Rembrandt - The Night Watch (1642)
Dutch Republic (or the United Republic of the Seven Netherlands, or the United Provinces)
The Dutch "Golden Age"
The 17 Provinces (pre Dutch Republic)
The Dutch Revolt and the Eighty Years' War
Politics and Government of the Dutch Republic
List of Scientists and Philosophers of the Dutch "Golden Age"
Map of the Seven Provinces
The Duchy of Guelders (Gelderland in Dutch), The County of Holland, The County of Zeeland, The Lordship of Utrecht (formerly the Episcopal principality of Utrecht), The Lordship of Overijssel, The Lordship of Frisia, The Lordship of Groningen and Ommelanden.
The 17th century in the Dutch Republic is referred to as the "Golden Age." Dutch trade, science, and art flourished and the Dutch military was the most powerful in Europe. Wealth was abundant in the Protestant areas (mostly Calvinist) but not in the few Catholic cities.
The Dutch Republic was the most tolerant country in 17th century Europe. Controversial philosophers like Rene Descartes, Pierre Bayle, and even John Locke, took refugee there. But Dutch tolerance should not be exaggerated. Spinoza's works would be banned and Adriaan Koerbaugh would die in prison under charges of blasphemy.
Government in the Dutch Republic:
The Dutch Republic was a constitutional federation consisting of seven provinces. It was founded following the Dutch Revolt against the Habsburg King of Spain Philip II in 1568 led by William I of Orange, who became the first stadtholder. The Dutch Republic became independent in 1581, although subsequent wars continued (all apart of the Eighty Years' War that ended in 1648). The office of stadtholder gained increasing power over the course of several decades until William II died in 1650. The Dutch Empire begins its expansion.
Jan de Witt (1625 - 1672), Grand Pensionary of the United Provinces (1653 - 1672), was a fervent republican who ran the United Provinces as non-centralized as he could amidst growing the increasing calls for centralization. The period of his reign is known as the First Stadtholderless Period. The States General could only declare war and make international treaties. All other management was left to the individual provinces. De Witt allowed freedom of religious expression, within limits, and supported scientific study. The decentralizing influence was strongest in the wealthiest province, Holland. The Orange support came from the other provinces.
The Dutch Republic was attacked by France and England in 1672. The military function of stadtholder was no longer superfluous, and with the support of the Orangists, William III was restored, and he became the stadtholder. William successfully repelled the invasion and seized royal power. He became more powerful than his predecessors from the Eighty Years' War. Jan de Witt was forced to resign and then was executed along with his brother.
In 1677, William married his cousin Mary Stuart, the daughter of the future king James II of England. In 1688, William embarked on a mission to depose his Catholic father-in-law from the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland. He and his wife were crowned the King and Queen of England on April 11, 1689.
The Raphuis - A brutal tuchthuis (penal work house) in Amsterdam.
Religions in the Dutch Republic:
Dutch Reformed Church - Primarily Calvinists and some other reformers
Dutch Remonstrants: Protestants who, after the death of Jacobus Arminius, maintained the views associated with his name. In 1610, they presented to the States of Holland and Friesland a remonstrance in five articles formulating their points of disagreement with Calvinism.
Rijnsburg Collegiants (founded 1619) was a group of educated Christians very open to a wide variety of views. Over time they established meeting groups in several locations. Spinoza attended their meetings in Leiden between 1660 and 1663 when he began working on his Ethics.
Other minority religions: Quaker, Anabaptist, Mennonite, Jewish
Other Dutch thinkers:
Franciscus van den Enden (1602 - 1674) Spinoza's teacher
Adiaan Koerbaugh (1633 - 1669) was a radical free thinker whose ideas were very similar to Spinoza's. He criticized both the government and established religion. Koerbaugh was sentenced to 10 years in the Raphuis for blasphemy and died after a few months of incarceration.
A century later, leading Dutch democratic Patriots of the 1780s (late Enlightenment) include Pieter Paulus, Gerrit Paape, Irhoven van Dam, Pieter Vrede.
The Raphuis - A brutal tuchthuis (penal work house) in Amsterdam.
Religions in the Dutch Republic:
Dutch Reformed Church - Primarily Calvinists and some other reformers
Dutch Remonstrants: Protestants who, after the death of Jacobus Arminius, maintained the views associated with his name. In 1610, they presented to the States of Holland and Friesland a remonstrance in five articles formulating their points of disagreement with Calvinism.
Rijnsburg Collegiants (founded 1619) was a group of educated Christians very open to a wide variety of views. Over time they established meeting groups in several locations. Spinoza attended their meetings in Leiden between 1660 and 1663 when he began working on his Ethics.
Other minority religions: Quaker, Anabaptist, Mennonite, Jewish
Other Dutch thinkers:
Franciscus van den Enden (1602 - 1674) Spinoza's teacher
Adiaan Koerbaugh (1633 - 1669) was a radical free thinker whose ideas were very similar to Spinoza's. He criticized both the government and established religion. Koerbaugh was sentenced to 10 years in the Raphuis for blasphemy and died after a few months of incarceration.
A century later, leading Dutch democratic Patriots of the 1780s (late Enlightenment) include Pieter Paulus, Gerrit Paape, Irhoven van Dam, Pieter Vrede.
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