Princes of Orange
There are two portraits of Princes of Orange in the library at Sagamore Hill. William I (William the Silent) and his son Prince Maurice.
William I: William of Orange was the pivotal leader in the Dutch revolt against Spain during the Protestant Reformation. He led the revolt against Spain that led to the 80 years war and Dutch Independence. He is known as the Father of the Netherlands. Spain declared him an outlaw and he was assassinated by a wheel lock pistol. First assassination by a pistol.
William I (William of Orange) should not to be confused with William III of England who is also famously known as "William of Orange." William III was a great-grandson of William I and inherited the same title a century later before taking the British throne during the Glorious Revolution. (The deposition of King James II in November 1688) He would be the William in William and Mary University and Mary was his wife.
Prince Maurice: The son of William I. Maurice reorganized the Dutch Army transforming the Dutch Revolt into a disciplined and effective military campaign. He gained wide recognition as one of the foremost military strategists of his time, particularly for his innovations in siege warfare and the development of a modern military drill system. He is widely credited with pioneering training methods. His father was the diplomat…he was the general.
The origins of the title itself date back long before William I. It comes from the ancient city of Orange (originally Arausio) in Provence in southern, France. When the independent city passed to the noble Dutch House of Nassau, it gave its title and legacy to the Dutch royal line. Because of this, the color orange became the defining symbol of the Dutch nation and their resistance.