Albertus Henricus Wiese
Encyclopedia
Albertus Henricus Wiese (1761 - 1810) was Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies
from 1805 to 1808, during which time the United Provinces
became, during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, first of all the Batavian Republic
and then the (Napoleonic) Kingdom of Holland
. Dutch possessions in the Indies
were under pressure from other European powers, particularly Great Britain
, while local kings and princes took the opportunity of troubled times to try to reassert themselves. Weakness of control from the homeland led to a growth of corruption, nepotism
and even lawlessness in the Dutch East Indies
. It was a difficult time for any Governor-General
.
Albert Wiese was born in Germany
, in Bremen
in 1761. He served as Governor-General during the last years of the Batavian Republic and the early years of the Kingdom of Holland. During his time in office the British invaded Java
. To reassert control, the government sent the revolutionary General Daendels
, who promptly took over from Wiese and tried to drive out the British. A (much) later Governor-General, and Minister for the Colonies, Johannes van den Bosch
, was adjutant-general under Governor-General Wiese.
Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies
The Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies represented the Dutch rule in the Dutch East Indies between 1610 and Dutch recognition of the independence of Indonesia in 1949.The first Governors-General were appointed by the Dutch East India Company...
from 1805 to 1808, during which time the United Provinces
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...
became, during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, first of all 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....
and then the (Napoleonic) Kingdom of Holland
Kingdom of Holland
The Kingdom of Holland 1806–1810 was set up by Napoleon Bonaparte as a puppet kingdom for his third brother, Louis Bonaparte, in order to better control the Netherlands. The name of the leading province, Holland, was now taken for the whole country...
. Dutch possessions in the Indies
Indies
The Indies is a term that has been used to describe the lands of South and Southeast Asia, occupying all of the present India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and also Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, the Philippines, East Timor, Malaysia and...
were under pressure from other European powers, particularly Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, while local kings and princes took the opportunity of troubled times to try to reassert themselves. Weakness of control from the homeland led to a growth of corruption, nepotism
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....
and even lawlessness in the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
. It was a difficult time for any Governor-General
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
.
Albert Wiese was born in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, in Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
in 1761. He served as Governor-General during the last years of the Batavian Republic and the early years of the Kingdom of Holland. During his time in office the British invaded Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
. To reassert control, the government sent the revolutionary General Daendels
Herman Willem Daendels
Herman Willem Daendels was a Dutch politician who served as the 36th Governor General of the Dutch East Indies between 1808 and 1811....
, who promptly took over from Wiese and tried to drive out the British. A (much) later Governor-General, and Minister for the Colonies, Johannes van den Bosch
Johannes van den Bosch
Johannes, Count van den Bosch was a Dutch Lieutenant General and politician.-Biography:...
, was adjutant-general under Governor-General Wiese.
Sources
- Translation from Dutch Wikipedia article.