Batavian revolution
Encyclopedia
The term Batavian revolution refers to the political, social and cultural turmoil that marked the end of the Dutch Republic
at the end of the 18th century. In the Netherlands, this era
is called, together with the Napoleonic era, the "French-Batavian era" (1795–1815) even though the time spanned was only 20 years, of which 3 were under French occupation.
Just like in other parts of Europe
a number of people in the Dutch Republic wanted a more honest government and a more equal society. Society became divided between the Orangists
, who supported stadtholder
William V, Prince of Orange
, and the Patriots
who, under influence of the American Revolution
and the ideas of the Enlightenment
, wanted a more democratic government.
The country found itself in a deep economic crisis, caused by the British
declaration of war following Dutch recognition of the American
independence. The Fourth Anglo-Dutch War
(1780-1784) was devastating to Dutch trade and industry.
In 1786 and 1787 the situation escalated. The Patriots, who wanted to recreate the successes of the Dutch Golden Age
, founded "Rifler's societies" ("schuttersgenootschappen"
), small groups of men who practised firing rifle
s.
Between 1783 and 1787 these armed civilians managed to take over several cities and regions. In 1785 the stadtholder William V, Prince of Orange
left the west of the country for Nijmegen in the east, as the States of Holland
were not willing to send their troops to fight the Patriots. Only after William's brother-in-law, the king of Prussia
, sent an army of 26,000 men to the republic, the authority of the stadtholder was restored.
But the restoration was only temporary. The Patriots continued their activities, be it in secret meetings or as political refugees in Northern France
. In 1789 the French revolution had started, and the French were determined to spread this revolution over the rest of Europe
.
In late December 1794, French
and Dutch Patriot troops under general Charles Pichegru
marched across the frozen rivers of the Republic. The Patriots knew this was the moment of truth, and they proclaimed the Batavian Republic
. William V fled to England
where he proclaimed that all Dutch colonies were to fall under British rule as they had declared war on the Batavian Republic. A number of these colonies never returned to Dutch rule such as Sri Lanka
and South Africa
.
Several coups followed in 1798, 1801 and 1805 which brought different groups of Patriots to power. The last ruler of the Batavian Republic was Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck
.
The Batavian revolution ended in 1806 when the Kingdom of Holland
was founded with Napoleon
's brother, Louis Napoleon
as King.
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...
at the end of the 18th century. In the Netherlands, this era
Era
An era is a commonly used word for long period of time. When used in science, for example geology, eras denote clearly defined periods of time of arbitrary but well defined length, such as for example the Mesozoic era from 252 Ma–66 Ma, delimited by a start event and an end event. When used in...
is called, together with the Napoleonic era, the "French-Batavian era" (1795–1815) even though the time spanned was only 20 years, of which 3 were under French occupation.
Just like in other parts of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
a number of people in the Dutch Republic wanted a more honest government and a more equal society. Society became divided between the Orangists
Orangism (Netherlands)
Orangism is a monarchist political support for the House of Orange-Nassau as monarchy of the Netherlands. It played a significant role in the political history of the Netherlands since the Dutch revolt...
, who supported 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...
William V, Prince of Orange
William V, Prince of Orange
William V , Prince of Orange-Nassau was the last Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, and between 1795 and 1806 he led the Government of the Dutch Republic in Exile in London. He was succeeded by his son William I...
, and the Patriots
Patriots (faction)
The Patriots were a political faction in the Dutch Republic in the second half of the 18th century. They were led by Joan van der Capellen tot den Pol, gaining power from November 1782....
who, under influence of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
and the ideas of the Enlightenment
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
, wanted a more democratic government.
The country found itself in a deep economic crisis, caused by the British
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...
declaration of war following Dutch recognition of the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
independence. The Fourth Anglo-Dutch War
Fourth Anglo-Dutch War
The Fourth Anglo–Dutch War was a conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Dutch Republic. The war, tangentially related to the American Revolutionary War, broke out over British and Dutch disagreements on the legality and conduct of Dutch trade with Britain's enemies in that...
(1780-1784) was devastating to Dutch trade and industry.
In 1786 and 1787 the situation escalated. The Patriots, who wanted to recreate the successes of the Dutch Golden Age
Dutch Golden Age
The Golden Age was a period in Dutch history, roughly spanning the 17th century, in which Dutch trade, science, military and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. The first half is characterised by the Eighty Years' War till 1648...
, founded "Rifler's societies" ("schuttersgenootschappen"
Exercitiegenootschap
An exercitiegenootschap or militia was a military organisation in the 18th century Netherlands, in the form of an armed private organization with a democratically chosen administration, aiming to train the citizens and the lower bourgeoisie in use of muskets...
), small groups of men who practised firing rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
s.
Between 1783 and 1787 these armed civilians managed to take over several cities and regions. In 1785 the stadtholder William V, Prince of Orange
William V, Prince of Orange
William V , Prince of Orange-Nassau was the last Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, and between 1795 and 1806 he led the Government of the Dutch Republic in Exile in London. He was succeeded by his son William I...
left the west of the country for Nijmegen in the east, as the 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...
were not willing to send their troops to fight the Patriots. Only after William's brother-in-law, the king of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, sent an army of 26,000 men to the republic, the authority of the stadtholder was restored.
But the restoration was only temporary. The Patriots continued their activities, be it in secret meetings or as political refugees in Northern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. In 1789 the French revolution had started, and the French were determined to spread this revolution over the rest of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
In late December 1794, French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
and Dutch Patriot troops under general Charles Pichegru
Charles Pichegru
Jean-Charles Pichegru was a French general and political figure of the French Revolution and Revolutionary Wars.-Early life and career:...
marched across the frozen rivers of the Republic. The Patriots knew this was the moment of truth, and they proclaimed 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....
. William V fled to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
where he proclaimed that all Dutch colonies were to fall under British rule as they had declared war on the Batavian Republic. A number of these colonies never returned to Dutch rule such as Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Several coups followed in 1798, 1801 and 1805 which brought different groups of Patriots to power. The last ruler of the Batavian Republic was 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....
.
The Batavian revolution ended in 1806 when the 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...
was founded with Napoleon
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
's brother, Louis Napoleon
Louis Bonaparte
Louis Napoléon Bonaparte, Prince Français, Comte de Saint-Leu , King of Holland , was the fifth surviving child and the fourth surviving son of Carlo Buonaparte and Letizia Ramolino...
as King.