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==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 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.

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, militant Protestants in Northern Ireland have appropriated "Orange" as their banner for opposing the Catholic Irish.

 

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

See the more detailed guide at the Bibliography  

See the more detailed guide at the Bibliography