Jacob Dircksz de Graeff | |
---|---|
Regent and Mayor of Amsterdam | |
Reign | 1613 - 1638 |
Predecessor | Reinier Pauw |
Successor | Andries Bicker |
Born |
House De Keyser, Amsterdam |
1 January 1579
Died | 6 October 1638 | (aged 69)
Burial | Oude Kerk, Amsterdam |
Consort | Aaltje Boelens Loen |
Issue |
Cornelis de Graeff (1599–1664) Dirk de Graeff (1601–1633) Agneta de Graeff van Polsbroek (1603–1656) Wendela de Graeff Christina de Graeff (1609–1679) Andries de Graeff (1611–1678) |
House | De Graeff |
Father | Diederik Jansz. Graeff |
Mother | Agnies Pietresdr van Neck |
Jacob Dircksz de Graeff (1579/1571 – 6 October 1636) was one of the most illustrious members of the De Graeff family. He was a powerful member of the States Faction, regent and mayor of Amsterdam after the political collapse of Reinier Pauw in 1627.
In the mid 17th century, during the Dutch Golden Age, De Graeff controlled the city's politics in close cooperation with his nephew Andries Bicker. Together with Bicker he was also the leader of the Arminian faction of the city. Jacob de Graeff was very critical of the Orange family's influence. He was a member of a family of regents who belonged to the republican political movement also referred to as the ‘state oriented’, as opposed to the Royalists.
Jacob de Graeff was born in Emden, the son of Diederik Jansz. Graeff and Agnies Pietresdr van Neck. He grew up in Emden and later in Amsterdam, in the Niezel, a small street not far from the Oude Kerk.
During the Dutch Golden Age, the De Graeff family were very critical of the Orange family’s influence in the Netherlands. Together with the Republican-minded brothers Andries, Cornelis and Jan Bicker, the De Graeffs strived for the abolition of stadtholdership. They desired the full sovereignty of the individual regions in a form in which the Republic of the United Seven Netherlands was not ruled by a single person. Instead of a sovereign (or stadtholder) the political and military power was lodged with the States General and with the regents of the cities in Holland. Jacob De Graeffs two sons Cornelis and Andries de Graeff became the strongest Dutch regents during the First Stadtholderless Period.