National government Politics and government of the Dutch Republic

1 national government

1.1 states-general
1.2 council of state
1.3 admiralties
1.4 stadtholderate
1.5 charted companies

national government
states-general

the states-general (staten-generaal in dutch) or generality (generaliteiten) short descendant of medieval burgundian , habsburg states-generals. in medieval times , under habsburgs, met infrequently discuss matters of common interest , vote taxes benefit of dukes of burgundy , habsburg heirs. @ first states-general thought of extraordinary body. after abjuration of king in 1581 , separation of northern netherlands spanish dominions, states-general replaced king supreme authority , central government of northern netherlands, became known united provinces. alluded above, ad hoc arrangement since no prince anger spain accepting sovereignty on provinces. years went by, , confidence of governing regents , princes of orange grew, desire ruled foreign prince diminished. 1593, states-general met daily, including on sundays, between 11 , 1, and, after variation in earlier years, came sit in binnenhof, in hague, near states of holland.

organigramme of government of dutch republic.

the style of address states-general codified johan de witt in 1653 noble mightinesses, lords states-general or, in dutch, den heeren hoog-mogenden, den heeren staten-generaal der verenigde provinciën der nederlanden).

each province allowed 1 vote in states-general, , republic continued practice. each province send many representatives chose. however, size of meeting room limited size of delegations. representatives appointed term provincial estates , not directly elected. neither empowered vote on own decision. referrals provincial estates decision on how vote frequent. system worked when talented councilor pensionary or stadtholder (prince of orange) able arrange consensus ahead of time. meetings held around large conference table in binnenhof (the former palace of counts of holland), in hague, central location , allowed easy travel , forth other provinces. since states of holland met in same palace, communication between them , delegates states-general frequent, increasing influence. each province served presiding officer of states-general in turn. given weak executive structure, , necessity refer business detailed review, proceedings dominated councillor pensionary of holland representative of largest province, informed , prepared official. representatives of holland other provinces defer expertise. ·  ·  ·

the binnenhof in hague, center of dutch political life.

the states-general conducted foreign relations, declared war , peace, administered army , navy, , levied tariffs. in short, exclusively concerned affairs concerned outward , common concerns of republic. had negligible power internally, jealously guarded provincial states. ·  ·

one of important tasks of states-general appointment of commander of republic s armies, captain general of union. appointment life. william silent acted chief commander of army eminent person , leader of rebellion, never formalised. son, maurice appointed captain-general counterpose leicester. dutch fortunate in in maurice turned out military genius , foremost commander of age. after that, matter of course incumbent prince of orange appointed captain general. ability of princes deliver victory , protect republic enemies lead of political power , ability provide clear, effective centralised leadership. failure of latter princes, william iv , william v, live heritage consequently led large diminution of power internally. ·  ·

once budget year set (as might expected subject of negotiation), percentage paid treasury of generality set tradition. largest, populous, , richest province, holland paid 58.3% of required budget. ability provide proportion of generality s funds gave states of holland (and seen below city of amsterdam , ruling burghers) preponderance in government. zeeland contributed 10% budget, friesland 11.7%, utrecht 5.8%, gelderland 3.6%, , overijssel , groningen 3.5% each. poorer , more landward provinces accessed less. · treasury of generality administered official appointed states-general, treasurer-general. chaired treasury chamber of generality (rekenkamer) , kept books. there receiver-general, collected taxes contributions of member provinces. 1 of key problems in receiver-general had no authority enforce payment treasury, , of poorer provinces in arrears. ·

the generality lands, amounted twenty percent of new republic s territory, not assigned provincial council , had been conquered since 1581 spanish. under direct rule of generality, , not allowed send representatives states-general. such, these territories had no vote in states-general.

council of state

the council of state (raad van state) of generality functioned executive committee of union, , carried out executive functions. descended councils of states formed burgundian dukes , habsburgs. incarnation formed when leicester became governor-general. after departure, made subordinate states-general, , functioned subcommittee of it. formulated budget, organised , financed army , navy (although naval policy set council of admiralty, below), , levied taxes throughout union. consisted of twelve members, appointed provinces two, three, or 4 years, depending on province, prince of orange. these members tended provinces representatives states-general, council subordinate it. councillors, contrary general practice, voted individually, not province. each councillor presided in turn. · members fixed tradition to:

coat of arms of states-general of united provinces( states /staten) of netherlands. lion arrows, sword, , crown part of coat of arms of netherlands.



the prince of orange captain-general of union s army , admiral-general of navy.
gelderland - 2 councilors
holland - 3 councilors, 1 of councillor pensionary of holland.
zeeland - 2 councilors
utrecht - 2 councilors
friesland - 1 councilor
overijssel - 1 councilor
groningen - 1 councilor ·

admiralties

the administration of navy of union , supervision of naval affairs centred in committee of states-general, council of admiralty. responsible setting naval policy , budget. · members appointed states general , consisted of:

the prince of orange admiral-general of union (again, lifetime employment).
the lieutenant admiral-general of union - second admiral-general, , effective operational commander of navy important when there no admiral-general/prince of orange appointed. michael de ruyter served lt. admiral in time.
the councillor-pensionary of holland, influence here greater in army, , paramount when there no prince of orange. johan de witt commanded navy through position.
others appointed

for day-to-day administration of navy, there 3 different subordinate admiralties: admiralty of rotterdam, representing holland s southern quarter, admiralty of amsterdam, representing northern quarter (1587), , admiralty of zeeland, based in middelburg. separate admiralty of noorderkwartier based in hoorn , enkhuizen later established. in 1597, states of friesland established admiralty of friesland, based in harlingen. on 14 june 1597 states-general, approved proposal in foundation of generaliteitscollege decided upon; replaced earlier navy board, collegie superintendent, of maurice of nassau, prince of orange (admiral-general since 1588) had been head, had been dissolved in 1593 result of disputes between provinces. generaliteitscollege loose cooperation between 5 autonomous admiralties represented in it. each admiralty had own hierarchy. however, ships , money came amsterdam, , after rotterdam , zeeland. situation tended lead divided command in battle , duplication of efforts, resolved strong prince of orange or councilor pensionary. ·  ·

dutch attack on medway, june 1667 pieter cornelisz van soest c. 1667. captured ship royal charles right of centre.



the royal prince , other vessels @ 4 days fight, 11–14 june 1666 (abraham storck) depicts battle of second anglo-dutch war. in foreground swiftsure berkeley sinks. on right grounded prince royal admiral ayscue surrenders firing white smoke; de ruyter on zeven provinciën accepts. in between royal charles can seen broken mast. arms of provinces , states-general can seen on sternpiece of zeven provinciën.


stadtholderate

one common confusion office of stadtholder national one. not. ·  · stadtholder had been appointed sovereign (the dukes of burgundy or habsburgs) in each province representative, although traditionally holland, zeeland , utrecht had same stadholder. having 3, habsburgs prevented 1 becoming powerful. in absence of sovereign, provincial estates appointed stadtholder. · term of office life. while held incumbent prince of orange, not made hereditary until time of william iv. · however, prince of orange not appointed servant of each of provincial states, councillor pensionary was, nor not noble among equals in netherlands. first, traditional leader of nation in war , in rebellion against spain direct descendant of william silent, father of fatherland . uniquely able transcend local issues of cities, towns , provinces. prince of orange, sovereign ruler in own right. gave him great deal of prestige, in republic. center of real court stuarts , bourbons, french speaking, , extravagant scale. natural foreign ambassadors , dignitaries present him , consult him states general officially credited. marriage policy of princes, allying twice royal stuarts, gave them acceptance royal caste of rulers. leaders in individual provinces states-general looked him leadership , guidance. strong prince of orange (those of 17th century) make institutions of republic work efficiently. weak prince of orange (those of 18th century) contribute weakness of government , republic.

charted companies

the dutch east india company , dutch west india company, quasi governmental organisations, under general supervision along provincial , city boards of governors of corporations. staten island in new york city (originally new amsterdam) , staten island, argentina (discovered dutchman jacob le maire), among places named after staten-generaal.