The Dutch Army in the French Revolution 1792-1795 (2)
2. THE DUTCH REPUBLIC AND ITS ARMY 1790-1795
2.1 THE DUTCH REPUBLIC
At the start of the revolutionary period, the United Provinces were a confederation of seven provinces:
- the duchy of Gelderland (Guelders),
- the county of Holland,
- the county of Zeeland,
- the former bishopric of Utrecht,
- the dependency (of the Episcopal seat of Utrecht) Overijssel,
- the free (i.e. never feudalized) province of Friesland and
- the free (i.e. never feudalized) province of Groningen (or better "Stad en Ommelanden").
Actually there was an eighth province, the dependency Drenthe, but this area was so poor that it was exempt from paying confederal taxes and as a corollary was denied representation in the States-General.
Each province was governed by its own Provincial States.
The main executive official of each Province was a stadtholder (stadhouder in Dutch). In theory the stadtholders were freely appointed by and subordinate to the States of each province.
However, in practice the Princes or other members of the house of Orange-Nassau, beginning with William the Silent, were often chosen as stadtholder.
The provinces of Holland and Zeeland (and usually also Utrecht) had always the same stadtholder (the Prince of Orange-Nassau) from 1572 onwards except from 1650-1672 and 1702-1747 when there was no Stadtholder at all.
The other provinces had mostly the same stadtholder although Friesland and Groningen had often another member of the house of Orange-Nassau.
Each state sent some representatives to the central States General which, in fact was the central parliament of the Republic (even today the Dutch parliament is called “De Staten Generaal”).
After the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 several border territories were assigned to the United Provinces. They were federally governed Generality Lands (Generaliteitslanden).
They were Staats-Brabant (present North Brabant), Staats-Vlaanderen (present Zeeuws-Vlaanderen), Staats-Limburg (or Staats-Overmaas around Maastricht) and Staats-Oppergelre (around Venlo, after 1715).
The United Provinces had already in 1787 an outbreak of revolutionary violence.
With help from the Prussian king (brother to Stadtholder Williams’ wife), but more important with the help of a Prussian army, rest was restored and the revolutionaries fled to France.
2.1 THE DUTCH REPUBLIC
At the start of the revolutionary period, the United Provinces were a confederation of seven provinces:
- the duchy of Gelderland (Guelders),
- the county of Holland,
- the county of Zeeland,
- the former bishopric of Utrecht,
- the dependency (of the Episcopal seat of Utrecht) Overijssel,
- the free (i.e. never feudalized) province of Friesland and
- the free (i.e. never feudalized) province of Groningen (or better "Stad en Ommelanden").
Actually there was an eighth province, the dependency Drenthe, but this area was so poor that it was exempt from paying confederal taxes and as a corollary was denied representation in the States-General.
Each province was governed by its own Provincial States.
The main executive official of each Province was a stadtholder (stadhouder in Dutch). In theory the stadtholders were freely appointed by and subordinate to the States of each province.
However, in practice the Princes or other members of the house of Orange-Nassau, beginning with William the Silent, were often chosen as stadtholder.
The provinces of Holland and Zeeland (and usually also Utrecht) had always the same stadtholder (the Prince of Orange-Nassau) from 1572 onwards except from 1650-1672 and 1702-1747 when there was no Stadtholder at all.
The other provinces had mostly the same stadtholder although Friesland and Groningen had often another member of the house of Orange-Nassau.
Each state sent some representatives to the central States General which, in fact was the central parliament of the Republic (even today the Dutch parliament is called “De Staten Generaal”).
After the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 several border territories were assigned to the United Provinces. They were federally governed Generality Lands (Generaliteitslanden).
They were Staats-Brabant (present North Brabant), Staats-Vlaanderen (present Zeeuws-Vlaanderen), Staats-Limburg (or Staats-Overmaas around Maastricht) and Staats-Oppergelre (around Venlo, after 1715).
The United Provinces had already in 1787 an outbreak of revolutionary violence.
With help from the Prussian king (brother to Stadtholder Williams’ wife), but more important with the help of a Prussian army, rest was restored and the revolutionaries fled to France.
Prussian troops enter Amsterdam 1787
They would come back in 1793 with a little help from their French friends, some of the revolutionaries were organised in the Batavian Legion.
One of the revolutionaries who fled, was David Hendrik Chassé, who was a former officer in the Dutch army, fought against the Prussians, fled then to France, came back in the Batavian Legion, foughtr as Batavian General against the British/Russian invaders in 1799, was commanding general of the Dutch contingent in Spain in 1809, in 1810 changed to the French army and after transferring to Dutch service in 1813, fought at Waterloo in 1815. An impressive military career.
One of the revolutionaries who fled, was David Hendrik Chassé, who was a former officer in the Dutch army, fought against the Prussians, fled then to France, came back in the Batavian Legion, foughtr as Batavian General against the British/Russian invaders in 1799, was commanding general of the Dutch contingent in Spain in 1809, in 1810 changed to the French army and after transferring to Dutch service in 1813, fought at Waterloo in 1815. An impressive military career.
2.2 THE ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC; AN INTRODUCTION
The army of the United Provinces had its last war-experience in the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) or more then 40 years ago. Although the army fought in various battles in the War of the Austrian Succession (or for short: WAS), it didn't upheld its reputation gained in the War of the Spanish Succession. Fortified cities were lost and the army often defeated. In fact the state, once a flourishing economic strong country, now was almost bankrupt.
So after the WAS, a lot of regiments were disbanded or reorganised and the army was neglected. In 1752 this reorganisation was finished and from this moment on the national infantry received its number (of course, together with the name of the commanding officer).
The Republic didn't participate in the 7 Years War and it's army wasn't tested.
The American War of Independence led to tension between the Republic and Great Britain, mostly because Dutch merchants tried to profit from the war and Dutch ships transported goods to and from the American colonies. So in 1780 Great Britain declared war on the Republic. A war which was disastrous for the Dutch fleet which, the same as was the case for the Dutch army, was neglected in former years. When in 1784 a truce was signed between the Republic and Great Britain, the Republic had lost a lot of their former colonies.
The army of the United Provinces had its last war-experience in the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) or more then 40 years ago. Although the army fought in various battles in the War of the Austrian Succession (or for short: WAS), it didn't upheld its reputation gained in the War of the Spanish Succession. Fortified cities were lost and the army often defeated. In fact the state, once a flourishing economic strong country, now was almost bankrupt.
So after the WAS, a lot of regiments were disbanded or reorganised and the army was neglected. In 1752 this reorganisation was finished and from this moment on the national infantry received its number (of course, together with the name of the commanding officer).
The Republic didn't participate in the 7 Years War and it's army wasn't tested.
The American War of Independence led to tension between the Republic and Great Britain, mostly because Dutch merchants tried to profit from the war and Dutch ships transported goods to and from the American colonies. So in 1780 Great Britain declared war on the Republic. A war which was disastrous for the Dutch fleet which, the same as was the case for the Dutch army, was neglected in former years. When in 1784 a truce was signed between the Republic and Great Britain, the Republic had lost a lot of their former colonies.
Almost at the same time (1781) the Austrian Emperor demanded, that the Dutch garrisons should leave the 8 cities and fortresses in the Austrian Netherlands (nowadays Belgium) in which Dutch garrisons were stationed since the end of the War of the Spanish Succession as a barrier against the French; the so called Barrier cities (eg Namur, Ypres and Fort Knocke - see picture above left).
The Dutch governement had to give in (and in fact couldn't pay anymore for the upkeep of the garrisons) and so in 1782 the last Dutch garrsions had left its stations.
One year later (1783) discussion between the Austrian Emperor and the Dutch Republic flared up through territorial demands by the Austrians eg about Maastricht and parts of Staats Vlaanderen (or the north part of Flanders which was Dutch). Also the free shipping passage from Antwerp to the North Sea via the Scheldt was demanded by the Austrian emperor as this waterway was blocked since the 80Years War.
All this almost lead to a war but the only real shots that were fired were from a Dutch warship which guarded the Scheldt and the only victim was a kettle of soup on board of a Dutch ship; that's why this war was called the "Kettle war" (ketel oorlog). (see picture above right)
The 1780 war between Great Britain and the Republic had one significant effect; the ending of the service of Scots regiments in the Dutch army. This because these regiments, although on Dutch pay, also held an oath to the British crown. To end his problem, the Dutch governement decided to nationalise the regiments. Scottish officers who wanted this, could stay in Dutch pay (which 103 of the 155 did) and the colour of their coats were changed from the long and proudly worn red to Dutch blue.
So ended a history which started in 1572 with the first Scotsmen who fought for the Dutch republic in its struggle against Spain.
When in 1793 the war was declared by the French Governement, the army was not ready for war and the units were lacking battle readiness, training and were far from complete. Also, the generals were mostly old (and old fashioned), inexperienced and lacking in leadership qualities.
Still, in the period 1793-1795 the Dutch army put up a creditable fight against the invader as from 1794 onwards, the Dutch army was in most battles and skirmishes outnumbered.
Other problems were the bad cooperation between the armies of the Coalition as commanders were hardly on speaking terms with one another. Also, each country acted more in self interest than in an effort to combine arms against a common foe eg the Polish question divided Austria and Prussia and both countries didn’t commit all their troops to fight the French.
The campaign strategy was outdated (the cordon system and the desire to blockade and invest fortresses) and all the armies lacked quality. And of course, most of the allies (eg Prussia, Dutch Republic) were almost bankrupt after some years of revolutionary war. Only British money held troops in the field.
ll this led to French victories over the allied armies and the fact that the French revolutionary armies overran the Dutch Republic in 1795. And by doing this ending in fact the Republic which had been born in 1648 after the struggle of the 80 Years War.
The Dutch governement had to give in (and in fact couldn't pay anymore for the upkeep of the garrisons) and so in 1782 the last Dutch garrsions had left its stations.
One year later (1783) discussion between the Austrian Emperor and the Dutch Republic flared up through territorial demands by the Austrians eg about Maastricht and parts of Staats Vlaanderen (or the north part of Flanders which was Dutch). Also the free shipping passage from Antwerp to the North Sea via the Scheldt was demanded by the Austrian emperor as this waterway was blocked since the 80Years War.
All this almost lead to a war but the only real shots that were fired were from a Dutch warship which guarded the Scheldt and the only victim was a kettle of soup on board of a Dutch ship; that's why this war was called the "Kettle war" (ketel oorlog). (see picture above right)
The 1780 war between Great Britain and the Republic had one significant effect; the ending of the service of Scots regiments in the Dutch army. This because these regiments, although on Dutch pay, also held an oath to the British crown. To end his problem, the Dutch governement decided to nationalise the regiments. Scottish officers who wanted this, could stay in Dutch pay (which 103 of the 155 did) and the colour of their coats were changed from the long and proudly worn red to Dutch blue.
So ended a history which started in 1572 with the first Scotsmen who fought for the Dutch republic in its struggle against Spain.
When in 1793 the war was declared by the French Governement, the army was not ready for war and the units were lacking battle readiness, training and were far from complete. Also, the generals were mostly old (and old fashioned), inexperienced and lacking in leadership qualities.
Still, in the period 1793-1795 the Dutch army put up a creditable fight against the invader as from 1794 onwards, the Dutch army was in most battles and skirmishes outnumbered.
Other problems were the bad cooperation between the armies of the Coalition as commanders were hardly on speaking terms with one another. Also, each country acted more in self interest than in an effort to combine arms against a common foe eg the Polish question divided Austria and Prussia and both countries didn’t commit all their troops to fight the French.
The campaign strategy was outdated (the cordon system and the desire to blockade and invest fortresses) and all the armies lacked quality. And of course, most of the allies (eg Prussia, Dutch Republic) were almost bankrupt after some years of revolutionary war. Only British money held troops in the field.
ll this led to French victories over the allied armies and the fact that the French revolutionary armies overran the Dutch Republic in 1795. And by doing this ending in fact the Republic which had been born in 1648 after the struggle of the 80 Years War.
2.3 PAYING FOR THE ARMY - THE DUTCH SYSTEM
It is time to explain the method how the Dutch state financed it's army as this is unique but also simple.
As the Dutch Republic was in fact a group of independent Provinces, each province payed for a part of the army. By doing this a province got the right to vote in the central Stated General.
So, as already stated earlier, the dependency Drenthe was so poor, that she didn't pay it's part but this meant that she also had no right to vote.
It is time to explain the method how the Dutch state financed it's army as this is unique but also simple.
As the Dutch Republic was in fact a group of independent Provinces, each province payed for a part of the army. By doing this a province got the right to vote in the central Stated General.
So, as already stated earlier, the dependency Drenthe was so poor, that she didn't pay it's part but this meant that she also had no right to vote.