| |
| | Reference.com/Encyclopedia/William The Silent |
 | | (of Orange), known as William the Silent (1533–84) Dutch ruler, born in Dillenburg, WC Germany, the eldest son of William of Nassau (the Rich). |
 | | Brought up at Charles V's court, he had a distinguished military career, was made Knight of the Golden Fleece, was appointed stadtholder (governor) of Holland, Zeeland, and Utrecht by Philip II of Spain (1559–67), and in 1569 was made a member of the Council of State. |
 | | According to an apocryphal story Henry II of France told Orange of the secret plan, later carried out on St Bartholomew's night, to massacre all the leading Huguenots; Orange kept the secret to himself and so earned the soubriquet the Silent, but was always afterwards distrustful of France and Spain. |
| www.reference.com /browse/crystal/42251William (347 words) |
|