stadholder

It was governed by a stadholder, and but small respect was shown for its chartered rights and privileges.

The capture of Brill and of Flushing in 1572 by the Sea-Beggars led to the submission of the greater part of Holland and Zeeland to the authority of the prince of Orange, who, as stadholder, summoned the states of Holland to meet at Dordrecht.

This authority of Holland was, however, more than counterbalanced 610 by the extensive powers with which the stadholder princes of Orange were invested; and the chief crises in the internal Contest between the Principles of National and Provincial Sovereignty. history of the Dutch republic are to be found in the struggles for supremacy between two, in reality, different principles of government.

The principle of provincial sovereignty was carried to its extreme point in the separate treaty concluded with Cromwell in 1654, in which the province of Holland agreed to exclude for ever the prince of Orange from the office of stadholder of Holland or captain-general of the union.

But though Maurice and his other opponents had reluctantly yielded to Theological strife in Holland. the advocate’s skilful diplomacy and persuasive arguments, a soreness remained between the statesman and the stadholder which was destined never to be healed.