Johan and Cornelis de Witt

As the Grand Pensionary of Holland county, Johan de Witt was its highest official, and he grew to become the most powerful politician in the Dutch Republic. He cleverly played the Republic’s greatest enemies – England and France – up against each other. But in 1672 these two countries nonetheless joined forces with the prince-bishoprics of Münster and Cologne to attack the Netherlands. Johan de Witt’s brother Cornelis was deputised to supervise military activities on behalf of the Dutch parliament, the States General. With foreign troops winning territory, calls for the reinstatement of the stadtholder grew ever louder. Cornelis de Witt was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy against the Prince of Orange. When Johan visited him in prison, an incited crowd dragged the two brothers outside and killed them. The two men were commemorated as champions of ‘true liberty’ until long after their deaths.