Batavian Republic

Origins

In January 1795 French armies crossed the frozen rivers into the Dutch Republic, and stadtholder William V fled to England. Dutch Patriots, exiled since 1787, proclaimed the Batavian Republic, named after the ancient Batavians. The Treaty of The Hague bound it to France and imposed a heavy indemnity.

Rule and society

After fierce debate a constitution of 1798 replaced the old federation with a unitary state, separated church and state and gave Jews equal rights. Coups followed in 1798 and 1801. The fleet was destroyed at Camperdown in 1797, colonies were lost to Britain, and trade suffered. In 1805 Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck became Grand Pensionary with wide powers.

Decline and legacy

Napoleon, wanting firmer control, turned the republic into the Kingdom of Holland in 1806 under his brother Louis Bonaparte. Its administrative reforms, national taxes and codified law survived into the later Kingdom of the Netherlands.