Orange

Principality of Orange

10/20/2011                                                                                    link back up to main Chapter 262 Coins

Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange

This impulsive eBay buy for a few bucks was another launch into the abyss of discover and adventure. It was incorrectly labeled but after much searching it is identified as a 1625-1647 coin from the tinyPrincipality of Orange in the south of France. At that time the country was a conglomeration of individual states. This 12 mile long area had been inherited and ruled over by the House of Orange, an aristocratic family living in Delft, Netherlands which itself had been a state under the control of Spain.

This magnificent family painting of 4 generations of  Princes of Orange of the House of Orange and was done in 1662. I see many similarities to the photo of the 4 generations of the House of Olmsted taken in 1979. The lineage was captured just as we did, yet there are significant differences as you may have guessed.

Only their youngest was alive at the time of painting and none knew their grandfathers. Their family members claim to fame is UNBELIEVABLE, however. William the Silent sitting left had led the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years' War and resulted in the formal independence of the Dutch Provinces.  Spain had put a bounty on his head and he was assassinated. As a Calvinist he had also been right in the middle of the French Wars of Religion . I guess the Christians had to fight among themselves after tiring of the Crusades.

Next came son Maurice in the orange sash who was one of the foremost generals of his time fighting the Spanish. His initial M appears on my coin. In 1624, English explorer Henry Hudson named what is now known as the Hudson River, the Mauritius River in honor of Prince Maurice (Maurits van Nassau, in Dutch).

The next adult is Frederick Henry born to William just before the assassination. As ruler at the time of my coin his name is on the legend. Yes, he's on Facebook .

 If you think I pay too much homage to Frederick Henry, open his full funeral procession photo here. Impressive !

Frederick has his arm around his first son William II who would marry Princess Mary Stuart the King of England's daughter.

Far right is William III born at the time of his father, William II's death. This kid later married Queen Mary II (Stuart) of England then conquered England. He became the youngest King of England, to be called William II there. About 12 at the time of painting.

For all their success, their 4 generations did not have much time together. At least the Olmsteds were all alive together at one time and three of us did make it to France.

I used to think of Europe as composed of distinct separate countries. NO ! It's all a hodge podge; an intermingled melting pot of society.

 I'm using a separate Orange Details page here for the more detailed documentation of arriving at the conclusions above (which include the blue sash).

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