Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange
Frederick Henry (Dutch: Frederik Hendrik; 29 January 1584 – 14 March 1647) was the sovereign prince of Orange and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, Overijssel in the Dutch Republic from 1625 until his death in 1647. In the last seven years of his life, he was also the stadtholder of Groningen (1640-1647).
| Frederick Henry | |
|---|---|
Portrait by Michiel Janszoon van Mierevelt, 1632 | |
| Prince of Orange | |
| Reign | 23 April 1625 - 14 March 1647 |
| Predecessor | Maurice |
| Successor | William II |
| Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel | |
| Predecessor | Maurice, Prince of Orange |
| Successor | William II, Prince of Orange |
| Born | 29 January 1584 Delft, Dutch Republic |
| Died | 14 March 1647 (aged 63) The Hague, Dutch Republic |
| Spouse | Amalia of Solms-Braunfels |
| Issue | William II, Prince of Orange Louise Henriette, Duchess of Prussia Henriette Amalia of Nassau Alexandra of Nassau Isabella Charlotte of Nassau Albertine Agnes of Nassau Henriette Catherine, Princess of Anhalt-Dessau Henry Louis of Nassau Maria, Countess Palatine of Simmern-Kaiserslautern |
| House | Orange-Nassau |
| Father | William the Silent |
| Mother | Louise de Coligny |
| Religion | Dutch Reformed |
| Signature | |
As the leading soldier in the Dutch wars against Spain, his main achievement was the successful Siege of 's-Hertogenbosch in 1629. It was the main Spanish base and a well-fortified city protected by an experienced Spanish garrison and by formidable water defenses. His strategy was the successful neutralization of the threat of inundation of the area around 's-Hertogenbosch' and his capture of the Spanish storehouse at Wesel. The successful sieges under his command earned him the epithet ‘city forcer’ (Dutch: stedendwinger).