Just a thought. Johan de Witt and William II of Orange Nassau in a succesfll tandem, just as Johan van Oldebarneveld and Prince Maurist of Orange Nassau, several generations before.
Due to a unlikely twist of fate Johan de Witt is statepensionar of Holland, defacto head of the Dutch Republic while Prince William II of Orange Nassau become the countires greatest general.
Johan de Witt (
Dordrecht,
24 September 1625)
Willem II (
Den Haag,
27 mei 1626)
Both men, nearly the same age, where not only they key figures of the Dutch Republic in the 2nd half of the 17th century. But fore most they were the head men of the two factions rivaling over the power of the Dutch Republic. If it was not due to extenal factors this rivalry would no doubt led a complete over ruling of one faction at the cost of the other and might led to civil war.
William II lost however this power, after he contained small pox in October 1650, but after a severe sick bed he miraculasly recovered. The Republicans took advantage of the confusion in the Orangist camp and the Republicans in Holland, Zeeland and finally Utrecht, took matters in their own hand. After his full recovery Williams influence was lost, the State army, his power base was drasticly reduced.
In 1653 Johan de Witt was elected as State Pensioner.
Despite the loss of his power base the Orangist and Republicans were still oposed of each other. Both factions would tear the country appart if external factors did not intervene.
First the Dutch and the English stumbeled in to war with each other in 1652. The war did not went according to plan for the English, and for the Dutch it was an economic disaster. It showed severe weakness in the Dutch navies and consequently this triggered large reforms for any future naval conflict, which,due to the inconclusive end of the conflict was likely to happen.
During the conflict with England the Prince Bishop of Munster thought to take advantage of this conflict and of the civil trouble in the Province of Overijsel. The invasion of the Munster troops was the most welcomed event for the William II of Orange which brought him back on stage. The state army, reduced in size, and nothing more than militia's paid per State, could not deliver an organised defense. Further there was no real comander in Chief. The Orangist screemed to appoined WilliamII. He and his aids brought the miitia's and other troops togehter in a more organsied form with decent supplies and armament. This efforst paid off.
Although after initial succes the troops of Munster were finaly forced out ot of the Netherlands.
The Treaty of Westminster in 1654 ended the war and which was brokered by the French. But it found the Dutch, in 1657, in a aliance with the same English and French against the Spanish. War with Spain was something the republican faction of Holland tried to avoid, since the Peace of Westfalia in 1648.
To make matters worst William II prove to have the militairy skill and dash of his uncle Maurits.
Any thoughts