Redefining William III (Politics and Culture in North-Western Europe 1650-1720) [Hardcover]

Mijers (Author), Esther Mijers (Editor), David Onnekink (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0754650286 | ISBN-13: 978-0754650287 | Publication Date: May 31, 2007

William III (1650 - 1702) was Stadholder in the United Provinces and King of England, Scotland and Ireland. His reign has always intrigued historians, as it encompassed such defining events as the Dutch year of Disaster (1672), the Glorious Revolution (1688) and the ensuing wars against France. Although William has played a pivotal role in the political and religious history of his countries, the significance and international impact of his reign is still not very well understood. This volume contains a number of innovative essays from specialists in the field, which have evolved from papers delivered to an international conference held at the University of Utrecht in December 2002. By focusing on the entire period 1650 - 1702 from an international perspective, the volume moves historical discussion away from the traditional analysis of single events to encompass William's entire reign from a variety of political, religious, intellectual and cultural positions. In so doing, it offers a new perspective on the British and Dutch reigns of William III, as well as the wider European milieu.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Esther Mijers is based at Aberdeen University, UK, and David Onnekink is based at the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Ashgate Publishing (May 31, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0754650286
• ISBN-13: 978-0754650287
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,742,191 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Insights on the Impact of the King-Stadholder, November 9, 2011

By 

Deborah (North Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Redefining William III (Politics and Culture in North-Western Europe 1650-1720) (Hardcover)

I found this collection of essays both informative and interesting. The collection is divided into four parts. The first part examines William III's impact first in the United Provinces, then in his three kingdoms and finally in Europe as a whole. The second part contains essays justifying his invasion of England in 1688 while the third is made up of essays covering opposition to his rule. The fourth part deals with William's courts as stadholder and as king and the final essay deals with visual representations of William during his lifetime.

To my surprise, the essay I enjoyed the most was "The Dual Monarchy in Practice," which examines William's reorganization first of the Dutch and then the British army. I was surprised because normally I have little interest in military history, but I was engrossed from the beginning to the end of the essay. "William's Court as King" was another essay I found particularly fascinating primarily because it contradicted nearly everything I'd read before about William and his relationship with the Court. Finally, I particularly enjoyed "William in Contemporary Portraits and Prints". These two sentences in the essay struck me: "What might appeal today is suggested by the obverse side of the medals of 1691, showing William III in profile with his highly distinctive physiognomy--the long thin face and the prominent aquiline nose, both of which became more pronounced with his advancing age. It is a profile that cries out for the art of caricature. . ." I remember thinking Poor William, but how true!

I highly recommend this collection of essays. Redefining William III (Politics and Culture in North-Western Europe 1650-1720)