Nizozemska u očima Engleza u 17. veku

Abstract

Autor se u radu bavi pitanjem kako je bilo moguće da Viljem Oranski gotovo bez problema izvrši invaziju Engleske 1688. i da vlada zemljom nekoliko godina na skoro arbitraran način. Da bi se objasnio ovaj fenomen, veoma je važno imati na umu da su, tokom celog 17. veka, Nizozemci veoma visoko cenjeni u Engleskoj, pa čak i slavljeni zbog svoje hrabrosti, slobode i prosperiteta. Suočeni sa tiranijom Džejmsa II Stjuarta i u nedostatku volje da joj se suprotstave, oni su bili spremni da prihvate čak i osvajača na tronu û samo ako se radi o ličnosti sposobnoj da poboljša političke religiozne i socijalne prilike u Engleskoj. A za takvu ulogu, protestantski aristokratski i slobodoljubivi Nizozemac izgledalo je da najbolje odgovara.

In the article the author deals with the question why was it possible for William III of Orange to invade England in 1688 without serious problems and rule the country for couple of years in almost arbitrarily style. In order to explain this phenomena, it is very important to have in mind that, during the whole Seventeenth century, the Dutch were estimated very high in England and even celebrated for their courage, freedom and prosperity. Faced with the tyranny of James II Stewart and lacking the will to resist it, they were ready to accept even the conqueror on the throne - only if he proved to be the person capable of improving political, religious and social conditions in England. And for such a role, the Protestant, aristocratic and freedom-loving Dutchman was thought to be suited best.