William II, Prince of Orange

De Witt had long held the chief control of affairs and the States General had decreed the exclusion of the members of the House of Orange from the Stadtholdership.

The command of the troops, however, was given to young William of Orange, the son of Prince William II of Orange, who had married Mary, daughter of Charles I, King of England.

With his raw troops William was unable to do anything to save his country.

Louis XIV carried everything before him.