The Statue Of Prince William The Silent

William I of Orange, also known as William the Silent is a significant figure who represents a diplomatic mission for freedom of religion, independence, and democracy in the Netherlands. He is strongly recognized for fighting for Dutch independence from Spanish rule and reflects the American vision of religious freedom and independence. The statue of Prince William the Silent with his dog at his side is located at Voorhees Mall, on the College Avenue Campus, and is near Van Dyke Hall, and Milledoler Hall. The statue is not only a symbol of Dutch independence, but also represents the Dutch roots of Rutgers University. In connection to America, the Netherlands has become a very independent and individualistic society, and this is shown through
According to “William the Silent stands tall over U”, an article written in The Daily Targum, which is the Rutgers University newspaper, “William the Silent, Count of Nassau and founder of Dutch independence, has been a welcome guest at the University for almost 80 years.” (Yacco) In another article written by the school newspaper, “Faculty members signify spirit of William the Silent,” states “William the Silent stands as a reminder of New Jersey’s Dutch culture, which was a prominent part of New Brunswick when the University was established as Queen’s College in 1766.” (Berkman) In the Archives and Special Collections Department at the Rutgers University library, a folder of primary source documents titled “Rutgers Buildings and Grounds” obtained a pamphlet from the president of the university, Dr. John Martin Thomas, who attended the unveiling ceremony of the statue. The pamphlet was titled “Program of Exercises of Unveiling of Statue of William The Silent” The ceremony took place on a Saturday on the ninth of June in 1928, the pamphlet states that Rutgers had “special permission to make a copy of the statue was procured from the government of the Netherlands...The Holland Society of New York made the gift to Rutgers because the members deemed it “particularly fitting that the statue should stand on the ground of the educational institution
Spanish troops had not been withdrawn despite the peace, Spanish courtiers were being made councilors of state, and sterner measures were being authorized against Protestants. William and other important nobles protested.”(Potter) According to a primary source document located in the Archives and Special Collections Department at the Rutgers University library, a folder of primary source documents titled “Rutgers Buildings and Grounds” obtains an article written by Daniel Y. Brink, a pastor at Kirkpatrick Chapel, states “in the 16th century, the King of Spain Philip II sent an army under the ruthless Duke of Alva to stamp out growing Protestant movement and to assert the Spanish authority...the people of the Netherlands suffered terribly under the cruelties of the invaders and ten thousand persons were put to death” Calvinism, a branch of Protestantism also started to have an influence in the Netherlands. Their leaders not supporting their faith, and trying to constantly diminish it were angering the Dutch. This revolt was the start of an Eighty Years War. Unfortunately according to a novel, Aloud to Alma Mater by George J. Lukac, a chapter titled “William the Silent” by Warren Sloat, states that “William died at the hands of an assassin.” (Sloat 148) Eventually after years of fighting for freedom from Spanish rule, the