The fact that the Nassau family continuously supplied stadholders throughout the seventeenth century and continues to fill the royal house today is by no means self-evident. Gaining such a position of power required hard work behind the scenes by the women of the family. That is the conclusion of Nissen's PhD thesis, which maps the political lives of four seventeenth-century stadholder women: Amalia of Solms, Sophia Hedwig of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Maria Henriette Stuart and Albertine Agnes of Orange-Nassau.
Behind the scenes
Much attention has been devoted to the economic and political history of the seventeenth century, but little to the role women played in this history. “To really understand this political history,” says Nissen, “you have to look not only at the formal meeting rooms, but also at less visible politics. That is where women come into the picture. For example, it was common knowledge that if you wanted some favour from Frederik Hendrik, you had to get past his wife Amalia.”
While their husbands focused on the formal duties of a stadholder at the front and in meeting rooms, the women looked after the interests of the family, for example by selecting marriage partners for their children or by receiving statesmen and diplomats from other countries at court. Thus, the House of Nassau became the most influential family in the Dutch Republic, rivalling with the most powerful dynasties in Europe, such as those of England and France.
Especially in the period following the death of a stadholder, the women of the family played a crucial role. For example, Albertine Agnes of Nassau was deputy stadholder after the death of her husband Willem Frederik (stadholder of Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe) until their son was old enough to take over. Among other things, she organised troop movements to defend Friesland.
The Nassau family: from stadholder to king
Following the death of stadholder Willem II in 1650, it was decided not to appoint a new stadholder, but thanks in part to the efforts of Amalia of Solms, the house of Nassau remained in the picture and Willem III was appointed stadholder in 1672. Amalia ensured that her late husband Frederik Hendrik, Prince of Orange, was not forgotten in this First Stadholderless Era, for example by using art in the Huis Ten Bosch Palace to display how he had ‘saved’ the country.
“The stadholdership became inextricably linked to the Nassau family under the influence of women like Amalia of Solms,” Nissen says. “And at a time when that role was not hereditary, they still managed to keep the most important positions within the family.” In doing so, these women left a clear mark on the royal house as we know it today, which derived from the stadholdership. “The current kingship is also a kind of dual job,” observes Nissen. “Just as it was back then. Máxima may have no formal constitutional role, but she fulfils a very important role within the royal house, for example in international contacts and in shaping Willem-Alexander's kingship.”
Image: Amalia van Solms and Frederik Hendrik and their three youngest daughters (Source: Rijksmuseum)