Bazz wrote:Hi Wienand,
The reference to the Staten van Oorlog is very interesting. Offcourse the Guards would be on the Dutch army establishment and OOB, but who paid for them seems to be a point of contention. Carswell seems very emphatic about it, but I will do some more research to see where he got his information from.
The Blue Guards were blue for quite some time, and were in pay by the republic. Of course noone will deny the personal bond with WIlliam but to consider the Blue Guard a personal asset of Wiiliam is a stretch too far for me and I am very interested in further evidence.
You are absolutely right that the States-General were sovereign in the United Provinces, not William of Orange. I don’t think however that anyone would dispute that at that time William of Orange was the most powerfull, the richest and probably the most popular man in the United Provinces and the one responsible for anything military. One of the reasons for his influence was offcourse that he got on really well with Fagel, the Raadpensionaris (17th century equivalent of a Prime-Minister).
I think you are underestimating the power of the regents, especially those in Holland and Amsterdam.
What is important to understand though is that William of Orange wasn’t just another Dutch subject, but a sovereign Prince in his own right. By the rules of those times it meant that he could write out letters of marque (like William the Silent did with the sea-beggars) and could declare war on another ruler if he so wished (admittedly without the support of the States-General it would be a very short war). For example the invasion of England was not an invasion by the United Provinces, but a private enterprise by William to lay claim his supposed rights. The States-General supplied him with ships, soldiers and money for this enterprise, because they could see the (economic) benefits of having Britain as allies against Louis XIV.
Oh dear
. Well, there are several versions as to the how's and when's of 1688. Latest research by Dr Jonathan Israel (who is giving a real interesting and clarifying look on Dutch 17th century politics) shows that it really was an invasion by the Dutch republic and NOT a private venture by William.
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The question who paid for the Guards is not all that relevant really. William of Orange’s relationship with the Blue Guards is what I am getting at. It is pretty obvious that the relation between William and the Blue Guards was a very close and personal one. The Guards were commanded by his maternal Uncle Henrik Trajectinus, Count of Solms-Braunfels. He took them to and kept them in Great Britain as his personal Guards and he was apparently almost moved to tears when his beloved poor Guards started getting in to serious trouble at the hands of the Jacobites on the otherside of the Boyne.
I agree...
As regards to the Papal Banner on the Boyne I did find an interesting story of a painting by a Dutch Master that hangs in Stormont Castle (the seat of government in Northern Ireland). It purports to show William III getting blessed by the Pope from on high. All the men are wearing Orange Sashes and there is a Banner visible with a Burgundian Cross and Crossbows. Apparently early last century some Unionist vandals tried to destroy this painting, because it offended their loyalist sensibilities! All I can say is that when I lived in Northern Ireland I never saw a mural like this!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings ... pe--168783
I did some asking about the painting in Nothern Ireland and at the NI parliament but I am still waiting for an answer. As far as I know know it's not even sure if William is depicted on the painting!
BTW..I have of copy of Tranen van Blood for you, if you want it just send me a PM.