 The title was used for the official tasked with maintaining peace and provincial order in the early Dutch Republic and, at times, became "de facto" head of state of the Dutch Republic during the 16th to 18th centuries, which was an effectively hereditary role.For the last half century of its existence, it became an officially hereditary role under Prince William IV of Orange.His son, Prince William V of Orange, was the last "stadtholder" of the republic, whose own son, King William I of the Netherlands, became the first king of the Netherlands.