Maurice of Nassau (môr`ĭs, năs`ô), 1567–1625, prince of Orange (1618–25); 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 Anne of Saxony. He became stadtholder of Holland and Zeeland after the assassination (1584) of his father. He was later appointed (1588) captain general and admiral of the United Netherlands and became (1589) stadtholder of Utrecht, Gelderland, and Overijssel. In 1618 he succeeded his elder brother, Philip William, as prince of Orange. Throughout his career the Netherlands Netherlands (nĕth`ərləndz), Du.
..... Click the link for more information. continued to struggle for independence from Spain. In 1590 he took the offensive against the Spanish under Alessandro Farnese. His campaigns were primarily distinguished by his skill in siegecraft. His successes on land and on sea enabled the Netherlands to conclude (1609) a 12-year truce with the Spanish (then commanded by Spinola). The truce virtually established the independence of the seven United Provinces. During the first part of Maurice's career his principal adviser was Oldenbarneveldt Oldenbarneveldt, Johan van (yōhän` vän ôl'dənbär`nəvĕlt), 1547–1619, Dutch statesman.
..... Click the link for more information. , chief author of the truce of 1609. Relations between the two men were, however, strained after 1600 and flared into open conflict when the struggle between Remonstrants Remonstrants (rĕmŏn`strənts)
..... Click the link for more information. and strict Calvinists broke out. Maurice took the part of the Calvinists and in 1618 compelled the summoning of the Synod of Dort, which suppressed the Remonstrants. Oldenbarneveldt, as a leader of the Remonstrants, was arrested, tried, and executed. Thus the house of Orange became dominant in the Netherlands. Maurice's campaigns after the resumption (1621) of hostilities with Spain met with little success. He was succeeded by his brother Frederick Henry.

Maurice of Nassau

Dutch in full Maurits, prince van Oranje, count van Nassau

(born Nov. 13, 1567, Dillenburg, Nassau—died April 23, 1625, The Hague) Dutch general and statesman. The son of William I (the Silent), he was invested in 1585 as stadtholder (chief executive) of the northern provinces of the Netherlands. With political direction from Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, Maurice consolidated the power of the provinces against Spain and made them trade and shipping centres. He used military planning and siege warfare to defeat Spanish forces in the north and east but failed to take the southern Netherlands and was forced to conclude a truce with Spain in 1609. His development of military strategy and tactics made the Dutch army the most modern in Europe. In 1618 he consolidated his political power after removing Oldenbarnevelt from office, and as prince of Orange, count of Nassau, he became effectively king of the Netherlands.