Maurice of Nassau (1567–1625)

Prince of Orange (1618–25) and Count of Nassau (1584–1625). He was the son of William (I) the Silent and Anne of Saxony. On his father's assassination in 1584 he became commander-in-chief of the Dutch forces and in 1587 stadtholder (political leader) of the United Provinces. In a brilliant military campaign he took Breda and Nijmegen by 1591 and had driven the Spanish out of the northern and eastern provinces by 1598. He reluctantly agreed a 12-year truce with Spain in 1609.

After the truce with Spain he became embroiled in a bitter religious and political conflict with his former loyal supporter, the statesman and advocate of the truce, Johan van Oldenbarneveldt. Maurice gained an infamous triumph by Oldenbarneveldt's execution in 1619. In 1621 he resumed the fight against Spain, but with little success.