionists and loyalists in Northern Ireland have appropriated William as a symbol of successful defence of Ireland as British territory.

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

See the more detailed guide at the Bibliography  

See the more detailed guide at the Bibliography