Show samong the WILLIAM I 1 II 11 HAM riest of the idether W lands AMIS of the rulers who belonged to lie ancient order of kings in absolute authority aue eliom lie could not see the spirit f democracy which was spreading spread ng pr hie world and which was his his influence was peculiar had a wonderful to weld to alier tl ier lie dutch and the nt aln after two and a half centuries f ap pp ir atlon hut he had not the tact chilt was needed had he combined ali netherlands into one strong na linn alie atory of the german advance belgium might ime read en differently lie was bon august 24 1772 at the ingue compelled because of the french resolution to lle farst in angland then in berlin and not un til holland rose in revolt after 18 vears of beille was he allowed to re turn he directed both holland and belgian troops at the battle of wa then settled down to his bollt leal duties as king but the laws he made were unfair to the belgians and here he missed his great opportunity had he bent his son prince of orange to take care of the in geresti of his southern subjects would ahne been veil for he young willlam was popular with both flemish and walloon but alie ling declared for absolute rule there was a revolt and leopold as elected king of belgium een the dutch were rebelling against ailin and at ast in despair he abdicated he married a belgian countess to whom he ruichi att icelic and after four quiet retired eart he died in 1884 by george adm |