Lenaert Jansz de Graeff
Lenaert Jansz de Graeff | |
|---|---|
| File:Coat of arms Family Graeff (ancient).jpg | |
| vice-general-captain of Amsterdam | |
| In office 1567–1567 | |
| co-leader of the Sea Beggars at the Capture of Brielle | |
| In office 1572–1572 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | circa 1525 /30 Amsterdam |
| Died | before 1578 in exile |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Political party | States Faction |
| Occupation | military commander |
| Profession | merchant and ship-owner |
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Lenaert Jansz de Graeff (Amsterdam, c. 1525 – in Exile, c. 1578) belonged to the powerful Amsterdam patriciate. He was one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation at Amsterdam,[1] vice-general-captain of Amsterdam, friend of Henry, Count of Bréderode, the "Grote Geus", [2] and according to a family tradition ident with "Monseigneur de Graeff", a captain of the Sea Beggars during the Capture of Brielle. [3][4] In recent historical books, De Graeff is treated as one of the leaders of the Sea beggars.[5][6] His character was also used in a historical novel about De Grote Geus.[7]
Biography
Family
Lenaert Jansz de Graeff was a member of the patrician family De Graeff and the son of Jan Pietersz Graeff, a rich cloth merchant and member of the City government of Amsterdam, and his wife Stein Braseman. The family belonged to the Reformed Church, a fact that made Lenaert and his brother Dirck Jansz Graeff work in a social-political direction. Lenaert was married to Griet Jansdr Duivens. The couple had four children:
- Steyntje Leonardsdr de Graeff (Stijn Leenaertsdr Graeff) born 1550, married to Ellert Hendricksz Rooclaes (Roclaas) (died March 1610)
- Pieter Leonardsz de Graeff (Pieter Leenaertsz Graeff) born 1551, married; unknown descendants
- Jannetje Leonardsdr de Graeff (Jannetge Leenaertsdr Graeff), married to Hillebrand Jorisz (5 September 1559 – 27 May 1632)
- Jan Leonhardsz de Graeff, unknown if he ever married and / or had descendants
Carriere
Amsterdam
De Graeffs profession was a merchant, he bought and sold steel at his house De Keyser in a street, now called Damrak. Like his brothers Jan, Dirck and Jacob, Lenaert was one of the richest persons of Amsterdam. In 1564 Lenaert was a member of a delegation who spoke with the Spanish Regent about the political situation in Amsterdam and the province Holland.[3]
In 1567 he was against Charles de Brimeus entry in Amsterdam.[3] In March of that year, backed by a large part of the bourgeoisie Henry, Count of Bréderode became the Generalcaptain of the city. A contract, who backed up that election was signed at De Graeffs house De Keyser.[1] Lenaert Jansz de Graeff became his friend and advisor, and vice-general-captain of Amsterdam, at the head of a newly formed squad of 400 citizens. In the next month Brederode departed, and the Spanish General Philippe de Noircarmes became the military leader of Amsterdam, and De Graeff lost his position. In August — at the arrival of Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba — he left the city with his second wife Griet Hendriksdr Rooclaas, because he was suspected of Calvinist leanings. De Graeff have moved to Bruges, and from there to England, where he stayed with other exiles from Holland.[3]
Sea Beggars
According to a family Tradition De Graeff was one of the Sea Beggars (Watergeuzen). He appears for the first time in the fleet of the Watergeuzen in the autumn of 1571 as "Monsieur de Graeff van Brugge". He first plunders a ship from Emden under St. Maartenseiland, which came from Brouage loaded with salt. The ship was towed with crew and cargo to Dover, and held there for seven weeks, until the ration of 200 kronen was paid at Dover. Next year De Graeff equipped a few ships, after which he joined the fleet of Lord Lumey, and took part as one of the captains in the Capture of Brielle on 1 April 1572.[3][4] He was deputy to Lord Lumey, along with Willem Bloys van Treslong.[8][9]
There is no further news of his life. Lenaert Jansz de Graeff died in exile before the year 1578.
References
- ^ a b "J. van Lennep en J. ter Gouw, De uithangteekens ·". Dbnl.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
- ^ "De Gids. Jaargang 42 ·". Dbnl.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
- ^ a b c d e "Nieuw Nederlandsch biografisch woordenboek. Deel 2". Dbnl.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
- ^ a b "Nieuw Nederlandsch biografisch woordenboek. Deel 8". Dbnl.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
- ^ De Opstand 1568-1648: De strijd in de Zuidelijke en Noordelijke Nederlanden, by Arnout van Cruyningen
- ^ Chronicles of the Dutch Republic 1567 - 1702, by Albert Valente
- ^ De erfenis van De Grote Geus, by Jaap van de Wal
- ^ De Opstand 1568-1648: De strijd in de Zuidelijke en Noordelijke Nederlanden, by Arnout van Cruyningen
- ^ 1572: Een kanteljaar in de Tachtigjarige Oorlog, by Arnout van Cruyningen