Sir William Temple, William III and the Exclusion Crisis (1678–1681)

“Crastinâ die loquar cum Celsissimo principe de Spinosa”. New perspectives on Spinoza's visit to the French Army Headquarters in Utrecht in late July 1673

“…29 Local uprisings followed and demands to restore William III to his ancestral functions became increasingly stronger. 30 …”

“…VAN DE VEN France declared war on Holland, giving as pretext that the States General had not "returned" favours France had "always" granted them. 21 England declared war on the following day. In early April 1672, French troops swiftly advanced on the United Provinces.…”

“…On 12 June 1672, 25 Condé's army (118,000 infantry and 12,500 cavalry) outflanked the IJssel Line and crossed the Rhine to lay siege to the fortress of Schenkenschans (near Nijmegen). 26 The French army then rapidly captured Gelderland and Utrecht, cruelly raiding the eastern cities Arnhem and Nijmegen. The central Dutch town of Utrecht was however taken without violence on 23 June 1672.…”

The Orange-Nassau family at the educational crossroads of the stadtholder’s position (1584–1711)

“…Several years later, Johan de Witt (1625-1672), who was the Raad pensionaris of Holland, negotiated with the newly crowned King of England, Charles II about the future of Charles's nephew (he was son of Mary, Charles's sister), and designated William for a military career. 111 How did things look from the Frisian side of the family? There too, military education was not neglected -quite the contrary.…”