Talk:Dutch Republic

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It would be nice to have pulp references for further reading, or external links. I would like to know more about the problems associated with the Dutch Republic. I am reading Thomas Jefferson's autobiography and he has a Dr. Rush citing 3 reasons for the decay of liberty in the Dutch republic: 1) requisite unanimity on all decisions; 2) obligation to consult constituents on all matters; and 3) voting with each 'staadt' or state having an equal voice.

Hmmmm... ~Lije

Well, these were standard objections against the Republic in the 17th century. However it defeated Habsburgs, Stuarts and Bourbons (i.e. all the major absolutist dynasties) in this period. Dutch decline, such as it was, was simply caused by the fact that former Dutch superiority was based on a more modern way of living. When other countries adopted its culture, its relative advantage disappeared. The Dutch couldn't care less. They even applauded being annexated by Napoleon: so much more opportunity to influence the French! Today The Greater Netherlands are still the central metroplex of European civilisation, with London and Paris as its suburbs. But we like to keep this a secret ;o)

--MWAK 21:34, 2 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Also in the 18th century. This ties to the "influences" section: yes, the Dutch constitutional system was a source of inspiration to the creators of the US Constitution. But in many ways that inspiration was "things to avoid" rather than "things to emulate". You can see this repeatedly in the Federalist papers, where the benefits of a strong central authority are advocated with references to the troubles that the Dutch got themselves into by not having one. Paul Koning 18:36, 12 April 2007 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Wrong link

The 5th paragraph the sentence "The Dutch dominated world trade in the 17th century", has world trade linked. While this would seem to be a good link, it is not, because world trade automatically redirects to the WTO( world trade organisation), and that article tells nothing about world trade history.

I replaced the link with "History of international trade". Markussep 07:58, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Influences

I added this section, with just one paragraph on the influence the Dutch Republics had on the founders of the U.S. Constitution. I hope it deserved a new section; I didn't see it fitting in any existing section. What does everyone think?

It's a general category; feel free to add other influences. --Spiff666 13:40, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

I agree, but there's a very different viewpoint that should go there: the Federalist Papers repeatedly mention the "constitution" of the Dutch Republic as an example of a model to avoid. Paul Koning 23:51, 4 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] More than one

If my history is right, it is not only that what is today the Netherlands, was once called the United Provinces, but also what is today Argentina, besides a territory in former British Indian Empire, the United_Provinces_of_Agra_and_Oudh, renamed as "Uttar Pradesh" (or the "Northern Province") after Indian independence.

You're right. Argentina was called the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata once. Robk 14:46, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Some additional information

It is a little simple to depict the separation between the Spanish Netherlands and the United provinces by writing that the provinces in the south did not revolt. In fact, the revolution was going on everywhere. Large cities in the south like Ghent and Antwerp were completely protestant and did not accept the reign of the Spanish king either. A key moment is the capture of Antwerp (17 august 1585) by the Spanish. Antwerp was the economic center of the Low Countries and one of the best defended cities. Farnese of Parma, leader of the Spanish troops, first tried to conquer the town by a monthly long blockade. He failed as the city could be supplied over the estuary of the river Scheldt. The only solution was thus a direct attack. Farnese managed to conquer the town, but not the estuary of the river Scheldt. The protestant troops blocked the harbour of Antwerp, impeding all economic activities and making de facto an end to the golden century of Antwerp. After the capture of Antwerp a massive exodus of people from the south towards the north took place. All traders and intellectuals were protestant and did not want to live under the reign of a catholic king. A lot of them find a new home in Amsterdam. This is were the golden century of Amsterdam takes its start. The blockade of Antwerp would continue until Napoleon conquered Antwerp, making the Spanish (and later on Austrian) Netherlands one of the poorest regions of Europe and a battlefield for many small and big wars.

Christophe Janssens (Belgium)

[edit] Origin of name of Wall Street

From the Wall Street article:

The name of the street derives from the fact that during the 17th century, it formed the northern boundary of the New Amsterdam settlement where the Dutch had constructed a crude wall of timber and earthwork in 1652. The wall was ostensibly meant as a defense against attack from Lenape Indians, New England colonists, and the British, but it was never tested in battle. The wall was dismantled by the British in 1699.

From the Dutch Republic article:

While the banking system evolved in the Low Countries, it was quickly incorporated to the well-connected English, stimulating the English economic output. The legacy of this new banking system can still be heard through a well-respected name in the financial world of today; it is a name that is based on these original financial traders: the Walloons made the voyage to New Amsterdam too, and their name is connected to the street where they started their trading: Wall Street — today's largest stock market in the world. The Dutch word for Walloon is Waal (Wall).

Anybody know which is correct? -EDM 01:35, 7 January 2006 (UTC)

My understanding is that it was named for the wall. john k 15:19, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Capital

The table at the right side suggests that Amsterdam was the capital city of the Dutch Republic. Since the provinces of the Republic were all sovereign entities, there was no official capital. Amsterdam was the most imporant city of the Netherlands at that time, that's true, but the executive and legislative powers resided at The Hague (in fact, they still do). Therefore, it is better to either remove the capital from the table or replace Amsterdam with The Hague. Robk 14:45, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

Good point, and the Dutch version of the article agrees with your observation. I've changed it to match what it says. Thanks! Paul Koning 16:26, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Incorrect Map

The map in the infobox is incorrect as far as it does include: modern Belgium, modern Luxembourg, parts of modern Indonesia, parts modern South-Africa, etc.

The current map in the infobox includes only the modern territory of the Netherlands.

These territories were never part of the Dutch Republic. Belgium and Luxembourg were the Southern Netherlands under Spanish and later Austrian souvereignty. The Cape Colony, Dutch Indies etc. were private possession of the VOC, and not incorporated into the Dutch Republic. Maartenvdbent 09:38, 1 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Common name

I don't agree that the common name should be "Netherlands". Consider the title "Rise of the Dutch Republic" -- the book by John Lothrop Motley.

If the issue is that the common name is used to link to things like the flag, then the template should give a way to override that; if there isn't one then the right answer is to fix the template. (Or for a workaround, a redirect could be created.)

Paul Koning 10:50, 11 June 2007 (UTC)

The common name does not appear in the template no one sees it unless the click edit its the function the infobox uses for successor states for example the Irish Free State uses the common name Ireland there is no need to change it. --Barryob Vigeur de dessus 12:31, 11 June 2007 (UTC)
Ah.. thanks for setting me straight. I withdraw my comment. Paul Koning 13:53, 11 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Inquisition

There's disagreement among contributors right now whether the Inquisition should be mentioned.

I put it back in, citing a source that mentions it prominently. That text has just been deleted, with the comment "If Motley says that he's wrong".

It seems to me this is not the correct way to handle the disagreement. If source A says one thing and source B disagrees, the article should say just that -- it should mention that there is disagreement on the item in question and cite the two sources with the opposing viewpoints.

I believe that's the way this is normally handled in Wikipedia, after all that's how you get to a "neutral point of view".

Paul Koning (talk) 11:57, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

I have no problem with describing the judicial institutions created by Charles V for the suppression of Protestantism with the word "Inquisition" - and in fact, the word "Inquisition" was not used in article mainspace: the word "persecution" was used, and bluelinked to Spanish Inquisition. I do have a problem with linking to "Spanish Inquisition", as the Spanish Inquisition was a specific tribunal (or set of tribunals) which never had any jurisdiction in the Low Countries. I'd be very surprised if Motley claimed otherwise, but since you seem to have Motley on your shelf, can you quote a couple of his phrases to see how they differ from Geyl's perspective (namely that "the monarch arrogated to himself complete control over the clerical heresy-hunters")? Specifically, the form of Inquisition instituted by Charles V was a mixed tribunal of theological advisers and jurists seconded from the Raad van Brabant or the Hof van Holland, to make sure that the secular power remained in control. The Spanish Inquisition, not to mention the Roman Inquisition, the Portuguese Inquisition, or the episcopal inquisitions of the Middle Ages, were tribunals of a far more clerical nature, so if you do want to put the word "inquisition" into article mainspace you shouldn't do so without clarifying it; be aware that you can't link to Spanish Inquisition for clarification because you would be misrepresenting (rather than clarifying) the facts, and you can't even link to Inquisition until you edit that article so that it also covers this type of tribunal.
Alongside this particular Inquisition, episcopal tribunals continued to operate (rather ineffectively, even after the new bishoprics were founded); while to try to keep some sort of ecclesiastical independence with regard to who was considered a heretic the pope also appointed an Inquisitor Apostolic (who couldn't actually do anything unless the local courts backed him up). So there were actually three types of tribunal that can legitimately be described as an Inquisition (none of them as "Spanish Inquisition"), but the ordinary courts of law also took cognizance of heresy, as they were required to do by Charles V's heresy legislation, and many victims of persecution were victims not of any of the three possible inquisitions but of the Raad van Brabant, the Hof van Holland, Antwerp's Vierschaar, and so on - none of which can legitimately be described as an "inquisition". So persecution went far beyond any Inquisition, and even when conducted by an Inquisition was subject to governmental control: hence generalized "persecution", and primarily by "the Government", rather than "the Church". See this --Paularblaster (talk) 12:51, 17 December 2007 (UTC)
Very nice explanation, thanks.
Yes, I have Motley on my shelf, but you can find the full text online at Project Gutenberg. In general, Motley uses the term "Inquisition" or "Espiscopal Inquisition" and indeed does not say "Spanish Inquisition" except when talking about the institution in Spain. However, he mades this observation:

he great cause of the revolt which, within a few years, was to break forth throughout the Netherlands; was the inquisition. ...
There has been a good deal of somewhat superfluous discussion concerning the different kinds of inquisition. The distinction drawn between the papal, the episcopal, and the Spanish inquisitions, did not, in the sixteenth century, convince many unsophisticated minds of the merits of the establishment in any of its shapes. However classified or entitled, it was a machine for inquiring into a man's thoughts, and for burning him if the result was not satisfactory.

Given how prominently the term "inquisition" is featured in the discussion of Dutch history, it seemed to me necessary to use the term. Granting that "Spanish Inquisition" is incorrect, so linking to it is wrong, the solution would seem to be either to be more explicit here, or to link to an article that describes the correct flavor of inquisition -- but not to excise the word entirely.
And still, I wonder, as Motley did, whether the distinction is not a distinction without a difference -- formally accurate but irrelevant to the victims burned by the Inquisition whatever its full name may have been.
Paul Koning (talk) 02:00, 18 December 2007 (UTC)
Well, clearly it made little practical difference at all to someone being burnt just how the tribunal that got them there operated, and whether it was an ecclesiastical or a secular court. But it made a great deal of difference to the jurists on the Raad van Brabant and the Hof van Holland (who saw heresy strictly in terms of obedience to the law on religion), and to the magistrates of the great cities (who generally didn't like burning people, but were determined that if it had to be done they should be the ones doing it), and to the canon lawyers (hence the pope's attempt to get an inquisitor of his own installed, alongside those of the bishops and the king). From a historian's point of view Motley's line is rather like saying "Bolsheviks, Maoists - same difference, they all did terrible things". I quite agree that the word "inquisition" would not be out of place in article mainspace - inquisitions of one sort or another were an important element in the background to the Revolt, and deleting the link to "Spanish Inquisition" was just a quick fix (I only spotted it because I was already editing "Church" to "Government": the fact that this was a policy driven by the royal will, first of Charles V and then of Philip II, was also an important element in the direction of the subsequent Revolt). To cite myself (from a list of causes of discontent): "The intensification of persecution after 1550 drove Calvinists to desperation while alienating the civic magistracies who saw inquisitors infringe upon their jurisdictions" (Paul Arblaster, A History of the Low Countries. Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006, p. 120.) --Paularblaster (talk) 09:34, 18 December 2007 (UTC)
Ok, I'll see what I can do. By the way, I forgot to mention that Motley also refers to the "papal inquisition", for example in speaking of the Edict of Worms:

The bloody edict, issued at Worms, without even a pretence of sanction by the estates, was carried into immediate effect. The papal inquisition was introduced into the provinces to assist its operations. The bloody work, for which the reign of Charles is mainly distinguished in the Netherlands, now began.

By the way, "inquisition" is mentioned three times in the Plakkaat van Verlatinghe, one of those three times as "Spanish Inquisition". I'll have to read it closely to see just what it says (16th century Dutch is tough...)
Paul Koning (talk) 12:03, 18 December 2007 (UTC)
Thanks, I'm glad someone else is doing it. Fear of the Spanish Inquisition (and the propagandistic use of that fear) is certainly also worth mentioning. The Act of Abjuration (to some extent rightly) accuses Philip of establishing the new bishoprics in order to make inquisitorial procedures more effective; it goes on to say that this was ("as everybody knows") a way of smuggling in the ("always odious") Spanish Inquisition - but that rather stretches the point. --Paularblaster (talk) 12:37, 18 December 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Francis van Aarssens

Can anybody tell me what Francis van Aarssens is doing so prominently in the "see also" part. It seems quite out of place to me. Joost 99 (talk) 21:34, 16 February 2008 (UTC)


[edit] Equal states?

As far as I know my history the states were only equal in theory. In practice Holland dictated policy with bland disregard of the other states. This article gives the false impression that the Dutch republic was somewhat like the USA, but it was not.

129.125.103.83 (talk) 20:26, 8 May 2008 (UTC)

Why not open an account, so we know whom we are talking to? But as to your point: it is a complicated matter. See First Stadtholderless Period for a treatment of the controversy about who was "boss" and during which era. It was not cut and dried. If there is any doubt that the Republic was more like the US under the Continental Congress than under the current US constitution, just look at Federalist Paper No. 20. But who says all current US states are equal?:-)--Ereunetes (talk) 20:17, 7 June 2008 (UTC)