stadholderless periods
Quick Summary
The stadtholderless periods in Dutch history refer to times when the office of stadtholder, a provincial executive, was vacant in the United Provinces (Dutch Republic). These periods occurred because the stadtholders were often elected, and after the death of a stadtholder, a successor was not always appointed.12
The first stadtholderless period lasted from 1650 to 1702, following the death of William II. During this time, the province of Holland's leaders, wary of the House of Orange's influence, took control of the country. The second stadtholderless period occurred from 1702 to 1747, during which the republican system devolved into an immobile oligarchy ruled by hereditary patricians. These periods highlight the ongoing power struggle between the stadtholder and the dominant province of Holland for leadership of the country.123
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NetherlandsThe first stadtholderless periodFate thus intervened to give Holland’s leaders, now intensely distrustful of Orangist influence, a chance to take over the country from the leaderless party of their antagonists. They governed the country for a little more than two decades, during what is known as…
Read MoreFate thus intervened to give Holland’s leaders, now intensely distrustful of Orangist influence, a chance to take over the country from the leaderless party of their antagonists. They governed the country for a little more than two decades, during what is known as…
Read More- NetherlandsWilliam III
…took the initiative for government without a stadtholder, it was followed by the other provinces with much greater alacrity than had been the case in 1650–51. Resentment had built up against William, who had been preoccupied with foreign affairs and did little to improve domestic politics, and the absence of…
Read More…took the initiative for government without a stadtholder, it was followed by the other provinces with much greater alacrity than had been the case in 1650–51. Resentment had built up against William, who had been preoccupied with foreign affairs and did little to improve domestic politics, and the absence of…
Read More - NetherlandsEconomic and political stagnation
During the second stadtholderless period of Dutch government (1702–47), the republican system became an immobile oligarchy. The “liberty” defended by the regents as soundly republican was in practice the rule of hereditary patricians, responsible to neither the citizenry below nor a stadtholder above. Although William IV yearned for…
Read MoreDuring the second stadtholderless period of Dutch government (1702–47), the republican system became an immobile oligarchy. The “liberty” defended by the regents as soundly republican was in practice the rule of hereditary patricians, responsible to neither the citizenry below nor a stadtholder above. Although William IV yearned for…
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