The Anglo-dutch Favourite: The Career of Hans Willem Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland (16491709) (Politics and Culture in North-Western Europe 1650-1720)

316 Pages·2007·1.12 MB·English

by  David Onnekink

THE ANGLO-DUTCH FAVOURITE
POLITICS AND CULTURE IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE
1650–1720
Series Editors
Dr Tony Claydon, University of Wales, Bangor, UK
Dr Hugh Dunthorne, University of Wales Swansea, UK
Dr Charles-Edouard Levillain, Université de Lille 2, France
Dr Esther Mijers, University of Reading, UK
Dr David Onnekink, Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands
Focusing on the years between the end of the Thirty Years’ War and the end of the
War of Spanish Succession, this new monograph series seeks to broaden scholarly
knowledge of this crucial period that witnessed the solidification of Europe into
centralised nation states and created a recognisably modern political map. Bridging
the gap between the early modern period of the Reformation and the eighteenth
century of colonial expansion and industrial revolution these years provide a
fascinating era of study in which nationalism, political dogma, economic advantage,
scientific development, cultural interests and strategic concerns began to overtake
religion as the driving force of European relations and national foreign policies.
The period under investigation, c.1650–1720 corresponds to the decline of
Spanish power and the rise of French hegemony that was only to be finally broken
following the defeat of Napoleon in 1815. This shifting political powerbase
presented opportunities and dangers for many countries, resulting in numerous
alliances between formerly hostile nations attempting to consolidate or increase
their international influence, or restrain that of a rival. Three of the most influential
nations at this time, France, Great Britain and The Netherlands, were all at some
stage during this period either at war or in alliance with one another.
Despite this being a formative period in the formation of the European landscape,
there has been remarkably little joined-up research that studies events from an
international, rather than national perspective. By providing a forum that encourages
scholars to engage with the subject of politics, diplomacy, war and international
relations on a broad European basis, it is hoped that a greater understanding of this
pivotal era will be forthcoming.
The Anglo-Dutch Favourite
The Career of Hans Willem Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland
(1649–1709)
DAVID ONNEKINK
Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands
© David Onnekink 2007
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher.
David Onnekink has asserted his moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act,
1988, to be identified as the author of this work.
Published by
Ashgate Publishing Limited Ashgate Publishing Company
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Croft Road 101 Cherry Street
Aldershot Burlington, VT 05401-4405
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Ashgate website: http://www.ashgate.com
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Onnekink, David
The Anglo-Dutch favourite : the career of Hans Willem Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland
(1649–1709)
1. Portland, William Bentinck, Earl of, 1649–1709 2. Statesmen – Great Britain –
Biography 3. Statesmen – Netherlands – Biography 4. Great Britain – History – William
and Mary, 1689–1702 5. Great Britain – Politics and government – 1689–1702
6. Netherlands – History – 1648–1714 7. Netherlands – Politics and government –
1648–1714
I. Title
941'.068'092
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Onnekink, David.
The Anglo-Dutch favourite : the career of Hans Willem Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland
(1649–1709) / by David Onnekink.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7546-5545-8 (alk. paper)
1. Portland, William Bentinck, Earl of, 1649–1709. 2. William III, King of England,
1650–1702. 3. Great Britain – Court and courtiers – Biography. 4. Great Britain – History
– William and Mary, 1689–1702. 5. Great Britain – Foreign relations – 1689–1702. I. Title.
DA462.P7O66 2006
941.06'8092—dc22
2006005529
ISBN 978-0-7546-5545-9
Printed and bound in Great Britain by MPG Books Ltd, Bodmin, Cornwall.
This book is dedicated to my parents
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Contents
List of Illustrations ix
Acknowledgments xi
List of Abbreviations xiii
Notes on Style and Dates xv
Introduction 1
1 The Making of a Favourite (1649–85) 7
2 For Religion and Liberty? The Crises of 1688 37
3 The Consolidation of the Williamite Settlement (1689–91) 63
4 ‘Lord Portland takes all’: The Re-emergence of the Favourite 85
5 ‘The Spirit of Contention’: Politics and Parties 123
6 ‘The Great Affair’:War on the Continent 147
7 Ganymede: The Image of the Favourite 175
8 Arcana Imperii: War and Peace (1697–1700) 197
9 The Vestiges of Power (1697–1709) 229
Conclusion 261
Bibliography 267
Index 289
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List of Illustrations
1 William III and Hans Willem Bentinck. 100 x 140 cm. Painting. By permission
of Iconografisch Bureau/RKD, The Hague.
2 Anne Villiers. Oil on canvas. By permission of Iconografisch Bureau/RKD, The
Hague.
3 Jane Martha Temple. Oil on canvas. By Simon Dubois. 36 x 31 cm, Middachten,
De Steeg. By permission of Iconografisch Bureau/RKD, The Hague.
4 Hans Willem Bentinck. Oil on canvas. By Simon Dubois. 36 x 31 cm, Middachten,
De Steeg. By permission of Iconografisch Bureau/RKD, The Hague.
5 Plan of the Dutch invasion fleet, 1688. By Hans Willem Bentinck. By permission
of Manuscripts and Special Collections, The University of Nottingham
(Ref. Pw A 2197/2).
6 ‘Hollands hollende koe’, 1690. By permission of Atlas van Stolk (Ref. 2827).