Recent Dutch-Language Publications

Bijdragen tot de taal- land- en volkenkunde / Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences of Southeast Asia, vol. 179, pp. 443–453

Abstract

Born into a family of influential local-level officials in Hattem, Herman Willem Daendels soon outgrew his small hometown.After obtaining a degree with the University of Harderwijk, he became intensively involved in the conflict between Orangists and Patriots.The former, led by Stadtholder Willem v, were supported by Britain and Prussia.The latter sided with France, then scourged by revolutionary turmoil.Daendels soon joined the Patriot forces as an officer who rose to the highest ranks: general and even marshal.He was involved in armed confrontations with forces loyal to Willem.He became commander of the Patriot army, and was closely involved with French units sent to the Netherlands.Ultimately, in 1795, the Patriots won and an unruly period followed, including two coups in 1798, with the radical wing of the Patriots, supported by Daendels, taking over the country.In 1799, Daendels was commander-in-chief of the Patriot army that faced a British-Russian invasion in the North Holland province.Fighting ended in a draw, but the now Batavian Republic "lost" the negotiations.Daendels was relieved of his command and left for his home town Hattem to enjoy life as a pensioner.His nomination as governor-general of the Indies was unexpected, as he had no previous experience with the colony, nor any strategy.He arrived in 1808 and his office of only three years brought about great changes in the colony.Contacts between motherland and colony were effectively blocked by the British.Britain and France both had a naval force operating in the Indian Ocean.A British invasion on Java was expected.The Dutch had no naval force anymore and maritime trade was blocked.Attention in the motherland was restricted to writing long policy papers, analyzing the policies to follow after the bankruptcy of the voc.The fate of the colony as a Dutch possession was in jeopardy.Daendels was the strong man to save Java and the Moluccas for the Dutch.

Authors 1

1. Harry A. Poeze corresponding Aachen KITLV/Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies Leiden The Netherlands

   Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies

   Affiliation as printed

   KITLV/Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies Leiden The Netherlands