Everything about Pensionary totally explained
A
pensionary was a name given to the leading functionary and legal adviser of the principal town corporations in the
Netherlands because they received a
salary, or pension.
At first this official was known by the name of clerk or advocate. The office originated in
Flanders. The earliest pensionaries in
Holland were those of
Dordrecht (
1468) and of
Haarlem (
1478). The pensionary conducted the legal business of the town, and was the secretary of the town council and its representative and spokesman at the meetings of the
Provincial States. The post of pensionary was permanent and his influence was great.
In the States of the province of Holland pensionary of the order of nobles
(Ridderschap) was the foremost official of that assembly and he was named until the death of
Oldenbarneveldt in
1619 the
Land's Advocate, or more shortly, the advocate. The importance of the advocate was much increased after the outbreak of the revolt in
1572, and still more so during the long period
1586–
1619 when John van Oldenbarneveldt held the office. The advocate drew up and introduced all resolutions, concluded debates and counted the votes in the Provincial Assembly. When it wasn't in session he was a permanent member of the college of deputed councillors who carried on the administration. He was minister of justice and of finance.
All correspondence passed through his hands, and he was the head and the spokesman of the deputation, who represented the province in the
States General. The conduct of foreign affairs in particular was entrusted almost entirely to him.
After the downfall of Oldenbarneveldt the office of landsadvocate was abolished, and a new post, tenable for five years only, was erected in its place with the title of
Raad-Pensionaris or Pensionary of the Council, usually called by English writers
Grand Pensionary. The first holder of this office was
Anthony Duyck,
Jacob Cats and
Adrian Pauw, in the days of the stadtholders
Frederick Henry and
William II of Orange-Nassau had to be content with lessened powers, but in the stadtholderless regime
1650–
1672 the grand pensionary became even more influential than Oldenbarneveldt himself, since there was no prince of Orange filling the offices of stadtholder, and of admiral and captain-general of the
Union. From
1653–
1672 Johan de Witt, re-elected twice, made the name of grand pensionary of Holland for ever famous during the time of the
wars with England. The best known of his successors was
Anthony Heinsius, who held the office from
1688 to his death in
1720. He was the intimate friend of
William III, and after the decease of the king continued to carry out his policy during the stadtholderless period that followed. The office was abolished after the conquest of Holland by the French in
1795.
See Robert Fruin,
Geschiedenis der Staats-Instellingen in Nederland, The Hague, 1901; G W. Vreede,
Inleiding tot eene Gesch. der Nederlandsche Diplomatie (Utrecht, 1858). (G. E.)
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