Willem van Oranje
Season 1
As the Dutch title indicates, this series chronicles magnificently the life of William I "the Silent" of Orange, who grew up with his Lutheran family in the princely castle of a minor German countship of Nassau at Dillingen, till at eleven he inherited the vast riches of the prince of Orange (in southern France, with major possessions in the Low Countries), and was sent to the Holy Roman emperor Charles V's sister Margareth's gubernatorial court in Brussels to receive a Catholic education. He soon became a Habsburg confident and high councilor, a gifted diplomat and military officer. However when the persecution of the Protestants -and some other measures- arouses great resistance with the people and many nobles, it gets ever harder to remain loyal to the crown for the Lutheran at heart, who ends up leading the opposition once Charles' heir, king Philip II of Spain, ceases all negotiations and tries to impose his absolute rule by military force, which however only succeeds in splitting the Low Countries in a southern Catholic half under Habsburg control and a northern one, dominated by Calvinists, which ultimately becomes the 'crowned republic' of the Seventeen United Provices under William (and later his heirs, for centuries maintaining his title of Stadholder, theoretically Habsburg governor), painstakingly seeking a diplomatic course amidst the wars and religious civil wars throughout Europe. His personal life is also sketched, including several marriage alliances and a recognized son out of wedlock.
Where to Watch Season 1
10 Episodes
- 1568 - 1573E7
1568 - 1573Oranje has lost the battle and most of his fortune. His wife Anna leaves him but is soon arrested and imprisoned on account of adultery. Three years after his first crusade, he is persuaded to try again. This time the Dutch people are fully behind him, and Alva finds himself forced to retreat. - 1574 - 1576E8
1574 - 1576The city of Leiden is under siege. Oranje decides to drive off the Spaniards by flooding the country surrounding the city. Willem marries Charlotte de Bourbon after his marriage to Anna van Saxen is annulled on a count of her insanity. Philips II appoints his half brother Don Juan as regent to the Netherlands, who arrives with an offer for Willem van Oranje concerning his eldest son. - 1576 - 1580E9
1576 - 1580Willem van Oranje settles down in Brussels, but the politics of the low countries remain turbulent. The Pacification of Gent is a failure, and his request to invite the French heir The Duke of Anjou to come and rule the Netherlands is received with skepticism. Philips II takes Cardinal Granvelle back into his favor, who proposes to excommunicate Oranje and puts a death warrant on his head. - 1580-1584E10
1580-1584Willem van Oranje survives a murder attempt but his slow recovery takes it's toll on the health of his wife Charlotte de Bourbon. Suffering from loneliness, he is advised to marry a much younger widow, Louise de Coligny. When she bares him a daughter (his 13th child), Willem spends most of what's left of his money on the baptizing. Balthasar Gerards arrives in Delft with one thing on his mind: to rid the world of Willem de Zwijger.
