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Johan van Oldenbarnevelt | |
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| Grand Pensionary of Holland | |
| In office 1586 – 1619 | |
| Preceded by | Paulus Buys |
| Succeeded by | Andries de Witt |
| Pensionary of Rotterdam | |
| In office 1576 – 1586 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 September 1547 Amersfoort, Spanish Netherlands |
| Died | 13 May 1619 (aged 71) The Hague, Dutch Republic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Jan van Oldenbarnevelt Adriana Geertruida van Oldenbarnevelt Maria Johanna Petronella van Oldenbarnevelt Reinier van Oldenbarnevelt Willem van Oldenbarnevelt |
| Parents |
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| Alma mater | University of Leuven University of Bourges University of Cologne Heidelberg University University of Padua |
Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈjoːɦɑɱ vɑn ɔldə(m)ˈbɑrnəvɛlt]; 14 September 1547 – 13 May 1619), Heer van Berkel en Rodenrijs (1600), Gunterstein (1611) and Bakkum (1613), was a Dutch statesman and revolutionary who played an important role in the Dutch struggle for independence from Spain. He is generally considered as one of the greatest and most important political figures in the history of The Netherlands.
Van Oldenbarnevelt was born in Amersfoort. He studied law at the universities of Leuven, Bourges, Heidelberg, and Padua, and traveled in France and Italy before settling permanently in The Hague. He favored William the Silent in his revolt against Philip II of Spain, and fought in William's army. In his later years he was a supporter of the Arminians, during the religious-political controversy which split the young Dutch Republic. He was the founder of the Dutch East India Company.