William Louis of Nassau-Dillenburg (Dutch: Willem Lodewijk; West Frisian: Willem Loadewyk) was Count of Nassau-Dillenburg from 1606 to 1620, and stadtholder of Friesland, Groningen, and Drenthe. William Louis was the eldest son of John VI, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg and his first wife, Elisabeth of Leuchtenberg. He served as a cavalry officer under William the Silent. Together with his cousin (and brother-in-law) Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange, he commanded the Dutch States Army and helped plan the military strategy of the Dutch Republic against Spain from 1588 to 1609. He was stadtholder of Friesland and Groningen (under the Dutch Republic) from 1584 until his death (until 1594 only recognized in the province of Groningen but not the city itself; from 1594 also in the city of Groningen; from 1584 to 1594, there were two stadtholders: one appointed by the King of Spain, whose authority was only recognized in the city of Groningen, and one on the side of the United Provinces. He was nicknamed "Us Heit" (West Frisian for "our father"). |
Reigned as | In Country | From | To | Coins Issued | |
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Willem Lodewijk (Stadtholder William Louis), Count of Nassau-Dillenburg | Frisia, Province of | 1584 | 13 July 1620 | ||
Willem Lodewijk (Stadtholder William Louis), Count of Nassau-Dillenburg | Groningen and Ommelanden, Province of | 1584 | 13 July 1620 |
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