Owing, however, to the Spanish monarch's lack of faith, war was resumed, and the patriots suf- fered a great defeat. At Gembloux (January 31, 1.578) John of Austria's successor, Alex- ander Farnese, succeeded in detaching the Wal- loon provinces from the league. On the other hand, William brought about the formation of the Union of Utrecht (1579), wnich com- prised the provinces of Holland. Zealand, Utrecht, Gelderland. Groningen, Friesland, and Overyssel, and marked the birth of the Dutch Repulilic. In 1581 the United Provinces declared Philip de- posed and, in accordance with William's desire, chose as their ruler the Duke of Anjou, brother of Henry III. of France. The Duke, however, abandoned the country in 1582. In 1580 Philip had. by Granvella's advice, put a price of 25.000 gold crowns on William's head, and on July 10, 1584. he was assassinated at Delft by Balthasar Gerard. In personal relations William was frank and generous. His piety and integrity were unquestioned, and his sagacity, courage, and determined will made him a leader of men. Consult: Harrison, William the Silent (Lon- don. 1897); Putnam, William the Silent, Prince of Orange (New York, 1895); Jlotley, Rise of the Dutch Republic (1856); Gaehard (ed.), Vor- resijondunce de (luillaume le Taciturne, Prince d'Oranfie (Brussels, 1847-66); Klose, Wilhelin I. von Oi-anien (Leipzig, 1864): Juste, fjuillaiime Ic Taciturne d'apres sa corrcspondance et les papiers d'6tat (Brussels, 1875).
WILLIAM I. Landgrave (as such William
IX.) and later Elector (William I.) of Hesse-
Cassel. See Hesse-Cassel.
WILLIAM II. Elector of Hesse-Cassel. See
He.sse-C.s.sel.
WILLIAM IX., Duke of Aquitaine and Count
of Poitou (as such William VIL) (1071-1127).
The first Provencal poet whose songs have
come down to us. He began his reign in
1087, and much of his life was spent in
warfare with his neighbors. He twice con-
quered Toulouse, led a plundering expedition
into Normandy, and engaged in other sanguinary
contlicts. In 1100 he undertook a crusade with
60.000 men, but met with a disastrous defeat and
fled almost alone. He succeeded, however, in
reaching Jerusalem. On his way home he suf-
fered shipwreck, but he reached his native land
in 1103. His experience as a warrior of the
cross did not amend his life, which was noto-
riously licentious and irreligious. In his conflicts
with the Church he was twice excommunicated.
Most of his poetry is as loose as was his life.
It is. however, of special historical interest as
marking the transition from popular to art
forms. A romance dealing with a disreputable
adventure is closest to the folk-poetry, though
some of his songs also are simple in structure.
Sonic, on the other hand, are decidedly conven-
tional and show him making use of the formulas
of devoted lady service, a fact which tends to
demonMrate the existence of a j)revious lyric
literature which has been lost. One song, prob-
ably composed just before his death, expresses
repentance, renunciation of worldly pleasures,
and the turning of his heart to Ood. An incom-
plete edition of his works was published by Hol-
land and Keller (Tiibingcn, ISiJO). Consult
Sachse, Ueher das Leben und die Licdcr des
IX., Graf von PoitOM
Troubadours Wilhelm
(Leipzig, 1882).
WILLIAM, Order of. ( I ) A Hessian order
with four classes, founded in 1851 by the Elector
Frederick William and extinguished in 1866.
The red cross of the order shows a golden lion
with the inscription Virtute et fidelitate, with a
crown and the initials W. K. on the reverse. (2)
A military order of the Netherlands with four
classes, founded by King William in 1815. The
decoi-ation is a white cross with Burgundian
crosses of laurel between the arms, on which is
the legend ^'oor moed. beleid, tronw ('for valor,
prudence, fidelity.') The medallion shows the in-
itial W with a "laurel wreath. (3) A Prussian
order with one class for men and women, founded
in 1896 by King William II. It is designed to
commemorate the Imperial proclamation at Ver-
sailles and is conferred as a distinction for ser-
vices in elevating the people. The decoration is
a medal ssrrounded by a wreath, bearing the
bust of Emperor William I., and on the reverse
the initials of William II. with a crown and the
legend, Wirlce iin Audcnkcn an Kaiser WillieUn
den Grosscn.
WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE. An institution of learning at Williamsburg, Va., founded in 1093, the second oldest college in the United States. Grants of land had already been obtained in 1619 for the establishment of a collegiate institution near Richmond, and a collegiate school was established at Charles City in 1021, but the plan was frustrated by the Indian
massacres of 1622. In 1660 the grants were
renewed and in 1693 a charter was secured from
King William and Queen Mary by the Rev.
.Tames Blair, who became the first president of the
college. The institution received a penny a pound
on exports of tobacco and various other privileges,
including the profits from the office of Sur-
veyor-General of Virginia. The college attained
rapid prosperity, but it suffered heavily in the
Revolution through the loss of its endowments and
the occupation of its buildings by the contending
troops (1781), but with the exception of a short
interval it was in session until the Civil War. when
it was occupied by the Federal troops and much
of its property was destroyed. It was reopened
in 1860. but from 1881 to 1888 was so crippled
financially that it was forced to suspend instruc-
tion. In the latter year an annual State appro-
iniation of .$10.000". later increased to $15,000,
enaljled it to resume work, and in 1893 Congress-
granted an indemnity of .$64,000 for its losses
during the Civil Wiir. The college ofl'ers two
courses — the collegiate, leading to the degrees of
B... and M.... and (he normal. With the latter
the Matthew Whaley Model and Practice School is
connected. In 1903 it had a stiident attendance
of 165. 12 instructors, a library of about 10.000
volumes, and an income of $21,600. Its endow-
ment was $132,500, and the buildings and
grounds were valued at $150,000. The college
has a distinguished list of graduates, among
them Presidents .TefTerson. Monroe. Tyler, and
Harrison. Chief Jiistice .Tolm INIarsball. and Gen.
Winfield Scott. The Phi Beta Kappa Frater-
nity (q.v.) was established at William and Mary
in 1776.
WILLIAM AUGUSTUS, Duke of Cumberland (1721-65)). An English commander. He
