Een Nederlandse Washington?

De Achttiende Eeuw, vol. 58, pp. 94–114

Abstract

This article looks into the significant demand for contemporary national heroes in the Dutch Republic during the Patriot era, as well as the role of transatlantic exchanges of heroic imagery in shaping these ideas. While the construction of national heroes in the 19th century has been extensively analyzed by historians, the Dutch case of idolizing revolutionary heroes, rooted in emotional democratic bonds and trust in military leaders revered as national saviors, remains underexplored. Our research shows that the Dutch patriots adopted George Washington and Napoleon Bonaparte as heroes of their own, but did not find Dutch contemporaries with the same qualities.

Authors 2

1. Dirk Alkemade Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Universiteit Leiden

2. Bart Verheijen Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Universiteit Leiden