Wilhelm III. von Oranien was a Dutch prince who became king of England, Scotland, and Ireland in 1689. He was born in The Hague, Netherlands, as the son of William II, Prince of Orange, and Mary, Princess Royal, the daughter of King Charles I of England.
Wilhelm's mother died shortly after his birth, and his father died when he was only 10 years old. As a result, Wilhelm was brought up by his grandmother, Amalia of Solms-Braunfels.
Wilhelm was educated in the Netherlands and was fluent in Dutch, English, French, and German. He developed a reputation as a skilled military leader and played an important role in the Dutch Wars against France.
In 1677, Wilhelm married his cousin Mary, the daughter of James, Duke of York. The marriage was intended to improve relations between the Netherlands and England, but it also had political implications. Mary was Protestant, and her father was Catholic, which made her a potential heir to the English throne in case James II did not have a male heir.
In 1688, a group of English politicians invited Wilhelm to invade England and depose James II, who had become increasingly unpopular due to his Catholicism and autocratic tendencies. Wilhelm accepted the invitation and landed in England with an army. James II fled to France, and Wilhelm and Mary were declared joint monarchs of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
As king, Wilhelm faced numerous challenges, including conflicts with France and Scotland. He also worked to promote religious tolerance and strengthen the power of parliament. Wilhelm died in 1702, leaving the throne to his sister-in-law Anne.