Johan Kievit
Encyclopedia
Johan Kievit was an Orangist
Rotterdam
Regent
, who may have been one of the instigators of the murder of former Grand Pensionary
Johan de Witt
, of the Dutch Republic
, and his brother Cornelis de Witt
on 20 August 1672, together with his brother-in-law, Cornelis Tromp
.
on 27 April 1653 when she was only 16 (and he 26). He practiced law before the Hof van Holland (the main law court of the province of Holland), before going into politics in 1659, when he became a member of the Rotterdam vroedschap
. In May 1666 he was appointed a member of the Gecommitteerde Raden (Committed Councillors - the Executive
) of the States of Holland and West Friesland.
, William III
, who had been excluded from high office by the States-Party regent faction of Johan de Witt during the First Stadtholderless Period
. As such he became involved in the treasonous correspondence of Henri de Fleury de Coulan
, lord of Buat, better known as "cavalry-captain Buat," with the English court of William's uncle Charles II of England
, during the Second Anglo-Dutch War
. Buat was executed for treason, but Kievit managed to escape to England. He was sentenced to death for his part in the conspiracy in absentia. In England he became a favorite of Charles who made him a baronet
.
Even before the conspiracy was discovered, Kievit was fired from his position in the gecommitteerde raden, because he published a libelous pamphlet, entitled Brief van den heer van Sommelsdijk ("Letter of Lord Sommelsdijk"), in which he defended his brother-in-law lieutenant-admiral Cornelis Tromp's conduct during the St. James's Day Battle
, disparaging lieutenant-admiral Michiel de Ruyter
at the same time.
("Year of disaster"). Because of the military disaster the De Witt regime was forced to retract the Perpetual Edict (1667)
and to appoint Prince William first Captain general
(in January), and later (in early July) Stadtholder
of Holland and Zeeland
. Kievit returned to the Republic and asked to be pardoned and get his office in the Rotterdam vroedschap back. He indeed received a full pardon, in August 1672, from the Prince (Johan de Witt had resigned his office of Grand Pensionary
on 4 August). This enabled him to take part in the conspiracy with his brother-in-law Cornelis Tromp (who held a grudge against De Witt, after having been dismissed from the navy in 1666 because of the quarrel with De Ruyter), and several members of the Hague civic militia, who were close associates of Kievit, against the De Witt brothers, which resulted in their lynching on 20 August 1672.
(who became baljuw of The Hague
), Kievit was rewarded for his crime by the new regime. He was first appointed Pensionary
of the city of Rotterdam. After only one year in this prestigious office he was appointed advocaat-fiscaal of the Admiralty of Rotterdam
. As such he supervised the collection of the customs duties (Convooien en licenten). This office apparently offered good possibilities for corrupt practices. Kievit was arrested on suspicion of embezzlement
in 1686 and after a lengthy trial in which his main defense was "that everybody did it," convicted and sentenced to banishment in 1689. However, his daughter Debora, who was married to a son of the governor-general of the Dutch East India Company
(VOC) in Batavia, Cornelis Speelman
, ransomed him for 20,000 guilders, which enabled him to live out his years in Rotterdam till his death in 1692.
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...
Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
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...
, who may have been one of the instigators of the murder of former Grand Pensionary
Grand Pensionary
The Grand Pensionary was the most important Dutch official during the time of the United Provinces. In theory he was only a civil servant of the Estates of the dominant province among the Seven United Provinces: the county of Holland...
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...
, 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...
, and his brother Cornelis de Witt
Cornelis de Witt
Cornelis de Witt was a Dutch politician.-Biography:Cornelis de Witt was a member of the old Dutch patrician family De Witt. He was born on 15 June 1623 in Dordrecht, Holland, Dutch Republic...
on 20 August 1672, together with his brother-in-law, Cornelis Tromp
Cornelis Tromp
Sir Cornelis Maartenszoon Tromp, 1st Baronet was a Dutch naval officer. He was the son of Lieutenant Admiral Maarten Tromp. He became Lieutenant Admiral General in the Dutch Navy and briefly Admiral General in the Danish Navy...
.
Early life
Johan Kievit (first name sometimes spelled Joan or Johannes; last name variously given as Kievidt or Kiewit) was the son of Nicolaas Kievit and Dieuwertje Pauw, both of well-known Rotterdam families. He married Alida Tromp, the daughter of lieutenant-admiral Maarten TrompMaarten Tromp
Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp was an officer and later admiral in the Dutch navy. His first name is also spelled as Maerten.-Early life:...
on 27 April 1653 when she was only 16 (and he 26). He practiced law before the Hof van Holland (the main law court of the province of Holland), before going into politics in 1659, when he became a member of the Rotterdam 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"...
. In May 1666 he was appointed a member of the Gecommitteerde Raden (Committed Councillors - the Executive
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
) of the States of Holland and West Friesland.
The Buat-conspiracy
Kievit was a partisan of the young Prince of OrangePrince of Orange
Prince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the Principality of Orange, in what is now southern France. In French it is la Principauté d'Orange....
, William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
, who had been excluded from high office by the States-Party regent faction of Johan de Witt 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 such he became involved in the treasonous correspondence of Henri de Fleury de Coulan
Henri de Fleury de Coulan
Henri de Fleury de Coulan, Sieur de Buat, St Sire et La Forest de Gay was a captain of horse in the army of the Dutch Republic, who became embroiled in a celebrated conspiracy during the First Stadtholderless Period to overthrow the regime of Grand Pensionary Johan de Witt in favor of future...
, lord of Buat, better known as "cavalry-captain Buat," with the English court of William's uncle Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
, during the Second Anglo-Dutch War
Second Anglo-Dutch War
The Second Anglo–Dutch War was part of a series of four Anglo–Dutch Wars fought between the English and the Dutch in the 17th and 18th centuries for control over the seas and trade routes....
. Buat was executed for treason, but Kievit managed to escape to England. He was sentenced to death for his part in the conspiracy in absentia. In England he became a favorite of Charles who made him a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
.
Even before the conspiracy was discovered, Kievit was fired from his position in the gecommitteerde raden, because he published a libelous pamphlet, entitled Brief van den heer van Sommelsdijk ("Letter of Lord Sommelsdijk"), in which he defended his brother-in-law lieutenant-admiral Cornelis Tromp's conduct during the St. James's Day Battle
St. James's Day Battle
The naval St James' Day Battle , the Battle of the North Foreland and the Battle of Orfordness) took place on 25 July 1666 — St James' day in the Julian calendar then in use in England , during the Second Anglo-Dutch War and was fought between fleets of England, commanded jointly by...
, disparaging lieutenant-admiral Michiel de Ruyter
Michiel de Ruyter
Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter is the most famous and one of the most skilled admirals in Dutch history. De Ruyter is most famous for his role in the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the 17th century. He fought the English and French and scored several major victories against them, the best known probably...
at the same time.
The murder of the De Witt brothers
When the Dutch Republic was attacked by France, England, and two German principalities in 1672, Kievit's political fortunes changed again. The attack caused a severe political crisis in the Dutch Republic during this RampjaarRampjaar
The rampjaar was the year 1672 in Dutch history. In that year,the Republic of the Seven United Provinces was after the outbreak of the Franco-Dutch War and the Third Anglo-Dutch War attacked by England, France, and the prince-electors Bernhard von Galen, bishop of Münster and Maximilian Henry of...
("Year of disaster"). Because of the military disaster the De Witt regime was forced to retract the Perpetual Edict (1667)
Perpetual Edict (1667)
The Perpetual Edict of August 5, 1667 was a resolution of the States of Holland in which they abolished the office of Stadtholder in the province of Holland...
and to appoint Prince William first Captain general
Captain General
Captain general is a high military rank and a gubernatorial title.-History:This term Captain General started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of commander in chief of an army in the field, probably the first usage of the term General in military settings...
(in January), and later (in early July) 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 Holland and Zeeland
Zeeland
Zeeland , also called Zealand in English, is the westernmost province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the south-west of the country, consists of a number of islands and a strip bordering Belgium. Its capital is Middelburg. With a population of about 380,000, its area is about...
. Kievit returned to the Republic and asked to be pardoned and get his office in the Rotterdam vroedschap back. He indeed received a full pardon, in August 1672, from the Prince (Johan de Witt had resigned his office of Grand Pensionary
Grand Pensionary
The Grand Pensionary was the most important Dutch official during the time of the United Provinces. In theory he was only a civil servant of the Estates of the dominant province among the Seven United Provinces: the county of Holland...
on 4 August). This enabled him to take part in the conspiracy with his brother-in-law Cornelis Tromp (who held a grudge against De Witt, after having been dismissed from the navy in 1666 because of the quarrel with De Ruyter), and several members of the Hague civic militia, who were close associates of Kievit, against the De Witt brothers, which resulted in their lynching on 20 August 1672.
Later career
Like other conspirators, such as Johan van BanchemJohan van Banchem
Johan van Banchem was one of the leaders of the lynching of Johan de Witt and Cornelis de Witt on August 20, 1672. He was rewarded for this crime with an appointment as baljuw of The Hague by Stadtholder William III. After a few years in this function he was arrested and convicted for gross abuse...
(who became baljuw of 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...
), Kievit was rewarded for his crime by the new regime. He was first appointed Pensionary
Pensionary
A pensionary was a name given to the leading functionary and legal adviser of the principal town corporations in the Netherlands because they received a salary, or pension.-Historical development:...
of the city of Rotterdam. After only one year in this prestigious office he was appointed advocaat-fiscaal of the Admiralty of Rotterdam
Admiralty of Rotterdam
The Admiralty of Rotterdam, also called the Admiralty of de Maze, was one of the five Admiralties in the Dutch Republic.-History:It was set up in 1574 during the Dutch Revolt, when William I of Orange's supporters decided to pool their naval resources at Rotterdam...
. As such he supervised the collection of the customs duties (Convooien en licenten). This office apparently offered good possibilities for corrupt practices. Kievit was arrested on suspicion of embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
in 1686 and after a lengthy trial in which his main defense was "that everybody did it," convicted and sentenced to banishment in 1689. However, his daughter Debora, who was married to a son of the governor-general of the Dutch East India Company
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
(VOC) in Batavia, Cornelis Speelman
Cornelis Speelman
Cornelis Speelman was Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1681 to 1684.Cornelis Janzoon Speelman was the son of a Rotterdam merchant. He was born on 2 March 1628. In his 16th year, he left aboard the Hillegersberg for the India. He was employed as an Assistant in the service of the...
, ransomed him for 20,000 guilders, which enabled him to live out his years in Rotterdam till his death in 1692.
Legacy
- The Dutch poet and playwright Joannes Antonides van der Goes, who worked as a clerk at the Rotterdam Admiralty at the time Kievit was advocaat-fiscaal wrote a laudatory Verjaargedicht ("Birthday poem") in Kievit's honor, probably in 1678.
- The Dutch writer of humoristic works Aernout van Overbeke wrote burlesque letters Buyten gaets to among others Alida Tromp, the wife of Kievit, who himself is mentioned in these "letters".