Lenaert Jansz de Graeff
Encyclopedia
Lenaert Jansz de Graeff was a member of the family De Graeff
and the son of Jan Pietersz Graeff, a rich cloth merchant from Amsterdam. Lenaert Jansz de Graeff was one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation
at Amsterdam, friend of Henry, Count of Bréderode
, the "Grote Geus", and perhaps ident with "Monseigneur de Graeff", a captain of the Sea Beggars during the Capture of Brielle
.
. Like his brothers Jan, Diederik and Jacob, Lenaert was one of the richest persons of Amsterdam. In 1564 Lenaert was a member of an delegation who spoke with the Spanish Regent
about the political situation in Amsterdam and the province Holland.
In 1567 he was against Charles de Brimeu
s entry in Amsterdam. In March of that year, backed by a large part of the bourgeoisie Henry, Count of Bréderode
became the Generalcaptain of the city. A contract, who backed up that election was signed at De Graeffs house De Keyser. Lenaert Jansz de Graeff became his friend and advisor, and vice-general-captain of Amsterdam, at the head of a newly formed squad of 400 citizens. In the next month Brederode departed, and the Spanish General Philippe de Noircarmes
became the military leader of Amsterdam, and De Graeff lost his position. In August — at the arrival of Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba
— he left the city with his second wife Griet Hendriksdr Rooclaas, because he was suspected of Calvinist leanings. De Graeff have moved to Bruges
, and from there to England
, where he stayed with other exiles from Holland.
De Graeff equipped a few ships, after which he joined the fleet of Lord Lumey
, and took part as one of the captains in the Capture of Brielle
on 1 April 1572.
Lenaert Jansz de Graeff died in exile before 1578.
, who were during the Dutch Golden Age
very critical of the Orange family’s influence in the Netherlands. Together with the Republican-minded family 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.
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...
and the son of Jan Pietersz Graeff, a rich cloth merchant from Amsterdam. Lenaert Jansz de Graeff was one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
at Amsterdam, friend of Henry, Count of Bréderode
Henry, Count of Bréderode
Henry , Lord of Bréderode was born at Brussels. He was a member of the dutch noble family Van Brederode and an important member during the Eighty years war...
, the "Grote Geus", and perhaps ident with "Monseigneur de Graeff", a captain of the Sea Beggars during the Capture of Brielle
Capture of Brielle
The Capture of Brielle by the Sea Beggars, or Watergeuzen, on 1 April 1572 marked a turning point in the uprising of the Low Countries against Spain in the Eighty Years' War. Militarily the success was minor, as Brielle was not being defended at the time...
.
Biography
Lenaert Jansz de Graeff was married to Griet Jansdr Duivens. His profession was a merchant, he bought and sold steel at his house De Keyser in a street, now called DamrakDamrak
The Damrak is a partially filled in canal at the centre of Amsterdam, between Amsterdam Centraal railway station and Dam Square, running north-south. It is the main street where people arriving at the station enter the centre of Amsterdam. Also it is one of the two GVB tram routes from the station...
. Like his brothers Jan, Diederik and Jacob, Lenaert was one of the richest persons of Amsterdam. In 1564 Lenaert was a member of an delegation who spoke with the Spanish Regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
about the political situation in Amsterdam and the province Holland.
In 1567 he was against Charles de Brimeu
Charles de Brimeu
Charles de Brimeu , was the last count of Megen, lord of Humbercourt, of Houdain and "Éperlecques, stadtholder of Gelderland and Order of the Golden Fleece, opposed the centralizing policy of Philip II of Spain.During the Dutch Revolt, however, he remained loyal to the crown of Spain, in June 1568...
s entry in Amsterdam. In March of that year, backed by a large part of the bourgeoisie Henry, Count of Bréderode
Henry, Count of Bréderode
Henry , Lord of Bréderode was born at Brussels. He was a member of the dutch noble family Van Brederode and an important member during the Eighty years war...
became the Generalcaptain of the city. A contract, who backed up that election was signed at De Graeffs house De Keyser. Lenaert Jansz de Graeff became his friend and advisor, and vice-general-captain of Amsterdam, at the head of a newly formed squad of 400 citizens. In the next month Brederode departed, and the Spanish General Philippe de Noircarmes
Philip of Noircarmes
Philip of Noircarmes, whose full name was: Philippe René Nivelon Louis de Sainte-Aldegonde, Lord of Noircarmes was a statesman and soldier from the Habsburg Netherlands in the service of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and Philip II of Spain...
became the military leader of Amsterdam, and De Graeff lost his position. In August — at the arrival of Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba
Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba
Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, 3rd Duke of Alba was a Spanish general and governor of the Spanish Netherlands , nicknamed "the Iron Duke" in the Low Countries because of his harsh and cruel rule there and his role in the execution of his political opponents and the massacre of several...
— he left the city with his second wife Griet Hendriksdr Rooclaas, because he was suspected of Calvinist leanings. De Graeff have moved to Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
, and from there 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 stayed with other exiles from Holland.
De Graeff equipped a few ships, after which he joined the fleet of Lord Lumey
William II de la Marck
William II de la Marck was Lord of Lumey and initially admiral of the Watergeuzen, the so-called 'sea beggars' who fought in the Eighty Years' War , together with among others William the Silent, Prince of Orange-Nassau...
, and took part as one of the captains in the Capture of Brielle
Capture of Brielle
The Capture of Brielle by the Sea Beggars, or Watergeuzen, on 1 April 1572 marked a turning point in the uprising of the Low Countries against Spain in the Eighty Years' War. Militarily the success was minor, as Brielle was not being defended at the time...
on 1 April 1572.
Lenaert Jansz de Graeff died in exile before 1578.
Family De Graeff
Lenaert was a member of the family De GraeffDe 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...
, who were 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...
very critical of the Orange family’s influence in the Netherlands. Together with the Republican-minded family Bicker, 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.