Stadholders (18th century)
In his will William III left all his estates and titles to his kinsman, Johan Willem Friso (1687-1711), of the Frisian branch of the family.
But the will was challenged by King Frederick William I of Prussia, Frederik Hendrik’s grandson. Agreement still had not been reached when Johan Willem Friso drowned in the Hollands Diep on his way to The Hague to negotiate a settlement.
His widow, Maria Louisa of Hesse-Kassel (1688-1765), succeeded in upholding the status of the House of Orange-Nassau. In 1732 she reached an agreement with the Prussians about the inheritance. This agreement laid the basis for the marriage in 1734 of her son, Prince William IV (1711-1751) and Princess Anna of Hanover (1709-1759), daughter of King George II of Great Britain.