Willem van Oldenbarnevelt
Encyclopedia
Willem van Oldenbarnevelt, lord of the Stoutenburg (1590 – before 1638) was a son of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt. He was born in The Hague
, where he was baptised at the court-chapel in November 1590.
He first served as a captain of an Overijssel
company of the Dutch republican army.
He left for Paris in late 1607, together with his brother Reinier van Oldenbarnevelt
, for his Grand Tour
, an educational journey abroad in order to complete his study at the Dutch university, but also to become familiar with the morals of the higher classes in other countries. The influential ambassador François Aerssen was the guardian of the two young brothers. After only a few weeks into their journey they were invited to the court of King Henry IV of France
. Reinier did not stay long in Paris, and soon returned to the Netherlands in order to marry. Willem enjoyed himself in Paris so much with the game Jeu de Paume
, that van Aerssen sent worried letters to the Netherlands, writing that Willem was neglecting his mathematics study there. Johan van Oldenbarnevelt was not pleased with this, and he let it be known that he would like to see Willem being given a post at the French court. On August 7, 1608, Willem was appointed a gentleman-ordinary of King Henry IV, which gave him a salary of 3000 Dutch guilders, a post that was probably given for political reasons. Nonetheless, William remained a passionate fan of Jeu de Paume
, and wasted his entire salary at the tennis court.
On May 7, 1611 he was knighted by King James I of England
, and a few days later, on May 30, he was made Captain at Bergen op Zoom
. On December 22, 1613 he was made a Knight of the Order of the Garter
by James I
, probably also for political reasons. In 1616 Willem van Oldenbarnevelt married Walburch van Marnix van Sint-Aldegonde, granddaughter of Philip van Marnix van Sint-Aldegonde. He was appointed governor of Bergen op Zoom in 1617 thanks to mediation by his father.
After the execution of his father on May 13, 1619, he was removed from his functions, and was left destitute by the seizure of the possessions of his father, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt. Willem conspired with amongst others his brother Reinier van Oldenbarnevelt
and the Remonstrant preacher Hendrick Danielsz Slatius to assassinate Maurice of Orange, who was responsible for the death of his father. They hired a number of sailors for 400 guilders to carry out the attack. The assassination was to take place on February 7, 1623, but the plan leaked out one day early. Reinier van Oldenbarnevelt was arrested and beheaded in The Hague
. Willem managed to escape to Brussels
, which was controlled by the Spaniards. Later, letters sent by him to Hugo de Groot were found, which he wrote in the period from January 23, 1626 to 9 December, 1633. These letters showed that Willem had hoped to one day return to the Republic
, that he had remained a Protestant and had not taken service in the Spanish army. His testament, however, showed that he had become Catholic and had entered service in the Spanish army. His wife had not fled with him to Brussels, but did send him money every year. Willem wrote about this that his wife to her ability sent a yearly pension to her not-used-to-poverty husband.
The date of his death is unknown, but since his wife remarried in 1638, it is believed he died before this date. Willem van Oldenbarnevelt and his wife had one child, Pieter Van Stoutenburg.
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, where he was baptised at the court-chapel in November 1590.
He first served as a captain of an Overijssel
Overijssel
Overijssel is a province of the Netherlands in the central eastern part of the country. The region has a NUTS classification of NL21. The province's name means "Lands across river IJssel". The capital city of Overijssel is Zwolle and the largest city is Enschede...
company of the Dutch republican army.
He left for Paris in late 1607, together with his brother Reinier van Oldenbarnevelt
Reinier van Oldenbarnevelt
Reinier van Oldenbarnevelt, lord of Groeneveld, was the son of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt. In 1607 he visited Paris with his brother Willem van Oldenbarnevelt as part of their Grand tour, and they were received at the court of king Henry IV of France. He married Anna Weytsen, lady of Brandwijk and...
, for his Grand Tour
Grand Tour
The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transit in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational rite of passage...
, an educational journey abroad in order to complete his study at the Dutch university, but also to become familiar with the morals of the higher classes in other countries. The influential ambassador François Aerssen was the guardian of the two young brothers. After only a few weeks into their journey they were invited to the court of King Henry IV of France
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
. Reinier did not stay long in Paris, and soon returned to the Netherlands in order to marry. Willem enjoyed himself in Paris so much with the game Jeu de Paume
Jeu de paume
Jeu de paume is a ball-and-court game that originated in France. It was an indoor precursor of tennis played without racquets, though these were eventually introduced. It is a former Olympic sport, and has the oldest ongoing annual world championship in sport, first established over 250 years ago...
, that van Aerssen sent worried letters to the Netherlands, writing that Willem was neglecting his mathematics study there. Johan van Oldenbarnevelt was not pleased with this, and he let it be known that he would like to see Willem being given a post at the French court. On August 7, 1608, Willem was appointed a gentleman-ordinary of King Henry IV, which gave him a salary of 3000 Dutch guilders, a post that was probably given for political reasons. Nonetheless, William remained a passionate fan of Jeu de Paume
Jeu de paume
Jeu de paume is a ball-and-court game that originated in France. It was an indoor precursor of tennis played without racquets, though these were eventually introduced. It is a former Olympic sport, and has the oldest ongoing annual world championship in sport, first established over 250 years ago...
, and wasted his entire salary at the tennis court.
On May 7, 1611 he was knighted by King James I of England
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
, and a few days later, on May 30, he was made Captain at Bergen op Zoom
Bergen op Zoom
Bergen op Zoom is a municipality and a city located in the south of the Netherlands.-History:Bergen op Zoom was granted city status probably in 1266. In 1287 the city and its surroundings became a lordship as it was separated from the lordship of Breda. The lordship was elevated to a margraviate...
. On December 22, 1613 he was made a Knight of the Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
by James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
, probably also for political reasons. In 1616 Willem van Oldenbarnevelt married Walburch van Marnix van Sint-Aldegonde, granddaughter of Philip van Marnix van Sint-Aldegonde. He was appointed governor of Bergen op Zoom in 1617 thanks to mediation by his father.
After the execution of his father on May 13, 1619, he was removed from his functions, and was left destitute by the seizure of the possessions of his father, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt. Willem conspired with amongst others his brother Reinier van Oldenbarnevelt
Reinier van Oldenbarnevelt
Reinier van Oldenbarnevelt, lord of Groeneveld, was the son of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt. In 1607 he visited Paris with his brother Willem van Oldenbarnevelt as part of their Grand tour, and they were received at the court of king Henry IV of France. He married Anna Weytsen, lady of Brandwijk and...
and the Remonstrant preacher Hendrick Danielsz Slatius to assassinate Maurice of Orange, who was responsible for the death of his father. They hired a number of sailors for 400 guilders to carry out the attack. The assassination was to take place on February 7, 1623, but the plan leaked out one day early. Reinier van Oldenbarnevelt was arrested and beheaded in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. Willem managed to escape to 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...
, which was controlled by the Spaniards. Later, letters sent by him to Hugo de Groot were found, which he wrote in the period from January 23, 1626 to 9 December, 1633. These letters showed that Willem had hoped to one day return to the 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...
, that he had remained a Protestant and had not taken service in the Spanish army. His testament, however, showed that he had become Catholic and had entered service in the Spanish army. His wife had not fled with him to Brussels, but did send him money every year. Willem wrote about this that his wife to her ability sent a yearly pension to her not-used-to-poverty husband.
The date of his death is unknown, but since his wife remarried in 1638, it is believed he died before this date. Willem van Oldenbarnevelt and his wife had one child, Pieter Van Stoutenburg.