Dutch History
Week 1
Introduction: Roman times and early medieval history
General remarks
Be able to reflect critically on the Netherlands/ Dutch History
Situate those in space and time
Engage in discussions Dutch television and politics
Exam material: lectures, PowerPoints, notes, handbook written by James Kennedy
o Read handbook before the lectures
o For active learning look on Brightspace (MC can be taken whenever)
o There is also a mock exam
The exam
20 knowledge questions, 5 for each period (medieval, early modern etc)
5 essay questions (1 each period and 1 economic and social history since 1800)
He will only ask about the people on the exam if he talked about them for multiple slides,
because not important enough
Every lecture a possible exam question after
Most important themes, topics, and names are on a list in the PowerPoint, look at this when
preparing for the exam
In historiography
Netherlands as logical outcome (P.J Blok) everything working towards a mother nation
state
o Try to avoid this finalism and methodological nationalism
Belgium has been visible since middle Francia, with Flanders as central area; also
predetermined (Pirenne)
The idea of the Greater Netherlands, including Belgium, based on Dutch as a common
language (Geyl)
As taking place within the border, but global processes were not mentioned by these
guys
Names?
Many name throughout history
o Belgium, belgica
o Germania inferior, Austrasia
o Republic of the United Netherlands, Batavian Republic
o Kingdom of Holland, Kingdom of the Netherlands
o Low countries
Role of mediator between Germany, France and England. International, transnational
connections
Everlasting struggle against water
, Civic political culture
Roman times (50 BCE-400)
Coastline with ‘terpen’ or ‘wierden’ since 700 BCE build a hill to not flood with the water
led to nice fertile soil
o Not that original since the Flemish also did that
Early Roman Times
First Romans arrive with Julius Caesar, from Gaul
Military commander Drusus during reign of Augustus
o He was the one conquering territories below the river of Rhine
Latin names for Germanic tribes: Belgae, Frisii (different than the ones we got today),
Frisiavones, Batavii, Chamavi, Canninevates, Toxandri
Rivers Rhine/Nether Rhine form the limes furthest part out from the empire where the
military was stationed
o Not only a border, but a contact zone lot of trade between them, also conflict
Functions limes and cities/fortifications: military, administrative, economic
o String of fortresses, which then become cities
o Population growth, trade and exchange example Nijmegen (army camp that grew,
briefly destroyed during Batavian revolt) and Utrecht (still some outlines)
Romans incorporate the tribes living there into their army (one of these is Batavians,
incorporated as auxiliary troops, if they provide soldiers they can live in peace)
69/70: Revolt of the Batavians (led by Gaius Julius Civilis)
o There was a crisis because of the death of Nero
o Needed to mobilize soldiers, so took more than the agreement made with the
Batavians
o Romans also executed the brother of Julius, Paulus, which also made him angry
o Were successful for about a year but when the romans regrouped they reinstated
their control of the Low Countries
Limited romanization (only in the south)
Relative continuity until c.350 CE
Second stage (250-400)
Christianization starts, only in the romanized southern regions of Toxandria (Brabant)
Bishops in Tongeren/Maastricht (4th century)
Economic contacts with neighbouring peoples ethnic mixture is rare
o Coins found in the ground, also from England
Crisis 3th century in border are, limes under pressure by Franks, Saxons and Frisians
o Also gets colder and wetter, not as nice to live here anymore
o But they did keep recruiting them
Franks undermine structure from inside, as foederati inside the limes
Decline of the Roman Empire from mid-4 th century (formal end: 406/7)
o Multicausal – external events, not only internal
Early Middle Ages (400-1000)
Migration and ‘small’ kingdoms
Merovingian Era (500-700)
o Depopulation of the low countries
o Water, wet, bad, floods
, o Confrontations between Franks and Frisians
o Christianization
o Low countries under water
o Sixth century brought the Frisians (new Germanic migration), Salian Franks, and
Saxons
o Rise of the Franks starts with Clovis I
Catholic Christianity is accepted (and appreciated by the nobles)
Dagobert I (625-639) supports old-Gallic clergy (Amandus), particularly
Anglo-Saxon missionaries
o Hesitant to embrace Christianity because religion of their enemies
Franks vs Frisians
o Dagobert tries to control the Frisians (trade, Christianization)
o New confrontations
Pepin I of Austrasia moves his centre to the north
Pepin II of Herstal defeats Frisian king Redbad and conquers Utrecht and
Dorestad in 690
Charles Martel defeats Frisians in 734 definitely
o Despite conflicts flourishing of Frisian-Frankish trade around Dorestad
o 16th century embroidery of Redbad’s refused baptism
Christianization of the Frankish empire
o 8th century northward expansion by the mayors of the palace
o Christianization by Anglo-Saxon missionaries (Willibrord and Boniface)
o Frankish monasteries support unification process Anglo-Saxon monasteries accept
the Benedictine rule (contemplation, prayers)
o Noble families dominate the countryside
Carolingian Era (750-900)
o Success and disintegration
o Earls administrative units, pagi, later counts
Administrative authority, no landlord
o Palaces and crown properties a form of feudalism
o Feudalism and manorialism; probably not much influence in the north (Frisia)
o Continuing Frisian-Frankish trade and emporia (e.g., Dorestad)
o Desintegration Empire in the 9th century
o Impact Viking raids
o Local nobility claims role as protectors
o Territories become hereditary and divided
o Since 925 River Scheldt = border between German Empire and France
Dark ages?
o Franks, Frisians, Saxons
o Discontinuity with the Roman empire: Germans have kings with military and
hereditary succession and division after the king’s death, from villae (cities) to
villages and domains
o Continuity with the Roman Empire: Infrastructure (roads), taxes, coining,
Christendom, Cities, Clientelism and Feudalism (vassality)
The names Austrasia and Neustrasia disappeared when the area became Carolingian
, Countries, Cities and the church during the High Middle Ages (1000-1350)
!!! Do not confuse Charles the Bald and Charles the Bold
Viking raids Zutphen build a wall
Political developments
Emergence and shaping of new political territories (Looking at Flanders and county of
Holland as an example
Main characteristics:
1. Political disintegration; shape of new territories (shifting borders) aggressive
expansion, marriages, negotiations
2. Rise of cities promoted by lords, decrease of noble power (of lower nobles)(new
mercantile elites, independent governance)
3. Secular and religious power of bishops in Holy Roman Empire: the prince-bishops
of Cambrai, Liège and Utrecht
4. Different development of the Frisian countries: no lords and feudalism (frieze
vrijheid)
Southern Netherlands c. 1100
Country of Flanders (develop themselves in 9 th century)
o From paying tribute to German Emperor and French king (divided at the Scheldt) to
strong military, political and economic player (1100 knights in military ca. 1100,
French king had about 500)
Start: c. 850 with Baldwin (I) Iron Arm (marriage daughter of Charles the Bald, Judith)
gains title of count, allowed to rule territory
Flanders becomes a separate district under Baldwin II (879-918)
Baldwin V 1035-1067 completes territory in German Empire (two feudal lords with King of
France and German emperor)
Construction of professional bureaucracy (governance, taxation) internal state building
o Castellani= viscounts, leading castellanies
o Kasselrijen or districts
o Schepenen: urban law administrators
o Water boards (local participation and cooperation)
Charles the Good (1119-1127), protector of cities, stimulating city economy, murdered by
nobles in response (because when the power of cities was rising the lower nobles got less
power)
Thierry of Alsace (1128-1168)
Philip I of Alsace (1168-1191), died during crusade
Importance of House of Alsace (12th century): Continuation of administrative innovations and
fiscal policies
o Bailiffs and judges = juridical officials
o Castellani with notarii = bureaucratic officials making charters (oorkonden)
o Stimulation of Urban economies
o Creation of cities (Ghent, Bruges) with city charters as foundation
o Active in foreign policy (crusade)
Similar trajectories (lords, cities, institutions, bureaucracies) in Hainaut and Brabant
o “Finished” territories at the beginning of the 13 th century
Week 1
Introduction: Roman times and early medieval history
General remarks
Be able to reflect critically on the Netherlands/ Dutch History
Situate those in space and time
Engage in discussions Dutch television and politics
Exam material: lectures, PowerPoints, notes, handbook written by James Kennedy
o Read handbook before the lectures
o For active learning look on Brightspace (MC can be taken whenever)
o There is also a mock exam
The exam
20 knowledge questions, 5 for each period (medieval, early modern etc)
5 essay questions (1 each period and 1 economic and social history since 1800)
He will only ask about the people on the exam if he talked about them for multiple slides,
because not important enough
Every lecture a possible exam question after
Most important themes, topics, and names are on a list in the PowerPoint, look at this when
preparing for the exam
In historiography
Netherlands as logical outcome (P.J Blok) everything working towards a mother nation
state
o Try to avoid this finalism and methodological nationalism
Belgium has been visible since middle Francia, with Flanders as central area; also
predetermined (Pirenne)
The idea of the Greater Netherlands, including Belgium, based on Dutch as a common
language (Geyl)
As taking place within the border, but global processes were not mentioned by these
guys
Names?
Many name throughout history
o Belgium, belgica
o Germania inferior, Austrasia
o Republic of the United Netherlands, Batavian Republic
o Kingdom of Holland, Kingdom of the Netherlands
o Low countries
Role of mediator between Germany, France and England. International, transnational
connections
Everlasting struggle against water
, Civic political culture
Roman times (50 BCE-400)
Coastline with ‘terpen’ or ‘wierden’ since 700 BCE build a hill to not flood with the water
led to nice fertile soil
o Not that original since the Flemish also did that
Early Roman Times
First Romans arrive with Julius Caesar, from Gaul
Military commander Drusus during reign of Augustus
o He was the one conquering territories below the river of Rhine
Latin names for Germanic tribes: Belgae, Frisii (different than the ones we got today),
Frisiavones, Batavii, Chamavi, Canninevates, Toxandri
Rivers Rhine/Nether Rhine form the limes furthest part out from the empire where the
military was stationed
o Not only a border, but a contact zone lot of trade between them, also conflict
Functions limes and cities/fortifications: military, administrative, economic
o String of fortresses, which then become cities
o Population growth, trade and exchange example Nijmegen (army camp that grew,
briefly destroyed during Batavian revolt) and Utrecht (still some outlines)
Romans incorporate the tribes living there into their army (one of these is Batavians,
incorporated as auxiliary troops, if they provide soldiers they can live in peace)
69/70: Revolt of the Batavians (led by Gaius Julius Civilis)
o There was a crisis because of the death of Nero
o Needed to mobilize soldiers, so took more than the agreement made with the
Batavians
o Romans also executed the brother of Julius, Paulus, which also made him angry
o Were successful for about a year but when the romans regrouped they reinstated
their control of the Low Countries
Limited romanization (only in the south)
Relative continuity until c.350 CE
Second stage (250-400)
Christianization starts, only in the romanized southern regions of Toxandria (Brabant)
Bishops in Tongeren/Maastricht (4th century)
Economic contacts with neighbouring peoples ethnic mixture is rare
o Coins found in the ground, also from England
Crisis 3th century in border are, limes under pressure by Franks, Saxons and Frisians
o Also gets colder and wetter, not as nice to live here anymore
o But they did keep recruiting them
Franks undermine structure from inside, as foederati inside the limes
Decline of the Roman Empire from mid-4 th century (formal end: 406/7)
o Multicausal – external events, not only internal
Early Middle Ages (400-1000)
Migration and ‘small’ kingdoms
Merovingian Era (500-700)
o Depopulation of the low countries
o Water, wet, bad, floods
, o Confrontations between Franks and Frisians
o Christianization
o Low countries under water
o Sixth century brought the Frisians (new Germanic migration), Salian Franks, and
Saxons
o Rise of the Franks starts with Clovis I
Catholic Christianity is accepted (and appreciated by the nobles)
Dagobert I (625-639) supports old-Gallic clergy (Amandus), particularly
Anglo-Saxon missionaries
o Hesitant to embrace Christianity because religion of their enemies
Franks vs Frisians
o Dagobert tries to control the Frisians (trade, Christianization)
o New confrontations
Pepin I of Austrasia moves his centre to the north
Pepin II of Herstal defeats Frisian king Redbad and conquers Utrecht and
Dorestad in 690
Charles Martel defeats Frisians in 734 definitely
o Despite conflicts flourishing of Frisian-Frankish trade around Dorestad
o 16th century embroidery of Redbad’s refused baptism
Christianization of the Frankish empire
o 8th century northward expansion by the mayors of the palace
o Christianization by Anglo-Saxon missionaries (Willibrord and Boniface)
o Frankish monasteries support unification process Anglo-Saxon monasteries accept
the Benedictine rule (contemplation, prayers)
o Noble families dominate the countryside
Carolingian Era (750-900)
o Success and disintegration
o Earls administrative units, pagi, later counts
Administrative authority, no landlord
o Palaces and crown properties a form of feudalism
o Feudalism and manorialism; probably not much influence in the north (Frisia)
o Continuing Frisian-Frankish trade and emporia (e.g., Dorestad)
o Desintegration Empire in the 9th century
o Impact Viking raids
o Local nobility claims role as protectors
o Territories become hereditary and divided
o Since 925 River Scheldt = border between German Empire and France
Dark ages?
o Franks, Frisians, Saxons
o Discontinuity with the Roman empire: Germans have kings with military and
hereditary succession and division after the king’s death, from villae (cities) to
villages and domains
o Continuity with the Roman Empire: Infrastructure (roads), taxes, coining,
Christendom, Cities, Clientelism and Feudalism (vassality)
The names Austrasia and Neustrasia disappeared when the area became Carolingian
, Countries, Cities and the church during the High Middle Ages (1000-1350)
!!! Do not confuse Charles the Bald and Charles the Bold
Viking raids Zutphen build a wall
Political developments
Emergence and shaping of new political territories (Looking at Flanders and county of
Holland as an example
Main characteristics:
1. Political disintegration; shape of new territories (shifting borders) aggressive
expansion, marriages, negotiations
2. Rise of cities promoted by lords, decrease of noble power (of lower nobles)(new
mercantile elites, independent governance)
3. Secular and religious power of bishops in Holy Roman Empire: the prince-bishops
of Cambrai, Liège and Utrecht
4. Different development of the Frisian countries: no lords and feudalism (frieze
vrijheid)
Southern Netherlands c. 1100
Country of Flanders (develop themselves in 9 th century)
o From paying tribute to German Emperor and French king (divided at the Scheldt) to
strong military, political and economic player (1100 knights in military ca. 1100,
French king had about 500)
Start: c. 850 with Baldwin (I) Iron Arm (marriage daughter of Charles the Bald, Judith)
gains title of count, allowed to rule territory
Flanders becomes a separate district under Baldwin II (879-918)
Baldwin V 1035-1067 completes territory in German Empire (two feudal lords with King of
France and German emperor)
Construction of professional bureaucracy (governance, taxation) internal state building
o Castellani= viscounts, leading castellanies
o Kasselrijen or districts
o Schepenen: urban law administrators
o Water boards (local participation and cooperation)
Charles the Good (1119-1127), protector of cities, stimulating city economy, murdered by
nobles in response (because when the power of cities was rising the lower nobles got less
power)
Thierry of Alsace (1128-1168)
Philip I of Alsace (1168-1191), died during crusade
Importance of House of Alsace (12th century): Continuation of administrative innovations and
fiscal policies
o Bailiffs and judges = juridical officials
o Castellani with notarii = bureaucratic officials making charters (oorkonden)
o Stimulation of Urban economies
o Creation of cities (Ghent, Bruges) with city charters as foundation
o Active in foreign policy (crusade)
Similar trajectories (lords, cities, institutions, bureaucracies) in Hainaut and Brabant
o “Finished” territories at the beginning of the 13 th century
