Perpetual Edict (1667)

The Perpetual Edict was a resolution passed by the States of Holland in the Dutch Republic in August 1667. Primarily driven by Johan de Witt, the Grand Pensionary of Holland, its main purpose was to abolish the Stadtholderate, the office held by members of the House of Orange, in the province of Holland. The edict further declared that the Captain-Generalcy of the Dutch States Army should never be held by a Stadtholder of Holland.

The political context of the edict was rooted in the ongoing power struggle between the States party, led by de Witt, who favored a decentralized republic controlled by the wealthy merchant oligarchy, and the Orangists, who supported a strong central government led by the House of Orange. The recent death of William II in 1650 had allowed the States party to gain ascendancy, and the Perpetual Edict aimed to solidify their position by preventing the young William III from inheriting the Stadtholderate.

The Perpetual Edict was repealed in 1672, during the Rampjaar (Disaster Year), when the Dutch Republic was invaded by France, England, Münster, and Cologne. Popular unrest, fueled by military setbacks and blaming de Witt for the republic’s weakness, led to the reinstatement of William III as Stadtholder and Captain-General. The repeal of the Perpetual Edict and the subsequent murder of Johan de Witt marked a significant shift in Dutch politics, restoring the House of Orange to power.