Pug History-William the Silent and Pompey

 Professor Tubby here

Two days ago, April 24, marked an important day in puggie history,  the birth date, in 1553 of William the Silent.





The Prince of Orange and an important political leader.  Whose life just happened to be saved by a pug, one Pompey.


William was a leader in the Dutch struggle against the Spanish King.   His opposition set off a revolt against Spain which lead to the eighty years war and the eventual establishment of Dutch Republic.






The outcome of the war, the fate of the Dutch Republic, and modern European History might all be very different if it wasn't for little Pompey.  William regularly took his beloved Pompey to the battle front and one night Spanish assassins attempted to sneak up to the Prince's tent.   Pompey  heard them, and either fearing for his master's life or hoping that the visitors where bearing midnight snacks,  began barking furiously.  The assassination attempt was foiled and a grateful William honored Pompey's bravery by making the pug  the official dog of the House of Orange.  


William's mausoleum in St. Ursula's church in Delft depicts Pompey reclining at his  master's feet.  I looked and looked but my puggy eyes could not make out little Pompey in this photo, but my Internet search assure me he is there.





The House of Orange's devotion to pugs continued after William's death and when his successor William the Third became joint ruler of England through his marriage to Mary II  their pugs attended the coronation in velvet ribbons.  The enduring popularity of the pug in England, and America, is due in no small part to the heroic efforts of Pompey, an inspiration for pugs everywhere.