(no subject)

[naath]

Two oranges today.

Died on this day in 1702 aged 51 King William II of Scotland & III of England(my toy,wikipedia)

Born on this day in 1748 to Prince William IV of Orange and Princess Anne, Prince William V of Orange (my toy,wikipedia). Grandson of George II.

I'm quite confused about why the Principality or Orange ended up in different hands to England, but my brain is fried from running so I can't figure it out.

Comments

[recessional]

From network:

Because William III and Mary, Queen of England had no children, and the English only barely accepted William declaring himself king rather than being a good little prince consort, so the throne went to Mary's sister Anne, and thence to the Electors of Hanover when Anne also had no surviving children.

[naath]

Ah, of course.

[ilanin.livejournal.com]

William III had no children, so the House of Orange became extinct. The English reverted to the Stuarts since, as far as they were concerned, William III was basically a Stuart by marriage - Parliament actually put it in the Bill of Rights that Anne was next in line after William and Mary's children; but being William's sister-in-law doesn't give Anne a claim to be his successor.

One might actually argue that the British monarchy is at least partially elective rather than dynastic, inasmuch as Parliament is clearly able to change the succession laws whenever it actually feels like it, and has in the past done so in such a way as to actually name the next monarch.