Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt: Portrait of prince Philip William of Orange (1608)

 

(Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

A painting by the Dutch artist Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt (1566-1641). Philip William, Prince of Orange (1554-1618) was the oldest son of Prince William I 'the Silent' of Orange (1533-1584) and his first wife Anna van Egmont (1533 – 1558). At the beginning of the Dutch war of independence (1568-1648) Philip William was kidnapped in 1568 by Spanish forces when he was studying at the University at Leuven in Brabant (the teachers and board of director tried to stop the Spanish troops) - he would never see his father again. He was brought to Spain where he continued his studies at the University of Alcalá de Henares. Philip William was raised as a good Catholic and loyal subject to the Spanish crown. Philip William returned to Spanish controlled southern Netherlands (modern Belgium) in 1595 together with Albert VII, Archduke of Austria and Governor-General of the Habsburg Netherlands. At the death of his father in 1584 Philip William inherited the title Prince of Orange and various possessions in the Netherlands. These interests, however, were contested by his half-brother Maurice of Nassau. Only in 1607, he was allowed to enter the Netherlands after a declaration of loyalty to the Dutch government but Philip William was never fully trusted (as he remained a Catholic until his death he was not allowed any leading political and military role). Philip William was completely overshadowed by his much more powerful half-brothers Maurice and Frederick-Henry of Nassau, both who played a leading role in the Dutch war of independence against the Spanish empire. He married in 1606 with Eleonora of Bourbon-Condé (1587 – 1619) but never had any children. He died in 1618 as a consequence of a badly administered enema which gravely injured his intestines. Painting from 1608.