Grand Pensionary
Encyclopedia
The Grand Pensionary was the most important Dutch official during the time of the United Provinces
. In theory he was only a civil servant of the Estates of the dominant province among the Seven United Provinces: the county of Holland
. In practice the Grand Pensionary of Holland was the political leader of the entire Dutch Republic when there was no stadtholder
(in practice the Prince of Orange
) at the centre of power.
The Dutch name raad(s)pensionaris literally translates as "pensionary of council". Indeed, other provinces could also have a raadspensionaris, e.g. Zeeland
, but only the one of Holland was considered by foreign powers to be of any importance, so they called him the Grand Pensionary.
The position of the Grand Pensionary was in many ways similar to what through later political and constitutional developments came to be a Prime Minister
.
. When there was a stadtholder, then the Grand Pensionary was often the second leader of the republic. Being the raadspensionaris of Holland, the Grand Pensionary acted as the chairman of States of Holland
. He was appointed by the Estates and could be fired instantly by the Estates. A decision of the Estates was made by a summarizing of all the statements of the delegates by the Grand Pensionary, with an implicit conclusion about what collective decision had been made. He had the first say on a subject during a meeting of the Estates and controlled the agenda. This way, if he was a competent man, he could control the entire decision-making process, especially as one of his "duties" was to represent the ten members of the Nobility delegates (the Ridderschap) in their absence and phrase the single opinion they as a body had the right to express. The office existed because all delegates of the States were, although ranked according to ancient feudal hierarchy, still basically equal (pares) and none among them could thus act as a head.
The Batavian Republic
first abolished the office but in its last year, 1805-1806, the title had to be reinstituted on orders of Napoleon as part of a number of measures to strengthen the executive power; Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck
thus acted for a short time as the last Grand Pensionary. He officially functioned as a president of the entire Republic, not just of Holland.
, who held the office between 1653 and 1672. Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, who played an extremely important role in the Dutch struggle for independence should also be mentioned, though he held the position when it was still called Land's Advocate.
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
. In theory he was only a civil servant of the Estates of the dominant province among the Seven United Provinces: the county of Holland
County of Holland
The County of Holland was a county in the Holy Roman Empire and from 1482 part of the Habsburg Netherlands in what is now the Netherlands. It covered an area roughly corresponding to the current Dutch provinces of North-Holland and South-Holland, as well as the islands of Terschelling, Vlieland,...
. In practice the Grand Pensionary of Holland was the political leader of the entire Dutch Republic when there was no stadtholder
Stadtholder
A Stadtholder A Stadtholder A Stadtholder (Dutch: stadhouder [], "steward" or "lieutenant", literally place holder, holding someones place, possibly a calque of German Statthalter, French lieutenant, or Middle Latin locum tenens...
(in practice the Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the Principality of Orange, in what is now southern France. In French it is la Principauté d'Orange....
) at the centre of power.
The Dutch name raad(s)pensionaris literally translates as "pensionary of council". Indeed, other provinces could also have a raadspensionaris, e.g. Zeeland
Zeeland
Zeeland , also called Zealand in English, is the westernmost province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the south-west of the country, consists of a number of islands and a strip bordering Belgium. Its capital is Middelburg. With a population of about 380,000, its area is about...
, but only the one of Holland was considered by foreign powers to be of any importance, so they called him the Grand Pensionary.
The position of the Grand Pensionary was in many ways similar to what through later political and constitutional developments came to be a Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
.
The Office of Grand Pensionary
The office started in 1619 and replaced the title of Land's AdvocateLand's Advocate of Holland
The Land's Advocate of Holland acted as the chairman of the States of Holland. The office started in the early 14th century and ended in 1619, when the title was renamed into Grand Pensionary. He was the speaker of the nobility of Holland and had the first say on a subject during a meeting of the...
. When there was a stadtholder, then the Grand Pensionary was often the second leader of the republic. Being the raadspensionaris of Holland, the Grand Pensionary acted as the chairman of States of Holland
States of Holland
The States of Holland and West Frisia were the representation of the two Estates to the court of the Count of Holland...
. He was appointed by the Estates and could be fired instantly by the Estates. A decision of the Estates was made by a summarizing of all the statements of the delegates by the Grand Pensionary, with an implicit conclusion about what collective decision had been made. He had the first say on a subject during a meeting of the Estates and controlled the agenda. This way, if he was a competent man, he could control the entire decision-making process, especially as one of his "duties" was to represent the ten members of the Nobility delegates (the Ridderschap) in their absence and phrase the single opinion they as a body had the right to express. The office existed because all delegates of the States were, although ranked according to ancient feudal hierarchy, still basically equal (pares) and none among them could thus act as a head.
The Batavian Republic
Batavian Republic
The Batavian Republic was the successor of the Republic of the United Netherlands. It was proclaimed on January 19, 1795, and ended on June 5, 1806, with the accession of Louis Bonaparte to the throne of the Kingdom of Holland....
first abolished the office but in its last year, 1805-1806, the title had to be reinstituted on orders of Napoleon as part of a number of measures to strengthen the executive power; Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck
Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck
Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck , Lord of Nyenhuis, Peckedam and Gellicum, was a Dutch politician of the Batavian Republic and an investor in the Holland Land Company....
thus acted for a short time as the last Grand Pensionary. He officially functioned as a president of the entire Republic, not just of Holland.
Notable Grand Pensionaries
The most famous and most significant Grand Pensionary was Johan de WittJohan de Witt
Johan de Witt, heer van Zuid- en Noord-Linschoten, Snelrewaard, Hekendorp and IJsselveere was a key figure in Dutch politics in the mid 17th century, when its flourishing sea trade in a period of globalization made the United Provinces a leading European power during the Dutch Golden Age...
, who held the office between 1653 and 1672. Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, who played an extremely important role in the Dutch struggle for independence should also be mentioned, though he held the position when it was still called Land's Advocate.