What was the Sharp Resolution passed by the States of Holland in 1617?

The Sharp Resolution (Scherpe Resolutie) was a measure passed by the States of Holland on August 4, 1617, in response to Prince Maurice’s open support for the Counter-Remonstrants.1

This resolution was a significant political maneuver by Johan van Oldenbarnevelt and the Holland regents to protect their authority against the centralizing influence of the Prince and the federal government. Key aspects of the resolution included:21

• Military Autonomy: It encouraged individual towns within the province of Holland to recruit their own armed units.1
• Independence from Federal Command: These local units were not to be integrated into the federal army and were explicitly placed outside the command of Prince Maurice in his capacity as the province's captain general.1

While the States of Holland maintained that these actions were within their legal rights, Prince Maurice viewed the resolution as an intolerable violation of the union statute, ultimately leading to the political confrontation that resulted in the arrest and execution of Oldenbarnevelt.1