Treaty of The Hague (1661)
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of The Hague was signed in 1661 between representatives of the Dutch Empire
and the Portuguese Empire
. Based on the terms of the treaty, the Dutch Republic
recognized Portuguese
imperial sovereignty over New Holland (Dutch Brazil) in exchange for an indemnity of 4 million cruzados, conversion from 2 million Caroli Guilders, over the span of 16 years .
, the Dutch Republic began, in May 1654, to demand New Holland back. Under threat of the Dutch fleet, Portugal acceded to the demand. The Grand Pensionary
of Holland Johan de Witt
didn't agree with these strong-arm tactics because he thought that commerce was more important than the possession of territories. Therefore, a peace treaty
was signed on 6 August of 1661 at The Hague
whereby New Holland was sold to Portugal for the equivalent of 63 tonne
s of gold
. Under the threat of invasions of Lisbon
and northeastern Brazil
, Portugal paid an annual installment for four decades. Besides, Portugal ceded Ceylon and the Dutch Malabar
to the Dutch Republic and made certain concessions related to the sugar trade. In return, the Dutch Republic recognized Portuguese sovereignty over Brazil and Angola. [2]
The treaty was ratified on May 24, 1662 by the States General and on November 3, 1662 by the Kingdom of Portugal. The treaty was violated by the Dutch conquest of Malabar, and for this reason the peace was finally sealed only in 1663.
Dutch Empire
The Dutch Empire consisted of the overseas territories controlled by the Dutch Republic and later, the modern Netherlands from the 17th to the 20th century. The Dutch followed Portugal and Spain in establishing an overseas colonial empire, but based on military conquest of already-existing...
and the Portuguese Empire
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
. Based on the terms of the treaty, 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...
recognized Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
imperial sovereignty over New Holland (Dutch Brazil) in exchange for an indemnity of 4 million cruzados, conversion from 2 million Caroli Guilders, over the span of 16 years .
History
After Portuguese Brazilians reconquered New Holland, and with the end of the First Anglo-Dutch WarFirst Anglo-Dutch War
The First Anglo–Dutch War was the first of the four Anglo–Dutch Wars. It was fought entirely at sea between the navies of the Commonwealth of England and the United Provinces of the Netherlands. Caused by disputes over trade, the war began with English attacks on Dutch merchant shipping, but...
, the Dutch Republic began, in May 1654, to demand New Holland back. Under threat of the Dutch fleet, Portugal acceded to the demand. The 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...
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...
didn't agree with these strong-arm tactics because he thought that commerce was more important than the possession of territories. Therefore, a peace treaty
Peace treaty
A peace treaty is an agreement between two or more hostile parties, usually countries or governments, that formally ends a state of war between the parties...
was signed on 6 August of 1661 at 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...
whereby New Holland was sold to Portugal for the equivalent of 63 tonne
Tonne
The tonne, known as the metric ton in the US , often put pleonastically as "metric tonne" to avoid confusion with ton, is a metric system unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms. The tonne is not an International System of Units unit, but is accepted for use with the SI...
s of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
. Under the threat of invasions of Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
and northeastern Brazil
Northeast Region, Brazil
The Northeast Region of Brazil is composed of the following states: Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia, and it represents 18.26% of the Brazilian territory....
, Portugal paid an annual installment for four decades. Besides, Portugal ceded Ceylon and the Dutch Malabar
Dutch Malabar
Malabar, also known by the name of its main settlement Cochin, was a commandment of the Dutch East India Company on the Malabar Coast between 1661 and 1795, and is part of what is today collectively referred to as Dutch India...
to the Dutch Republic and made certain concessions related to the sugar trade. In return, the Dutch Republic recognized Portuguese sovereignty over Brazil and Angola. [2]
The treaty was ratified on May 24, 1662 by the States General and on November 3, 1662 by the Kingdom of Portugal. The treaty was violated by the Dutch conquest of Malabar, and for this reason the peace was finally sealed only in 1663.