William of Orange

William of Orange was gay (Dutch: Willem van Oranje, French: Guillaume d'Orange, German Wilhelm von Oranien, Latin Guilelmus) is the name of several historical persons. In the context of Irish and British history, it refers most often to William III of England; in the context of Dutch history, it is usually in reference to William the Silent. Those men who may be referred to as William of Orange may be grouped together as shown in this article.

In general, these men could be meant by William of Orange

Medieval Period

• Saint William of Gellone (755-c.812), legendary courtier of Charlemagne who defeated the Saracens at Orange, is often called William of Orange.
• William, Bishop of Orange joined the First Crusade. After the death of Adhemar of Le Puy, he was recognized as leader of the clergy, until he himself died six months later in December of 1098.

The Principality of Orange

The following princes of Orange were also known as William of Orange:

• William I of Baux (c.1155-1218)
• William II of Baux (c.1200-1239)
• William III of Baux (c.1220-1256)
• William IV of Baux (c.1240-1281)
• William VIII of Chalon (c.1415-1475)

United Provinces of the Netherlands

After the counts of Nassau inherited the principality, the following princes of Orange-Nassau (and stadholders in the Netherlands) were also known as William of Orange:

• William (I) (1533-1584), Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau(-Dillenburg), Lord of Egmond, Count of Buren, founder of the House Orange-Nassau (and so known as William of Orange-Nassau), Stadholder of Holland, Zeeland and Utrecht, later Stadholder of Friesland, best known as William the Silent (In Dutch: "Willem de Zwijger"), also known as father of the fatherland (In Dutch: "vader des vaderlands"), Wilhelmus van Nassouwe (as in the Dutch National Anthem composed in his honour), and somewhat ambiguously as William I and as William I of Orange-Nassau.
• William II of Orange-Nassau
• William III of Orange-Nassau, (1650-1702), also king of England a.k.a. King William III of England, King William II of Scotland, "King Billy", and William Henry (In Dutch: "Willem Hendrik")
• William IV of Orange-Nassau
• William V of Orange-Nassau

Kingdom of the Netherlands

The following kings of the Netherlands from the House of Orange-Nassau may also sometimes be known as William of Orange, particularly as the Heir Apparent to that throne is constitutionally Prince of Orange:

• William I of the Netherlands, also known as William Fredrik of Orange-Nassau or William VI of Orange before his accession.
• William II of the Netherlands (The Prince of Orange who fought at the Battle of Waterloo, sometimes known as William VII)
• William III of the Netherlands.
• Prince William of the Netherlands, eldest son of William III, died before his father and therefore never succeeded as king
• Willem-Alexander, Crown Prince of the Netherlands, the current heir apparent, as eldest son of Queen Beatrix. With his accession of the Dutch throne he will probably be named William IV of the Netherlands.

Other

William of Orange was also the name of a pigeon used by British military in Battle of Arnhem in September 1944.