The opening of the year 1579 saw Orange and Parma face to face preparing to measure their strength in a grim struggle for the mastery.
In the very same month as witnessed the signing of the Union of Arras, a rival union had been formed in the northern Netherlands, which was destined to be much more permanent.

The real author however of the Union of Utrecht was not Orange, but his brother, John of Nassau.

In March, 1578, John had been elected Stadholder of Gelderland.

He, like William, had devoted himself heart and soul to the cause of Netherland freedom, but his Calvinism was far more pronounced than his brother's.

From the moment of his acceptance of the stadholdership he set to work to effect a close union between Holland, Zeeland and Utrecht with Gelderland and the adjoining districts which lay around the Zuyder Zee.