Background
Van Oldenbarnevelt was born on September 14, 1547 in Amersfoort, Netherlands.
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Johan van Oldenbarnevelt
Edit ProfileEducation
Van Oldenbarnevelt studied law at Leuven, Bourges, Heidelberg and Padua.
Career
Van Oldenbarnevelt was appointed prime minister of Holland in 1586 and remained a political leader until his death. Van Oldenbarnevelt cooperated with the Dutch stadholder Maurice of Nassau until they disagreed on the question of a truce with Spain, effected in 1609. Later Van Oldenbarnevelt became involved in the religious quarrel between strict Calvinists and Remonstrants (Arminians), supporting the mild doctrines of the latter. He was eventually arrested, accused of treason against the state because of his activities, condemned, and executed May 13, 1619. He has since that time come to be regarded by historians as one of the foremost European statesmen of his time.
Achievements
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Van Oldenbarnevelt was a lawyer, statesman, and, after William I the Silent, the second founding father of an independent Netherlands. He mobilized Dutch forces under William’s son Maurice and devised the anti-Spanish triple alliance with France and England (1596). In the Twelve Years’ Truce (1609) he reaffirmed Holland’s dominant role in the Dutch republic.
Politics
Van Oldenbarnevelt supported William the Silent in his revolt against Spain, and fought in William's army. In his later years he was a supporter of the Arminians, in the religious-political controversy which split the young Dutch Republic.
Connections
Van Oldenbarnevelt was married in 1575 to Maria van Utrecht. The couple had 2 sons.
References
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Born
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Died
May 13, 1619 (aged 71) -
Resting place
Court Chapel, Binnenhof, The Hague, Netherlands -
Nationality
Dutch -
Ethnicity
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Religion
Protestant