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| 1533 | Birth |  |
| Dillenburg Birth of William I the Silent |
| 1544 | Succession | |
| Succeeds as Stadholder of The Netherlands |
| 1551 | Marriage | |
| Marries Anna van Buren, succeeds to the Principality of Orange |
| 1555 | Stadholder | |
| Appointed Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, and Utrecht |
| 1559 | Stadholder | |
| Appointed Stadholder of The Netherlands |
| 1559 | Succession | |
| Nassau Succeeds as Count of Nassau |
| 1559 | Treaty of Cateau Cambr‚sis | |
| Drafts the treaty of Cateau-Cambr‚sis for Philip II of Spain |
| 1561 | Marriage | |
| Narries Anne of Egmont & Buren |
| 1563 | Resignation | |
| William I resigns from the Dutch Council of State over Philip's Hispanicization |
| 1564 | Reform | |
| Appeals to Phillip II for religious toleration but the policy of heresy is maintained |
| 1566 | Gueux | |
| Founds the Gueux party in opposition the Phillip II |
| 1567 | Exile | |
| Outlawed by Spain, flees to Germany & begins a feud with Phillip II of Spain |
| 1567 | Oath | |
| Refuses to take the oath of allegiance to Phillip II |
| 1568 | Invasion of Holland | |
| Launches a raid into the Spanish Netherlands from exile in Germany |
| 1569 | Rebellion | |
| Leads a naval attack by the "Gueux de Mer" on Spanish shipping in the Netherlands |
| 1570 | Invasion of Holland | |
| Launches a raid into the Spanish Netherlands from exile in Germany |
| 1572 | Invasion of Holland | |
| 1572 | Rebellion | |
| Te Estates of Holland and Zeeland revolt against Spanish Rule |
| 1572 | Siege of Haarlem | |
| 12th July Haarlem Haarlem surrenders to the Spanish, the leaders are executed |
| 1572 | Succession | |
| Succeeds as Stadholder of The Netherlands, Stadholder of the northern provinces |
| 1573 | Conversion | |
| Ghent William becomes a Calvinist |
| 1574 | Capture | |
| 18th Feb Middleburgh The Dutch capture Middleburgh |
| 1574 | Stadholder | |
| Appointed Commander-in-Chief |
| 1575 | Marriage | |
| Marries Charlotte de Bourbon |
| 1575 | Rule of | |
| The states of Holland & Zeland are united |
| 1575 | Rule of Zeland | |
| The states of Holland & Zeland are united |
| 1575 | Unification | |
| The states of Holland & Zeland are united |
| 1576 | Pacification Ghent | |
| Ghent The provinces of the Netherlands unite under William's leadership to expel the Spanish |
| 1576 | Unification | |
| Ghent The "Pacification of Ghent" unites the southern provinces against Spain |
| 1577 | Capture | |
| 24th July Namur The Governor Don John captures Namur |
| 1577 | Edict Perpetual | |
| William I the Silent ignores the Perpetual Edict |
| 1577 | Rebellion | |
| Brussels William I the Silent enters Brussels in triumph |
| Aug Antwerp The workers of Brussels , Antwerp, Bruges & Ghent overthrow their Catholic Magistrates |
| Aug Bruges The workers of Brussels , Antwerp, Bruges & Ghent overthrow their Catholic Magistrates |
| Aug Brussells The workers of Brussels , Antwerp, Bruges & Ghent overthrow their Catholic Magistrates |
| Aug Ghent The workers of Brussels , Antwerp, Bruges & Ghent overthrow their Catholic Magistrates |
| 1578 | Battle of Gembloux | |
| 30th Jan Gembloux Don John defeats the Northern Netherlands Army at Gembloux, Brabant |
| 30th Jan Gembloux The Spanish harry and defeat Dutch causing 10,000 casualties while losing only 100 of their own |
| 1578 | Lieutenant | |
| Appointed Lieutenant-Governor |
| 1579 | Alliance | |
| Holland makes a military alliance with England |
| 1579 | Independence | |
| 23rd Jan Utrecht Proclaims independence of the northern provinces, William becomes uncrowned ruler |
| 23rd Jan Utrecht The Union of Utrecht unites 7 provinces which declare their Independence from Spain |
| 1579 | Treaty of Union of Utrecht | |
| 23rd Jan Utrecht 6 Dutch Habsburg provinces pledge to act as allies in the event of war |
| 23rd Jan Utrecht Proclaims independence of the northern provinces, William becomes uncrowned ruler |
| 4th Feb Utrecht Ghent signs the Uion of Utrecht |
| 1579 | Union Arras | |
| Arras The Union of Arras unites the Walloons of the Netherlands |
| 1579 | Union Utrecht | |
| 23rd Jan Utrecht 6 Dutch Habsburg provinces pledge to act as allies in the event of war |
| 23rd Jan Utrecht Proclaims independence of the northern provinces, William becomes uncrowned ruler |
| 4th Feb Utrecht Ghent signs the Uion of Utrecht |
| 1580 | Alliance | |
| Seeks French support by offering Dutch rule to Francis , Duke of Alencon & Anjou |
| 1580 | Independence | |
| Seeks French support by offering Dutch rule to Francis , Duke of Alencon & Anjou |
| 1580 | Treaty of Union of Utrecht | |
| Feb Utrecht Groningen, Lier & Bruges sign the Union of Utrecht |
| 1580 | Union Utrecht | |
| Feb Utrecht Groningen, Lier & Bruges sign the Union of Utrecht |
| 1581 | Independence | |
| Philip II denounces William as a traitor & puts a high price on his head |
| 1581 | Rule of | |
| William I the Silent appoints the duc d'Alencon King of Holland |
| 1581 | Succession | |
| Succeeds as Stadholder of The Netherlands |
| The position of Stadholder is made hereditary |
| 1583 | Marriage | |
| Marries Louis e de Coligny, daughter of Admiral Coligny |
| 1584 | Assassination | |
| 10th July Delft Assassinated at Delft by Balthazar Gerard, a Catholic fanatic |
| 1584 | Death | |
| Death of William I the Silent, assassinated |
