William III
/ˌwɪljəm ðə ˈθɜːd/
/ˌwɪljəm ðə ˈθɜːrd/
(also William of Orange
/ˌwɪljəm əv ˈɒrɪndʒ/
/ˌwɪljəm əv ˈɔːrɪndʒ/
)- (1650-1702) the king of Great Britain and Ireland from 1688 to 1702. He was a Dutch prince, married to Mary, the daughter of James II. They were invited by British Protestants to be the king and queen of Britain in order to prevent the Roman Catholic James II from being king. William became king in the Bloodless Revolution and defeated the forces of James II in Ireland at the Battle of the Boyne. He is remembered by a group of Protestants in Northern Ireland who are opposed to Ireland becoming one republic, and call themselves Orangemen. see also William and Mary
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William III