Why did Maurice of Nassau favor a stronger union of the Dutch provinces?

Maurice of Nassau, as the stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, viewed the decentralized nature of the provinces as a fundamental weakness that threatened the stability and security of the union. His push for a stronger, more centralized union was driven by several key factors:12

• Military and Political Authority: As the federal commander in chief, Maurice viewed actions taken by individual provinces—such as the recruitment of independent armed units (waardgelders) by the States of Holland—as intolerable violations of the union statute that undermined his command and the integrity of the state.23
• Religious Alignment: Maurice aligned himself with the orthodox Calvinists, or Counter-Remonstrants, who viewed their faith as the essential "cement" holding the union together. They advocated for a national, interprovincial synod to establish a unified church independent of local civil authorities, which Maurice supported to consolidate his political power.43
• Rivalry with Holland: The princes of Orange were naturally cast as the primary exponents of the union, placing them in direct conflict with the province of Holland, which sought to maintain its own autonomy and special position. Maurice’s efforts to centralize power were a direct response to the influence of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, who prioritized the sovereignty of Holland over federal authority.152