Batavian Republic

Batavian Republic (1795-1806)

France's Revolution of 1789 was not confined by the country's borders. In 1795 an army under the command of General Pichegru marched into the Dutch RepublicDutch RepublicThe Dutch Revolt against Spain led in 1588 to the foundation of the Dutch Republic of the United Provinces. These seven provinces were: Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht and Zeeland. In 1795 the invading French Revolutionary Army brought an end to the old Republic and in its place came the new Batavian Republic., meeting little resistance. The French were supported by the local Patriot party, who, modelling themselves on their celebrated ancestors, called themselves 'Batavians'. The Stadholder fled to England and the Batavians took over the government. The new state - the Batavian Republic - subscribed to the ideals of the Revolution: its first act was the proclamation of the 'Rights of Man and of the Citizen'. Everyone was now equal before the law. Consequently, all religions were henceforth treated equally: those who did not belong to the official Protestant Church would no longer be treated as second-class citizens. In 1796 the first democratically-elected Dutch assembly was convened.