William I of the Netherlands

Reign: 1815 – 1840
Life: 1772–1843

He fought against the French invasion during the Flanders campaign, and after the Batavian Revolution in 1795, his family went into exile. He briefly ruled the Principality of Nassau-Orange-Fulda before Napoleon French troops' occupation forced him out of power. Following the defeat of Napoleon in 1814, William was invited back to the Netherlands, where he proclaimed himself Sovereign Prince of the United Netherlands. His reign saw the adoption of a new constitution, which granted him extensive powers. He was a strong proponent of economic development, founding several universities and promoting trade. However, his efforts to impose the Reformed faith and the Dutch language in the mostly Catholic and partly French-speaking southern provinces, combined with economic grievances, sparked the Belgian Revolution in 1830.

During William I of the Netherlands' reign, Frederick William III of Prussia ruled Prussia, Francis I of Austria ruled Austria, and Nicholas I of Russia ruled Russia.

Further reading: Patriots and Liberators: Revolution in the Netherlands, 1780–1813 by Simon Schama

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