Why did the states of Holland proclaim William of Orange their stadtholder in 1572?

In July 1572, the states of Holland gathered in Dordrecht and proclaimed William of Orange their stadtholder primarily to provide a legal basis for their ongoing revolt against the Spanish administration of the Duke of Alba.12

Following the surprise capture of the port of Brielle by the Geuzen in April 1572, a popular uprising spread rapidly across Holland and Zeeland. To legitimize this resistance, the rebels employed a political fiction: they claimed they were not revolting against the king himself, but rather against his "evil advisers," specifically the governor, Alba. By recognizing William as their stadtholder, the states of Holland sought to formalize their authority and consolidate their position against Spanish forces.12

This appointment allowed the provinces to assume an effective share in the government while maintaining the pretense that they were acting on behalf of the king. William, who had previously served as a stadtholder, was viewed as the essential leader to unify the disparate interests of the rebellious towns and provide the necessary military and political direction for the Dutch Republic.21