Johan de Witt
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William's parents died when he was very young and Johan de Witt "appointed himself" as William's guardian.
De Witt was a powerful man at that time and he was a republican, not an Orangist (i.e. royalist).
In 1672, the year that is known in Dutch as the rampjaar (year of disaster) in the history of the Dutch Republic, the Dutch had to break the dykes and flood large areas of the country to halt the advance of the invasion of the republic by the French.
Although William was military commander of most of the country at the time, it was de Witt who was blamed for this disaster.
He and his brother were imprisoned in The Hague.
When they were released, they were caught by an angry mob and murdered, then their corpses were mutilated.
It is not known whether William ordered the murder of Johan de Witt. However, he did give a sum of money to the murderer and found a job for him.
He and his brother were imprisoned in The Hague.
When they were released, they were caught by an angry mob and murdered, then their corpses were mutilated.
It is not known whether William ordered the murder of Johan de Witt. However, he did give a sum of money to the murderer and found a job for him.