Hugo de Groot Year 2021

Hugo de Groot lived during the time of the Dutch Revolt, or Eighty Years' War (1568-1648). It is a turbulent time, which has a great influence on his course of life and thought. In 1609, a truce is declared in the war between Spain and the Netherlands. The Spaniards are in bad shape financially and are also waging war on multiple fronts. The pause suits them.

During the pause in the fray, religious divisions in the Netherlands also became apparent. Until then, the Protestant - or at least "tolerant" - Netherlands marched together against the Catholic Spaniards. Now that that common enemy is not in the picture, the different views among Protestants lead to conflict. Remonstrants face off against counter-demonstrants. Van Oldenbarnevelt sides with the Remonstrants, as does his political ally Hugo de Groot. Maurice sided with the Counter-Remonstrants. Tensions run high, leading to riots in the cities. Van Oldenbarnevelt believes that peace must be maintained in the Republic, and has the States of Holland pass the Sharp Resolution. This resolution empowers the cities of Holland to hire mercenaries (waardgelders) to act in the event of riots against remonstrants.

This is against Maurice's wishes. After all, he was commander of the armed forces, and now that position too was in trouble. With the approval of the States General, he fired the worthies and had Van Oldenbarnevelt and a number of his supporters arrested. One of those supporters is Hugo de Groot. Van Oldenbarnevelt receives the death penalty, Hugo is sentenced to life imprisonment. He is transferred to Slot Loevestein.

(text continues below inset)

At Loevestein, Hugo's freedom is taken away from him, but he does have permission to write and study there. Therefore, he regularly receives a chest full of books. A befriended bookseller in nearby Gorinchem fills the chest for him, and also takes the books back.

Hugo's wife, Maria van Reigersberch, lives with Hugo at the castle, as does his maid Elsje van Houweningen. They are both allowed in and out freely. When after several months the controls on the book chest slacken, Maria sees opportunities for Hugo's escape. Night after night, she has him practice being able to sit in the coffin for several hours without moving. On March 22, 1621, the day of the Annual Fair in Gorinchem, the time has come. Maria puts the books with Hugo's clothes in bed, Hugo crawls into the book chest. When the soldiers come to collect the coffin, Elsje travels with the coffin to distract the soldiers if necessary. The plan succeeds. Hugo, after a stop at the bookstore, travels disguised as a bricklayer via Antwerp to Paris.

In France, Hugo is welcomed with open arms; King Louis XIII even grants him an annual stipend. He can therefore devote himself quietly to writing and studying.

In 1631, he returned to the Republic. He estimates that the worst of the storm has passed, especially now that Maurice has died and his son Frederick Henry has succeeded him. He even opens a new law practice. Several senior figures such as the poet P.C. Hooft even argue for his amnesty. However, the States General demand that Hugo apologize, which he refuses. He is convinced that he has done nothing wrong. The States then issue a new arrest warrant and Hugo again goes into exile.

From 1634, Hugo de Groot worked as a Swedish state envoy in Paris. 10 years later, Queen Christina of Sweden calls him back to the Swedish court. She wants Hugo to advise her on foreign policy. In addition, she wants him to set up a scientific library for her. Both Hugo and his wife feel little interest in this, also because they do not like the inclement climate in Sweden. Thereupon the Swedish court dismisses him. On his crossing back to mainland Europe, his ship sinks. He manages to get to safety, but becomes exhausted on the long journey home and falls ill. On Aug. 28, 1645, he died in Rostock, Germany. Hugo de Groot is buried in the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft.

Hugo de Groot is the author of a large number of works. He was extremely versatile, and his work shows this. The work consists of both Latin and Dutch tragedies and poems, translations of classical works, as well as theological, historical and legal treatises.

Best known are the works De iure belli ac pacis (On the Law of War and Peace) from 1625 and Mare Liberum (The Free Sea) from 1609.
De iure belli ac pacis discusses the rules and laws of just warfare. The work is considered the basis for modern international law.

The same is true of Mare Liberum. In this work, Hugo de Groot argues that the seas should be open to all for free trade and travel. Although he wrote the work to refute Spain and Portugal's claim to exclusive rights to trade in the West and East Indies, to this day it is the standard for current maritime law. Every country, even today, has a right to free passage through the seas beyond its territorial waters.