Why was William of Orange assassinated at Delft in 1584?

William of Orange, also known as William the Silent, was assassinated on July 10, 1584, at his residence in Delft by Balthasar Gérard, a fanatical Roman Catholic from Franche-Comté.123

The assassination was directly motivated by a formal ban issued by King Philip II of Spain on March 15, 1580, which declared William an outlaw and offered a reward for his death. Gérard was spurred to commit the act by the promises associated with this royal ban.21

William had become the primary leader of the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule, a conflict fueled by religious tensions and the desire for autonomy. By 1581, the provinces had formally renounced their allegiance to the Spanish king, and William’s continued efforts to secure foreign support and maintain the rebellion made him the central target of the Spanish crown. Despite the assassination, the rebellion against Spain continued.4512