Sicco van Goslinga
Encyclopedia
Sicco van Goslinga was a Dutch statesman and diplomat, who served as gedeputeerde te velde (deputy-in-the-field, a kind of political commissar
) of the States-General
of the Dutch Republic
with John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
during his campaigns in Flanders
in the War of the Spanish Succession
. His memoirs form an important source of information for historians of the period.
, at Ballum, Friesland, on June 12, 1692. They had five daughters one of whom, Anna Dodonea, would marry Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer
.
and the University of Utrecht he became Grietman
of Franekeradeel
in 1688, a function he would hold until his death. This made him a regent
and put him in line for all kinds of functions on a provincial level in the province of Friesland. He also represented that province in the States-General and in the Raad van State (Council of State) on many occasions (see "List of functions" in the External Links).
As a member of the Council of State (which was the most important executive organ of the Republic in the military field, especially after the Second Stadtholderless Period
had started) he became a gedeputeerde te velde for Friesland at the headquarters of the Duke of Marlborough from 1706 until the Duke's dismissal in 1711. As such he was charged with advising the Duke, and with keeping an eye on him, as agreed when Marlborough was made lieutenant-captain-general of the army of the Republic in 1702. The Dutch deputies-in-the-field had the right to veto the Duke's tactical decisions if they thought the interests of the Republic demanded it, and this had led to much friction with Marlborough in previous years. Goslinga, however, proved cooperative generally and managed to provide a positive contribution during the battles of Ramillies
, Oudenaarde
, and Malplaquet
.
Though not a general, he was authorized to give orders to Dutch commanders at these battles. At the Battle of Oudenaarde he took it upon himself to throw a Dutch division into battle at a decisive moment. Another incident had him personally ordering up reinforcements at the battle of Malplaquet, when the second Dutch assault on the left flank faltered. To illustrate the good rapport between the Duke and Goslinga, Churchill mentions the anecdote in which they shared the Duke's cloak to sleep on after the battle of Ramillies . Though Churchill
has no high opinion of Goslinga's military abilities he nevertheless extensively used his memoirs as a source.
Goslinga served as plenipotentiary
for the Republic at the peace negotiations, leading up to the Treaty of Utrecht (1713). After the conclusion of the peace he served as extraordinary envoy of the Republic to the court of Louis XIV of France
in 1714 and 1715. In 1728 he represented the Republic at the congress of Soissons
about outstanding European diplomatic issues (like the status of Gibraltar
).
Until his death he was involved in Dutch politics. He supported the appointment of William IV, Prince of Orange
as stadtholder
of Groningen
in 1719.
Political commissar
The political commissar is the supervisory political officer responsible for the political education and organisation, and loyalty to the government of the military...
) of the States-General
States-General of the Netherlands
The States-General of the Netherlands is the bicameral legislature of the Netherlands, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The parliament meets in at the Binnenhof in The Hague. The archaic Dutch word "staten" originally related to the feudal classes in which medieval...
of the Dutch Republic
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...
with John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Prince of Mindelheim, KG, PC , was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reigns of five monarchs through the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
during his campaigns in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
in the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
. His memoirs form an important source of information for historians of the period.
Family Life
Goslinga married Jeanette (Joanne) Isabelle baroness thoe Schwartzenberg und Hohenlansberg, vrijvrouwe of AmelandAmeland
Ameland is a municipality and one of the West Frisian Islands off the north coast of the Netherlands. It consists mostly of sand dunes. It is the third major island of the West Frisians. It neighbours islands Terschelling to the West and Schiermonnikoog to the East...
, at Ballum, Friesland, on June 12, 1692. They had five daughters one of whom, Anna Dodonea, would marry Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer
Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer
Unico Willem van Wassenaer, Count of the Empire, was a Dutch diplomat and composer....
.
Career
After studies at the University of FranekerUniversity of Franeker
The University of Franeker was a university in Franeker, Friesland, presently part of the Netherlands. It was the second oldest university of the Netherlands, founded shortly after Leiden University....
and the University of Utrecht he became Grietman
Grietman
A grietman is partly a forerunner of the current rural mayor in the province of Friesland, and partly the forerunner of a judge. The area of jurisdiction was the municipality or gemeente...
of Franekeradeel
Franekeradeel
Franekeradeel is a municipality in the northern Netherlands. It was created in 1984 by combining an earlier Franekeradeel municipality with the city of Franeker and parts of the former municipality of Barradeel...
in 1688, a function he would hold until his death. This made him a regent
Regenten
In the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, the regenten were the rulers of the Dutch Republic, the leaders of the Dutch cities or the heads of organisations . Though not formally a hereditary "class", they were de facto "patricians", comparable to that ancient Roman class...
and put him in line for all kinds of functions on a provincial level in the province of Friesland. He also represented that province in the States-General and in the Raad van State (Council of State) on many occasions (see "List of functions" in the External Links).
As a member of the Council of State (which was the most important executive organ of the Republic in the military field, especially after the Second Stadtholderless Period
Second Stadtholderless Period
The Second Stadtholderless Period or Era is the designation in Dutch historiography of the period between the death of stadtholder William III on March 19, 1702 and the appointment of William IV, Prince of Orange as stadtholder and captain general in all provinces of the Dutch Republic on May 2,...
had started) he became a gedeputeerde te velde for Friesland at the headquarters of the Duke of Marlborough from 1706 until the Duke's dismissal in 1711. As such he was charged with advising the Duke, and with keeping an eye on him, as agreed when Marlborough was made lieutenant-captain-general of the army of the Republic in 1702. The Dutch deputies-in-the-field had the right to veto the Duke's tactical decisions if they thought the interests of the Republic demanded it, and this had led to much friction with Marlborough in previous years. Goslinga, however, proved cooperative generally and managed to provide a positive contribution during the battles of Ramillies
Battle of Ramillies
The Battle of Ramillies , fought on 23 May 1706, was a major engagement of the War of the Spanish Succession. For the Grand Alliance – Austria, England, and the Dutch Republic – the battle had followed an indecisive campaign against the Bourbon armies of King Louis XIV of France in 1705...
, Oudenaarde
Battle of Oudenarde
The Battle of Oudenaarde was a key battle in the War of the Spanish Succession fought on 11 July 1708 between the forces of Great Britain, the Dutch Republic and the Holy Roman Empire on the one side and the French on the other...
, and Malplaquet
Battle of Malplaquet
The Battle of Malplaquet, fought on 11 September 1709, was one of the main battles of the War of the Spanish Succession, which opposed the Bourbons of France and Spain against an alliance whose major members were the Habsburg Monarchy, Great Britain, the United Provinces and the Kingdom of...
.
Though not a general, he was authorized to give orders to Dutch commanders at these battles. At the Battle of Oudenaarde he took it upon himself to throw a Dutch division into battle at a decisive moment. Another incident had him personally ordering up reinforcements at the battle of Malplaquet, when the second Dutch assault on the left flank faltered. To illustrate the good rapport between the Duke and Goslinga, Churchill mentions the anecdote in which they shared the Duke's cloak to sleep on after the battle of Ramillies . Though Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
has no high opinion of Goslinga's military abilities he nevertheless extensively used his memoirs as a source.
Goslinga served as plenipotentiary
Plenipotentiary
The word plenipotentiary has two meanings. As a noun, it refers to a person who has "full powers." In particular, the term commonly refers to a diplomat fully authorized to represent his government as a prerogative...
for the Republic at the peace negotiations, leading up to the Treaty of Utrecht (1713). After the conclusion of the peace he served as extraordinary envoy of the Republic to the court of Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
in 1714 and 1715. In 1728 he represented the Republic at the congress of Soissons
Congress of Soissons
The Congress of Soissons was a diplomatic conference held between a number of European powers, but principally Great Britain and Spain between June 1728 and July 1729 in the French town of Soissons....
about outstanding European diplomatic issues (like the status of Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
).
Until his death he was involved in Dutch politics. He supported the appointment of William IV, Prince of Orange
William IV, Prince of Orange
William IV, Prince of Orange-Nassau , born Willem Karel Hendrik Friso, was the first hereditary stadtholder of the Netherlands.-Early life:...
as 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...
of Groningen
Groningen (province)
Groningen [] is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen , in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea...
in 1719.