STADTHOLDER

was a title given in the Netherlands to a governor of a province, who was also Comtnanderin-Chief of the Forces but the title received its special significance in 1580; when the provinces of Holland and Zealand revolted against Spain’s authority. and accepted William, Prince of Orange, as their stadtholder. He was a a inated before he was invested with the office, but his son, Prince Maurice, received the title, which continued to be the hereditary title of the chief of the state until Holland was annexed by France in 1802 and the title was finally Stanhope, dropped in 1814, when the; Prince of Orange was recalled from England and proclaimed King of the Netherlands by an a embly of notables.