Jacob Dircksz de Graeff
Encyclopedia
Jacob Dircksz de Graeff was one of the most illustrious members of the De Graeff
family. He was a powerful member of the States Faction, regent
and mayor
of Amsterdam
after the political collapse of Reinier Pauw in 1627.
In the mid 17th century, during the Dutch Golden Age
, De Graeff controlled the city's politics in close cooperation with his nephew Andries Bicker
. Together with Bicker he was also the leader of the Arminian
faction of the city. Jacob de Graeff was very critical of the Orange family's influence. He was a member of a family of regents who belonged to the republican
political movement also referred to as the ‘state oriented’, as opposed to the Royalist
s.
and later in Amsterdam, in the Niezel, a small street not far from the Oude Kerk.
During the Dutch Golden Age
, the De Graeff family were very critical of the Orange family’s influence in the Netherlands. Together with the Republican-minded brothers Andries
, Cornelis and Jan Bicker
, the De Graeffs strived for the abolition of stadtholder
ship. They desired the full sovereignty of the individual regions in a form in which the Republic of the United Seven Netherlands
was not ruled by a single person. Instead of a sovereign (or stadtholder) the political and military power was lodged with the States General and with the regents of the cities in Holland. Jacob De Graeffs two sons Cornelis
and Andries de Graeff
became the strongest dutch regents during the First Stadtholderless Period
.
As a member of the De Graeff family and regent-mayor of Amsterdam Jacob held the titles as Lord of the semisouverain
fief of Zuid-Polsbroek
, Lord of Sloten, Nieuwer-Amstel, Osdorp
and Amstelveen
.
Jacob was also chieflandholder of the Zijpe
- en Hazepolder, Watergraafs- and Wiemermeer.
at Leiden University
. In 1597 he married to Aaltje Boelens Loen, and among the couple's children were Cornelis, Andries and Agneta de Graeff van Polsbroek
, the mother of Johan de Witt
's wife Wendela Bicker. De Graeff was a merchant, and in 1598 became Schepen
(alderman), from 1603 a member of the Vroedschap
and from 1613-38 mayor of Amsterdam six times. He was first named as mayor of Amsterdam in 1611.
During his councillorship in the States of Holland and West Friesland (1615–1617) De Graeff get sympathy with Oldenbarnevelt. In 1618, as regent-mayor of Amsterdam, Jacob de Graeff was deeply involved in the political crisis that engulfed the Oldenbarnevelt
regime and brought about its fall. Amsterdam was one of the Holland cities whose regents
were partisans of the Remonstrants
and had agitated for the Sharp Resolution of 1617 which authorized city governments to raise private armies, called waardgelders. The Counter-Remonstrants (enemies of the Remonstrants) opposed this, and the stadtholder
, Maurice of Nassau
viewed this policy as a challenge to his authority as commander-in-chief of the States Army. On 23 August 1618, by order of the States-General, Oldenbarnevelt and his chief supporters such as Hugo Grotius
, Gilles van Ledenberg
, Rombout Hogerbeets
were arrested. Jacob de Graeff lost his political position in the government for some years. After the political collapse of the royalist Reinier Pauw in 1627 De Graeff returned to power again. During the late 1620s and the 1630s he controlled the city's politics in close cooperation with his nephew Andries Bicker
.
De Graeff's tomb chapel is found in the Oude Kerk. After his death his son Cornelis
and the hardcore republican brothers Andries and Cornelis Bicker took over his role on the council
.
De Graeff
De Graeff is an old Dutch patrician family. The family have played an important role during the Dutch Golden Age. They were at the centre of Amsterdam public life and oligarchy from 1578 until 1672...
family. He was a powerful member of the States Faction, 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 mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
after the political collapse of Reinier Pauw in 1627.
In the mid 17th century, during 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...
, De Graeff controlled the city's politics in close cooperation with his nephew Andries Bicker
Andries Bicker
Andries Bicker was a wealthy merchant on Moscovia, a member of the vroedschap, the leader of the Arminians, an administrator of the VOC, representative of the States-General of the Netherlands and colonel in the Civic guard...
. Together with Bicker he was also the leader of the Arminian
Arminianism
Arminianism is a school of soteriological thought within Protestant Christianity based on the theological ideas of the Dutch Reformed theologian Jacobus Arminius and his historic followers, the Remonstrants...
faction of the city. Jacob de Graeff was very critical of the Orange family's influence. He was a member of a family of regents who belonged to the republican
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
political movement also referred to as the ‘state oriented’, as opposed to the Royalist
Royalist
A royalist supports a particular monarch as head of state for a particular kingdom, or of a particular dynastic claim. In the abstract, this position is royalism. It is distinct from monarchism, which advocates a monarchical system of government, but not necessarily a particular monarch...
s.
Family de Graeff
Jacob de Graeff was the son of Diederik Jansz. Graeff and Agnies Pietresdr van Neck. He grew up in EmdenEmden
Emden is a city and seaport in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems. It is the main city of the region of East Frisia; in 2006, the city had a total population of 51,692.-History:...
and later in Amsterdam, in the Niezel, a small street not far from the Oude Kerk.
During 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...
, the De Graeff family were very critical of the Orange family’s influence in the Netherlands. Together with the Republican-minded brothers Andries
Andries Bicker
Andries Bicker was a wealthy merchant on Moscovia, a member of the vroedschap, the leader of the Arminians, an administrator of the VOC, representative of the States-General of the Netherlands and colonel in the Civic guard...
, Cornelis and Jan Bicker
Jan Bicker
Jan Gerritsz. Bicker was a member of the Bicker family, an influential patricianfamily from Amsterdam. The son of Gerrit Bicker, he was a shipbuilder and merchant in Amsterdam. His trade was mainly focussed on the Levant. Jan Bicker was the cities inspector of the ropes, and in 1647 he became...
, the De Graeffs strived for the abolition of 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...
ship. They desired the full sovereignty of the individual regions in a form in which the Republic of the United Seven Netherlands
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...
was not ruled by a single person. Instead of a sovereign (or stadtholder) the political and military power was lodged with the States General and with the regents of the cities in Holland. Jacob De Graeffs two sons Cornelis
Cornelis de Graeff
Cornelis de Graeff, also Cornelis de Graeff van Polsbroek was the most illustrious member of the De Graeff family. He was a mayor of Amsterdam from the Dutch Golden Age and a powerful Amsterdam regent after the sudden death of stadholder William II of Orange...
and Andries de Graeff
Andries de Graeff
Free Imperial Knight Andries de Graeff was a very powerful member of the Amsterdam branch of the De Graeff - family during the Dutch Golden Age. He became a mayor of Amsterdam and a powerful Amsterdam regent after the death of his older brother Cornelis de Graeff...
became the strongest dutch regents during the First Stadtholderless Period
First Stadtholderless Period
The First Stadtholderless Period or Era is the period in the history of the Dutch Republic in which the office of a Stadtholder was absent in five of the seven Dutch provinces...
.
As a member of the De Graeff family and regent-mayor of Amsterdam Jacob held the titles as Lord of the semisouverain
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
fief of Zuid-Polsbroek
Free and high fief of Zuid-Polsbroek
The Free and high Fief of Zuid-Polsbroek was a semi-sovereign or 'free and high' fief, now part of Polsbroek in the Dutch province of Utrecht.- History of the semisouverain fief :...
, Lord of Sloten, Nieuwer-Amstel, Osdorp
Osdorp
Osdorp is a borough of Amsterdam, The Netherlands in North Holland. Osdorp has 45,627 residents. There is also an original area which is now called Oud Osdorp which is in Sloten.Since 2001 there has been major modernisation in Osdorp.-Transport:...
and Amstelveen
Amstelveen
' is a suburban municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is part of the metropolitan area of Amsterdam. The municipality of Amstelveen consists of the following villages and/or districts: Amstelveen, Bovenkerk, Westwijk, Bankras-Kostverloren, Groenelaan, Waardhuizen,...
.
Jacob was also chieflandholder of the Zijpe
Zijpe
-Population centres :The municipality of Zijpe consists of the following cities, towns, villages and/or districts: Burgerbrug, Burgervlotbrug, Callantsoog, Groote Keeten, Oudesluis, Petten, Schagerbrug, Sint Maartensbrug, Sint Maartensvlotbrug, 't Zand....
- en Hazepolder, Watergraafs- and Wiemermeer.
Career
De Graeff studied Classical languageClassical language
A classical language is a language with a literature that is classical. According to UC Berkeley linguist George L. Hart, it should be ancient, it should be an independent tradition that arose mostly on its own, not as an offshoot of another tradition, and it must have a large and extremely rich...
at Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
. In 1597 he married to Aaltje Boelens Loen, and among the couple's children were Cornelis, Andries and Agneta de Graeff van Polsbroek
Agneta de Graeff van Polsbroek
Agneta de Graeff van Polsbroek , was a patrician woman from the Dutch Golden Age. She became famous as the mother-in-law of Johan de Witt....
, the mother of Johan de Witt
Johan 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...
's wife Wendela Bicker. De Graeff was a merchant, and in 1598 became Schepen
Schepen
A schepen is a Dutch word referring to a municipal civic office in Dutch-speaking countries. The term is still in use in Belgium, but it has been replaced by wethouder in the Netherlands. The closest English terms are alderman, member of the municipal executive, councillor and magistrate,...
(alderman), from 1603 a member of the Vroedschap
Vroedschap
The vroedschap was the name for the city council in the early modern Netherlands; the member of such a council was called a vroedman, literally a "wise man"...
and from 1613-38 mayor of Amsterdam six times. He was first named as mayor of Amsterdam in 1611.
During his councillorship in the States of Holland and West Friesland (1615–1617) De Graeff get sympathy with Oldenbarnevelt. In 1618, as regent-mayor of Amsterdam, Jacob de Graeff was deeply involved in the political crisis that engulfed the Oldenbarnevelt
Oldenbarnevelt
* Johan van Oldenbarnevelt* Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, a ship* Reinier van Oldenbarnevelt...
regime and brought about its fall. Amsterdam was one of the Holland cities whose regents
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...
were partisans of the Remonstrants
Remonstrants
The Remonstrants are the Dutch Protestants who, after the death of Jacobus Arminius, maintained the views associated with his name. In 1610 they presented to the States of Holland and Friesland a remonstrance in five articles formulating their points of disagreement from Calvinism.-History:The five...
and had agitated for the Sharp Resolution of 1617 which authorized city governments to raise private armies, called waardgelders. The Counter-Remonstrants (enemies of the Remonstrants) opposed this, and the 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...
, Maurice of Nassau
Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange
Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange was sovereign Prince of Orange from 1618, on the death of his eldest half brother, Philip William, Prince of Orange,...
viewed this policy as a challenge to his authority as commander-in-chief of the States Army. On 23 August 1618, by order of the States-General, Oldenbarnevelt and his chief supporters such as Hugo Grotius
Hugo Grotius
Hugo Grotius , also known as Huig de Groot, Hugo Grocio or Hugo de Groot, was a jurist in the Dutch Republic. With Francisco de Vitoria and Alberico Gentili he laid the foundations for international law, based on natural law...
, Gilles van Ledenberg
Gilles van Ledenberg
Gilles van Ledenberg was a Dutch statesman. He was secretary of the States of Utrecht from 1588 until his arrest for treason in 1618, together with Johan van Oldenbarnevelt. He committed suicide to prevent forfeiture of his assets, but he was sentenced to death posthumously and posthumously...
, Rombout Hogerbeets
Rombout Hogerbeets
Rombout Hogerbeets was a Dutch jurist and statesman. He was tried for treason, together with Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, Hugo Grotius, and Gilles van Ledenberg during the political crisis of 1617-1618 in the Dutch Republic, and sentenced to life-imprisonment...
were arrested. Jacob de Graeff lost his political position in the government for some years. After the political collapse of the royalist Reinier Pauw in 1627 De Graeff returned to power again. During the late 1620s and the 1630s he controlled the city's politics in close cooperation with his nephew Andries Bicker
Andries Bicker
Andries Bicker was a wealthy merchant on Moscovia, a member of the vroedschap, the leader of the Arminians, an administrator of the VOC, representative of the States-General of the Netherlands and colonel in the Civic guard...
.
De Graeff's tomb chapel is found in the Oude Kerk. After his death his son Cornelis
Cornelis de Graeff
Cornelis de Graeff, also Cornelis de Graeff van Polsbroek was the most illustrious member of the De Graeff family. He was a mayor of Amsterdam from the Dutch Golden Age and a powerful Amsterdam regent after the sudden death of stadholder William II of Orange...
and the hardcore republican brothers Andries and Cornelis Bicker took over his role on the council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
.
Literature
- Elias, Johan E. (1903–1905) De vroedschap van Amsterdam, 1578-1795, p. 266
- Lademacher, Horst Phönix aus der Asche? Politik und kultur der niederländischen Republik im Europa des 17. Jahrhunderts, Münster (2007, Waxmann Verlag), p. 228
- Israel, Jonathan I. (1995) The dutch Republic - It’s Rise, Greatness, and Fall - 1477-1806, Clarendon Press, Oxford, ISBN 978-0-19-820734-4
- Burke, P. (1994) Venice and Amsterdam. A study of seventeenth-century élites.