Frederick Henry, 1584–1647, prince of Orange; son of William the Silent William the Silent or William of Orange (William I, prince of Orange), 1533–84, Dutch statesman, principal founder of Dutch independence.
..... Click the link for more information. by Louise de Coligny. He became stadtholder of the United Provinces of the Netherlands upon the death (1625) of his brother Maurice of Nassau Maurice of Nassau (môr`ĭs, năs`ô)
..... Click the link for more information. . As a minor prince heading a federation of oligarchic republics, Frederick allied himself with other minor members and the puritans in order to maintain control during the Netherlands' struggle for independence from Spain. An able diplomat, he gained a subsidy from France to continue fighting, and allied with the British King Charles I by marrying his son, William, to Charles's daughter, Mary. In 1635 he concluded an alliance with France and Sweden against the Hapsburgs in the Thirty Years War Thirty Years War, 1618–48, general European war fought mainly in Germany.

General Character of the War

There were many territorial, dynastic, and religious issues that figured in the outbreak and conduct of the war.
..... Click the link for more information. . By the capture of the frontier forts of Hertogenbosch (1629), Maastricht (1632), and Breda (1637), he became famous as a master of siegecraft. In 1631 the United Provinces showed their trust in his leadership by declaring the stadtholderate hereditary in his family. One year after his death the independence of the Netherlands was recognized in the Peace of Westphalia. His son, William II, succeeded him as stadtholder.

Frederick Henry

Dutch Frederik Hendrik

(born Jan. 29, 1584, Delft, Holland—died March 14, 1647, The Hague) Third hereditary stadtholder (1625–47) of the Dutch Republic. He succeeded his half brother, Maurice of Nassau, as prince of Orange and count of Nassau. Like his father, William I, Frederick Henry continued the war of independence against Spain. By establishing hereditary succession to the stadtholdership for the house of Orange, he exercised semimonarchical powers. A successful strategist, he was responsible for the United Provinces' foreign policy, beginning negotiations that led to a favourable treaty with Spain in 1648.