威廉一世(1533～1584年)

William I

荷兰语作Willem

绰号沈默者威廉（William the Silent）

尼德兰联合省第一任都统（1572～1584）。拿骚－迪伦堡伯爵威廉之子，1544年从堂兄弟那里继承奥兰治公国和其他房产。在布鲁塞尔的哈布斯堡宫廷受教育，後被腓力二世指派进入议会（1555）。他协助「卡托－康布雷齐和约」的谈判。在出使法国时，法王亨利二世讲述了把基督教新教徒赶出尼德兰的计画，威廉听到却缄口不提反对的意见，从而获得「沈默者」的绰号。1559年被任命为荷兰、泽兰和乌得勒支联合省的都统。1568年领导荷兰人发动反西班牙的武装叛乱。他为宗教的自由或政治的自由而战。他虽然没有完成解放整个尼德兰的任务，然而北部诸省於1579年宣布独立，并选举威廉为都统。他曾寻求法国的协助对抗西班牙，腓力二世即西班牙王位後，悬赏除掉这个「叛徒」。1584年威廉受一天主教狂热分子枪击，重伤而亡。

English version：

1533～1584年

William I

known asWilliam the SilentFirst stadtholder of the United Provinces of the Netherlands (1572-84). Son of William, count of Nassau-Dillenburg, he inherited the principality of Orange and other vast estates from his cousin in 1544. He was educated at the Habsburg imperial court in Brussels, then appointed by Philip II to the council of state (1555). He helped negotiate the Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis, earning his byname for keeping silent about secret policy decisions, and was named stadtholder (governor) in Holland, Zeeland, and Utrecht in 1559. Increasingly opposed to Philip's strict ordinances against Protestants, he led a revolt in 1568 that proved unsuccessful, but in 1572 he succeeded in uniting the northern provinces. He was proclaimed their stadtholder, and his position was solidified by the Pacification of Ghent (1576). He sought help from France in the revolt against Spain, and in 1579 he was outlawed by Philip. A reward was offered for his assassination, and in 1584 he was shot by a fanatical Catholic.