Bartholda van Swieten
Encyclopedia
Bartholda van Swieten was a Dutch noble and diplomat
who acted as official mediary between the Netherlands
and the Spanish Netherlands from 1615 until 1629. She is the subject of fiction, a play and the Dutch novel Een haagsche joffer (1856). Her career as a diplomat was highly unusual for her gender in 17th-century Europe.
Daughter of Adriaan van Swieten (1532–1584), governor
of Gouda
, and Josina van Naaldwijk (1540–1575). Married in 1588 to Floris T'Serclaes (1540–1612), bailiff
of Schoonhoven
. She was a Catholic and belonged to a family who left the south after having sided with the Protestants, but after the peace of 1609 she travelled back and forth between the free and the Spanish Netherlands, as she had property in the Spanish Netherlands, where her daughters also lived.
Her frequent travels and good connections made her a popular messenger between the two territories, and in 1615, se was given the title General Director by the Netherlands when she was asked to handle an assignment regarding a valuable carpet. In 1621, she handled the negotiations between the ruler of the Netherlands, Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange
, and the regent of the Spanish Netherlands, Archduke Albert of Austria (1559–1621) in Brussels
, regarding the authority over some of the provinces. After this, she was regularly used as a diplomat and a messenger between the two courts; she was given the formal authority to issue negotiations about matters of state, and her expenses were covered by the state. In 1624, she was responsible for a negotiation regarding a prisoner exchange. Her last paid assignment was performed in 1629.
France was impressed by her ability, and Archduke Albert worked well with her, but Venice ridiculed her, and her assignments were rarely successful, as the tension between the two territories was too great at this point.
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
who acted as official mediary between the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and the Spanish Netherlands from 1615 until 1629. She is the subject of fiction, a play and the Dutch novel Een haagsche joffer (1856). Her career as a diplomat was highly unusual for her gender in 17th-century Europe.
Daughter of Adriaan van Swieten (1532–1584), governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Gouda
Gouda
Gouda is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. Gouda, which was granted city rights in 1272, is famous for its Gouda cheese, smoking pipes, and 15th-century city hall....
, and Josina van Naaldwijk (1540–1575). Married in 1588 to Floris T'Serclaes (1540–1612), bailiff
Bailiff
A bailiff is a governor or custodian ; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed...
of Schoonhoven
Schoonhoven
Schoonhoven is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality has a population of 12,195 , and covers an area of 6.96 km²...
. She was a Catholic and belonged to a family who left the south after having sided with the Protestants, but after the peace of 1609 she travelled back and forth between the free and the Spanish Netherlands, as she had property in the Spanish Netherlands, where her daughters also lived.
Her frequent travels and good connections made her a popular messenger between the two territories, and in 1615, se was given the title General Director by the Netherlands when she was asked to handle an assignment regarding a valuable carpet. In 1621, she handled the negotiations between the ruler of the Netherlands, Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange
Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange
Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange was sovereign Prince of Orange from 1618, on the death of his eldest half brother, Philip William, Prince of Orange,...
, and the regent of the Spanish Netherlands, Archduke Albert of Austria (1559–1621) in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, regarding the authority over some of the provinces. After this, she was regularly used as a diplomat and a messenger between the two courts; she was given the formal authority to issue negotiations about matters of state, and her expenses were covered by the state. In 1624, she was responsible for a negotiation regarding a prisoner exchange. Her last paid assignment was performed in 1629.
France was impressed by her ability, and Archduke Albert worked well with her, but Venice ridiculed her, and her assignments were rarely successful, as the tension between the two territories was too great at this point.