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Why did Philip II outlaw William I in 1580 and offer a reward for his assassination?

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Portrait of William I, Prince of Orange, by Adriaen Thomasz Key. He wears a dark embroidered coat, a white ruff collar, and a black cap, with a trimmed beard and mustache. — William I Portrait of William I, oil on panel by Adriaen Thomaszoon Key, c. 1579; in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

King Philip II of Spain outlawed William I in 1580 because he recognized the prince as the head and heart of the rebellion against Spanish rule in the Low Countries.1

By 1580, William had become the primary leader of the resistance, actively working to consolidate political and military support against Spanish domination. His efforts included persuading the States General to seek foreign assistance, specifically by inviting the duc d’Anjou to take over the lordship of the Netherlands to counter Philip's authority.123

Philip II’s decision to place William under a ban of outlawry and offer a reward for his assassination was a direct attempt to decapitate the leadership of the uprising. The King hoped that removing the prince would end the rebellion, though the movement ultimately continued after William's assassination in 1584.132