John William Friso became the titular Prince of Orange in 1702. He was stadtholder of Friesland until his death by drowning in the Hollands Diep in 1711. He was the son of Henry Casimir II, Prince of Nassau-Dietz, and Henriëtte Amalia van Anhalt-Dessau. As such, he was a member of the House of Nassau and through the testamentary dispositions of William III became the progenitor of the new line of the House of Orange-Nassau. With the death of William III, Prince of Orange, the legitimate direct male line of William the Silent (the 2nd House of Orange) became extinct. John William Friso, the senior agnatic descendant of William the Silent's brother and a cognatic descendant of Frederick Henry, grandfather of William III, claimed the succession as stadtholder in all provinces held by William III. This was denied to him by the republican faction in the Netherlands.... More • http://en.wikipedia. ... _of_Orange View • Books • Images • Videos • Search Related • Royalty • Enlightenment • Netherlands • Orange-Nassau • Rulers • 17th Century • 18th Century