Quote Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat View Post
The Netherlands started as...a proud Republic. This is what brought them their fame and wealth. The Netherlands has been a republic for longer than it has been a monarchy. The first ever monarch of the Netherlands was.....Napoleon's brother. That's right. Napoleon turned the Netherlands into a monarchy.
Is this what they teach you in the finest schools in France?

Before we decided we'd had enough of them, we went through a bunch of dukes, kings and emperors. Three fine Charleses come to mind: Charlemagne, Charles the Bold and Charles V. None of them effeminate wusses like Louis XIV. Whatshisname, the only Valois ever to rule us, was a total failure.

Napoleon's brother Louis turned out to be an excellent choice, by the way. His smart and humane rule restored some confidence in the idea of monarchy in the country. But the restoration of the Oranges (and their elevation to absolute kingship) after Vienna was short-lived. In 1848 our then prime-minister send king William II a letter, saying that if he didn't want to go the way of Louis Philippe in France he had better accept a constitution and the principle of ministerial responsibility. Since then the Oranges have done a great job of opening shops, kicking off football matches and - brilliantly symbolic of their position - driving around in a Gilded Coach whilst waving at the public.