Frederick Henry summary

Frederick Henry, Dutch Frederik Hendrik, (born Jan. 29, 1584, Delft, Holland—died March 14, 1647, The Hague), Third hereditary stadtholder (1625–47) of the Dutch Republic. He succeeded his half brother, Maurice of Nassau, as prince of Orange and count of Nassau. Like his father, William I, Frederick Henry continued the war of independence against Spain. By establishing hereditary succession to the stadtholdership for the house of Orange, he exercised semimonarchical powers. A successful strategist, he was responsible for the United Provinces’ foreign policy, beginning negotiations that led to a favourable treaty with Spain in 1648.